New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


h0ee previous larger the study OF insects has
Ramed the place OF u standard authority both among
European and American naturasts has here presented
te fruits of original research regard 20 the habits ana
forms what may be called the domestic insects OF
common hfe In preparation OF tie work the author
made considerable cf the writings OF previous
observers hut q large portion IFS contcntsa well as
general tone expression founded ON personal
research and experiment He justly regards DOCKS "s
abe maternal apronstTings" Of natural science, anu
the student$O closer communion "ithoa'"re'
~ which. whether he be painter or poet 51iosOpho'
or nseohunter Of low degree he VIII gain an nteiee
taa strength and power ~ interpreting nature hat Is
the gifts Of genius' The method pdrsnedih ue VOL
from the highest 10 the lowess raeng the insect
groups their various transformations from the money
bee highest intelligence In the vast world OF insects
10 the parasitic which occupy so humble aranA IN
tle order OF existence Nor docs the author abstain
nom the legitimate discussion Of theory. Has MUD j.
of too cautious and modest tendency for dogmat'sIn,
hut has statement OF general principles is higdy sn2
Festiyo and Will awaken profound interest among re-
necuc readers In the common simple forms OF insect
lite he finds conclusive proof of unity OF organization.
He peroeiyes the process Of nature which passes, by
slight notifications OF different parts by the addition of
wings and other organs, to numberess changes IN
the srebetypd form. Starting from the simplest
kinds spider the grasshopper, and the Mayfy,
allied ANIMALS which were the first 10 appear
m the CARRIER geologic rise to the bees. with
tber complex forms their diversified economy and Won
deriu instincts In ascending this scale OF Dein-, we
discover upward progress from the grasshorper and
ny 10 the beetle and the butterfly and behold in the
transition from sawes 10 bees loss of the lower char
Goers while the wasps const ant and aoceer-
atng likeness To the bee form. The continuity OF i'm
proving organizations, however, is often broken. and We
with insects which recall the earlier and more Gle
mentsTy forms Going back OF the larval period and
Studying the insect in the egg hnd remarkable re-
sembanoe each other the earlier stages of the germ
hon Nv haff ilr at hey
pervaded by common design or pattern The question
now arises whether ideal archetype docs not become
endowed with definite existence, and become the an
pestral Of all the insects that spread IN
shining myriads the surface OF the globe. single
aphis the proCenitor Of million offspring clustering
al the same tree Is this eCiving force inquiries
the author the in kind with the production OF the
living Of insects from prmeval ancestorf Wme
IN the origin of individual FORMS and
explain what IL Is that starts the life in the germ
and unerrngy guides the course OF the growing en-
lryo II is Illogical deny that the same fegving force
Is concerned in the production of specific and generic
forms. The law which governs the origin ofspeces may
seem no more discordant with known natural laws 10
those who after as than those which govern the
ongn Of The present attempts TO discover that
law, marks the author, neither Illogical nor 1udg-
by the impulse already TO the science OF e'
without valuable practical results. At all events, the
theory OF evolution is powerful instrument, when
tudiclouSly used, "that must eventually wrest
many seCrecU from the grasp Of nature" il
has been adapted according to Mr. Packard,
by large proportion Of naturaiists who
find II indispensable in their researches, and who
viii continue il until found inadequate TO the ex-
PLANTATION Of facts. Notwithstanding the present dis
certain quarters ne predicts, that IN cOIpera
lively few years will be acknowledged by all that the
theory OF evolution will be 10 biology what the nebuar
hypothesis IS 70 geology the theory 10 chem
1siTy. "Whe tho evolution theory is yet imperfect
seemingly inSuUeraDle.
he raised against it, should be borne in mind that the
nebular hypothesis is st comparatively crude and I'M
satisfactory, though indispensable as working theory
10 geoogist; and in chemistry though the atomic
theory may be satisfactorily demOnstratedito some
until atom is actually brought to sight 1t Is
vet invaluable IN research" Nor docs Mr.. Packard
share the fears Of "timid good men IN regard
the religious consequences Of the evolution theory
Many shorts GIFTED persons, ne remarks, complain thar
such a theory the back ground the idea of per
sODal Creator But he suggests that minds no less de
vout a thoughtful temper, the hand Of
Creator lees the evolution Of plants and animals
from prcExstent forms through natural laws, than in
The evolution Of Summers shower through the laws
discovered by the meteorological Indeed, the author in
sists the student Of nature the evolution theory
N biology, with the nebular Hypothesis and The grand
law in physics Of correlation Of forces revealing the
mode the Creator OF the universe works III tine
world of matter. form far nObler conception Of the
order Of creation and its author, than was possible
before those laws were discovered anu apPicu
20 practical use. IL this spirit, Nj. Packard
proceeds the ancestry OF certain insects
sentinC "a series OF curious and ingenious views which
though largely speculative in their character, cal forth
al interest almost amounting TO fascination, in tne re-
asetIvo student OF nature. The general conclusion is
presented with sober elOQuence OF statement rarely
found scientific treatses. THUS Nature deals ia
simples and her OF structure Celebrates
her growing work temple in which the mind OF man,
formed the image OF GOO, may dwell Her results are
not the less marvellous becau.e We are beginning 10
dimy the process by which they arise. IL should
not lessen awe and reverence for Deity, IL with
TO adore, also essay 70 trace the
ments hand in the Orln OF the forms OF life
Although dealing length with OF the ntr-
cate problems OF animal life. the works. not without an
immediate practical interest instructng the farmer and
tbe lie concerning the annoying insect pests that
lniest tbcr domains and pointing out the means for
their eectua exrpatOn Tue lovers Of order and neat
ness the field and the dwelling less than the stu
natural history, will find their account in the
EeTDsal OF It's pages.
gBR LIFE or ARCHBISHOP SPALDING. J l.. SpAlDiNG.
81 l. svo. pp 46s Catholic Fobncsuor SOCIETY,".
The subject of this biography was one of the
princes Of the Catholic Church Devotion TO his religion