366 
Analyses of Books. 
[June, 
Our Corner. Vols. I. and II., 1883, and Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1884. 
London : Freethought Publishing Company. 
A very large portion of this heterodox contemporary consists of 
matter lying quite outside the sphere of the “ Journal of Science.” 
There are, however, valuable articles connected with science. 
Thus in the first volume we find Prof. L. Buchner discussing the 
“ Force of Heredity,” and its influence on the moral and mental 
progress of mankind. Here, whilst it is admitted that Darwin 
was the first fully and clearly to point out the importance of 
heredity, the merits of Girou de Buzaraingues, of Prosper Lukas 
(“Traite Physiologiqueet Philosophique del’Heredite Naturelle ”), 
and of George Leroy, are brought into deserved prominence. 
The capital didtum of Burdach is also quoted, that “ Descent has 
more influence on our bodily and mental character than all our 
external, material, and psychical surroundings.” Many suggestive 
instances of the working of the principle are given. Not the 
least important is the case of a cock born with the abnormal 
number of five toes instead of four. This bird left behind him a 
numerous progeny of five-toed fowls. This incident refutes the 
argument put forward by the “Edinburgh Review” against 
Darwin to the effedt that any modification cropping up in some 
individual plant or animal would be effaced by mating with 
normal individuals. Prof. Buchner’s memoir is not, as far as 
we can find, concluded, and it is therefore scarcely fair to call 
attention to omissions. Still it is impossible to overlook the 
absence of all reference to the gainsayers of the dodtrine of 
heredity. These persons are to be found not, as is commonly 
supposed, among ecclesiastics, but among politicians — angry at 
being told that they cannot mould men at will by franchises, 
constitutions, and schemes of compulsory education. Of these 
“ talkers of talk ” the most vehement and absurd was John Stuart 
Mill, who, reared upon words, could digest things, and who even 
sought to defend the old-world predominance of “ the classics ” 
in education as against science. 
“ Peeps through the Microscope ” is an interesting series of 
articles by Mrs. Annie Besant, the editor, and will we think win 
new votaries for research into the tiny features of plant and 
animal life. 
“ Angling Memories of the Lea ” is a brief but pleasant paper 
by one whom we should certainly not have suspedted of being an 
observer of Nature, to wit, Mr. C. Bradlaugh, M.P. “ Leaves 
and Trees ” is a study by the same writer, and though it does not 
fall within the exadt limits of any science we have read it with 
much pleasure. 
“ Alter Brown ” gives an apparent case of clairvoyance by 
which he was at first deceived, but which was afterwards ex- 
plained in a very matter of fadt way. The clairvoyante, one 
