DESIGN IN NATURE'S STORY.
Design in Native's Story. By Walter Kidd, M.D. (Nisbet and Co. 3s. 6d.)—Dr. Kidd's view of design is what King James would have called a counterblast to the Spencer doctrine of a something unknowable and the "appropriate conditions" with which Mr. Spencer would brush aside the great argument of design. After discussing the adaptation of environment to organisms and the adaptations of animals to meet their environment, absolutely dependent as they are on that environment, and what it supplies them with, Dr. Kidd selects various species and the special provision for them, such as the oil-sac with which a duck waterproofs his feathers, the extraordinary weapon of the swordfish, and the lines on which a fish is built. In concluding his short sketch on design and the position of the scientific and teleological parties, Dr. Kidd wants to know by what right the evolutionists demand that we show a single adaptive structure for the benefit of other species. Are the terms of controversy to be confined to species ? Why not a whole kingdom ? says Dr. Kidd. Certainly the evolutionists have no right to lay down the terms. With a few exceptions Creation depends, he says, on the past and present life of plants, and we need not discuss aphides and oak-galls. Men like Haeckel thought a crystal growing in a solution had as much claim to be considered alive as any organism. The great secret of life meant nothing to him, "that mystery and miracle of the creation of living creatures" before which, says Lord Kelvin, "we must pause face to face." We heartily recommend this thoughtful little book, which is as moderate in tone as it is earnest in endeavour.
Previous page
