Some naturalists are of opinion that the time has not yet arrived for the production of a book of such high aim as that now under consideration. It must be admitted that systematists are sadly behind-hand in the arrangement of many classes of Vertebrates, the classification of birds, for example, being in almost as confused a state as ever; but we can see no reason why the present generation of philosophical naturalists should be condemned to exist in a state of zoo-geographical ignorance. In a concluding paragraph Mr. Wallace expresses a hope that his work may bear to the eleventh and twelfth chapters of Mr. Darwin's 'Origin of Species' the same relation which that author's 'Animals and Plants under Domestication' bears to the first chapter of that work. It appears to us that the standard of excellence aimed at in the present undertaking has been satisfactorily and ingeniously attained.
Who is Thomas Edward, to whom the Queen has been pleased to grant a pension of fifty pounds per annum? and what has he done to merit such distinction? are questions which many persons no doubt have asked themselves on reading in the newspapers the recently-published letter of the Prime Minister. The answer is to be found in the book before us, and we have little doubt that to the majority of readers the story will be as little known as the name of its hero.
To readers of 'The Zoologist,' however, the name of Thomas Edward will be familiar, as that of a frequent contributor to the pages of that journal, and a genuine out-door observer and field naturalist, who in a quiet, humble way, has done much to further the progress of his favourite science.
A shoemaker by trade, at Banff, and a poor man, he had not the means to inform himself as others with similar tastes have done. With an intense love for Natural History, and a perpetual thirst for knowledge, "he endured," says his biographer, "as much hardship for the cause of Science as soldiers do in a prolonged campaign." He always lamented his want of books, and in the
