Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/201

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adequately notice a book like this—a product of sustained thought and research—within the limits of our pages is impossible; to review such a work with critical examination is beyond the province of our Journal. We can only approach it here from the standpoint of zoology: a somewhat bare proceeding, perhaps as unsatisfactory to the author as irksome to the writer. In the first section, "Organic Evolution," Dr. Reid clearly defines his standpoint, and enunciates his axioms so that we may readily understand the method of his argument. He adheres to the theory of spontaneous generation, which he remarks "is popularly supposed to be quite exploded. What is exploded is that such highly organized beings as the Infusorians arose spontaneously." And with respect to organic evolution it is stated that, though "many proofs will incidentally be afforded" of its actuality, "it will be assumed that the truth of it is admitted."

A postulate to which considerable importance is attached, and one which bears no little reference to the whole argument, is "that every species must necessarily undergo retrogression, unless that retrogression be checked by selection." On the other hand, "it is possible by means of selection to bring about rapid and extensive, indeed unlimited retrogression." Thus we read: "The domesticated Dog is presumably descended from one or more of the different wild varieties, or from their relatives the Wolves. Now, considering the length of time Dogs have been domesticated, and the severity of the selection to which they have been subjected, our largest Dogs, the St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Mastiffs, Boarhounds, do not very greatly exceed Wild Dogs or Wolves in size, nor do our most intelligent Dogs greatly surpass them in intelligence; but our smallest Dogs, some of them little bigger than Rats, are very much smaller, and some of our tame breeds are exceedingly stupid. Clearly, as regards Dogs, we have been able to produce little evolution, but great retrogression."

We still, however, require more experimental facts, repetitions of such experiments, and with different species, before we can