On our Knowledge of the Causes of the Phenomena of
Organic Nature. By Professor Huxley, F.R.S. (Hardwicke.)— This small volume con- tains a verbatim report of six lectures to working men, recently delivered at the Museum of Practical Geology. Professor Huxley's subject is the same as that handled by Mr. Darwin, in his treatise on the "Origin of Species ;" and no one who is at all acquainted with the lecturer's views will require to be informed that the general tenor of his discourses is favour-
able to the conclusions arrived at in that well-known work. In fact, he declares that he regards that book as "the greatest contribution which has been made to biological science since the publication of the 'Regne Animal' of Cuvier, and that of the History of Development' of Von Baer." The well-known clearness of statement and felicity of illustration which have won for Professor Huxley so distinguished a place among the scientific expositors of the present day, combine to render this volume peculiarly acceptable to those who wish to acquire an elementary know- ledge of the very interesting subject of which it treats. We may select for special mention the brief but lucid account given in the third lecture of the experiments by means of which M. Pasteur has recently shown the unsoundness of M. Pouchet's views on the subject of spontaneous generation.
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