( 254 ) 
[April, 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Some Chemical Difficulties of Evolution . By J. J. Maclaren, 
M.A. London : Bumpus. 
Perhaps our readers may remember that about two years ago 
there appeared a book entitled “ A Critical Examination of some 
of the Principal Arguments for and against Darwinism.” Whilst 
cheerfully acknowledging the candour shown by the author, we 
had but too much reason to declare that his work was more cal- 
culated to retard than to promote the definite solution of the 
question which he had attempted to discuss. We urged that for 
men to deal with the most complicated problems in any science 
before having made themselves familiar with its rudiments was 
an absurdity at once painful and ludicrous. We have met with 
no instance where a working naturalist — a man who had really 
studied organic life in the fields, the woods, the museum, and the 
biological laboratory — formed a more favourable opinion of Mr. 
Maclaren’s book than did we. But, unfortunately, special know- 
ledge of the subject in question is not considered more necessary 
for reviewers than for authors. Certain writers in the political 
and social papers of the day — on the principle, doubtless, that 
u a fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind ” — pronounced the 
book “ useful and acceptable,” and thus encouraged the author to 
further efforts in the same direction. In our notice of Mr. Mac- 
laren’s former work we pointed out that he failed to “ distinguish 
with sufficient clearness between Evolutionism — the dodlrine of a 
progressive mutation of species — and Darwinism — the explana- 
tion of such changes by the hypothesis of Natural and Sexual 
Selection.” In the present volume the confusion is worse con- 
founded, in a manner which we think indicates, to say the least, 
very culpable carelessness. He tells us that there have been put 
forward two views — the “ Creationists’ view,” the view of the 
“ Evolutionist properly so-called, besides Mr. Darwin’s view.” 
We are not sure whether the author is not here taking leave of 
that fairness which characterised his first work. To give to the 
opponents of Evolution the name of “ Creationists ” seems very 
like the suggestio falsi that Evolutionists as such deny creation. 
The “ Creationists,” according to Mr. Maclaren, hold — 
(i.) “ That life was originally called into existence by a mighty 
power whose commands matter and force are obliged 
to obey. 
(2.) “ That the same mighty power, after having originally 
called the first living beings into existence, has conti- 
nued to take a diredt part in calling into existence the 
various new forms which have from time to time ap- 
peared on the earth.” 
