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The Book Trade.

3.— On the Origin of Species, by means of Natural Selection; or, The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. By Charles Darwin. M.A., author of "Journal of Researches during H. M. S. Beagle's Voyage Round the World." 12mo., pp. 424. New York: D. Appleton & Co.

The origin of species, the mutual affinities of organic beings, or their embryological relations, geological succession, and other such facts, has long been the study of naturalists, the majority of whom, in showing how the innumerable species inhabiting this globe have been modified, so as to acquire that perfection of structure and adaptation to their own particular locality, attribute mainly the external conditions, such as food, climate, &c., as the cause of the great diversity. Mr. Darwin admits this only in a limited sense, and endeavors to prove agencies far more potent than these in the co- adaptation of organic beings to each other, and to their physical conditions of life. Some of these chapters are exceedingly interesting, and, we should say, of the highest importance to all —as determining the present welfare, and future success and modification of the many animals around us, and showing how a simple being can be changed and perfected into a highly developed being. It is to the increased attention to the character of the offspring of our domestic animals, that so much has been accomplished in the way of improvement, and that we have become witnesses to the fact, that our own race horses now surpass in fleetness and size the parent Arab stock; also that our cattle have much increased in weight and early maturity, compared with the stock formerly kept in this country. Mr Darwin does not jump at conclusions; on the contrary, his theories evince careful study and research.