Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/26

 16 belief that new departments will arise co-ordinate in value with those now recognised, and that cannot find a natural place in the scheme as it stands. The subject of Evolution, with its many offshoots, is a striking example of this kind of recent growth.

Division 570, Biology, Ethnology, is a very unnatural group. It is true that it is much more easy to find fault than to point out a remedy; but the collocation of so widely different topics as it includes is unsuitable. Some of them would fall naturally into other groups. The results in such a case as this remind us of the traditional bed of Procrustes; and warn us of the grave danger of being carried away by the attractive symmetry of the method of classification.

The division contains: 1. Prehistoric Archaeology; 2. Ethnology; 3. Natural History of Man; 4. Homologies; 5. Evolution, Species; 6. Origins and Beginnings of Life; 7. Properties of Living Matter; 8. Microscopy; 9. Collectors' Manuals. Every biologist must recognise the advantage of having a location for books treating of Biology, as distinct from its divisions, Botany and Zoology. More and more clearly do we recognise the close bond between the two Sciences, and that many parts of Biology should be treated so as to keep this bond in view. The division may be usefully retained for Biology, freed from several of the subjects associated with it by Dewey; while their places may be occupied by subordinate groups not recognised in this connection by him.

"Prehistoric Archaeology" surely belongs to "History" or to the "Arts" rather than to "Biology".

"Ethnology," in so far as it relates to historical matters, would also more naturally fall under "History" or "Customs and Popular Life"; while, as regards man as an animal alone, it should find a place, along with the "Natural History of Man," under "Zoology".

"Microscopy" is not well placed in this division. The microscope is, it is true, indispensable to biologists; but it is scarcely less indispensable to many other workers in science. The subject would be better placed under "507, Methods of Teaching and Studying," while the methods peculiar to each Science should be placed under a corresponding number in that Science.

In like manner "579, Collectors' Manuals" usually relate to more than Biology, and should find a place under the wider head, with a corresponding number under each Science for the few limited works restricted to it.