[page]243

Darwin's New Work. -The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication.

Mr. Darwin is widely known for his work on the Origin of Species, in which he advances some views that have been the source of much discussion in the scientific world. The present work treats of the variations in our domestic animals and cultivated plants, discussing the circumstances that influence these variations, inheritance of peculiarities, the results of in-and-in breeding, crossing, etc. It is one of the most remarkable books of the present day, presenting an array of facts that show the most extraordinary amount of observation and research. All the domestic animals, from horses and cattle to canary-birds and honey-bees, are discussed, as well as our leading culinary and other plants, making it a work of greatest interest, not only to the breeder, the intelligent farmer, and the man of science, but to the general reader. Feeling that a work of such importance, and one that will be so frequently discussed and referred to as authority, should be acceptable to the American reader, the Publishers of the Agriculturalist have in press a reprint, from advance sheets furnished by the author, through Professor Asa Gray of Cambridge, who will furnish a prefatory note to this edition. The work will be published in two neat volumes of over 400 pages each.

A noticeable feature of the work is the exact reference for "chapter and verse" of every statement made, and another in the very copious index, so that it forms a cyclopædia to the subjects upon which it treats. Ready early in April, 2 vols., illustrated, $6.00.

[page] 173

Darwin's Great Work. -The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication. By Charles Darwin. Authorized edition, with a Preface to the American edition by the Author, and one by Professor Asa Gray. The most perfect edition yet published. The American edition of this remarkable work is now ready. An idea of its scope, though an incomplete one, is given on page 177. The first English edition was exhausted in a week, and a new one called for; in the reprint, Mr. Darwin included some additions, and sent us the sheets as soon as they were printed, together with many additions in manuscript. As these reached us just as our edition was in the hands of the binder, we were obliged to place them on pages prefixed to  the work. If the American reader will mark in the text where these additions come in, he will have the work revised by the author up to the latest moment, and a more complete copy than even the latest English edition. Mr. Darwin, not knowing that Professor Gray had made a preface to the American edition, sent us one of his own, which puts his estimate of his own work so neatly and modestly that we chose to insert it. The book presents the most remarkable collection of facts concerning our domestic animals and plants yet brought together, and for this alone it is of the highest value. Not the least interesting portion of the work, to the thoughtful reader, are the speculative views of the author. In these the great problems of inheritance, reversion, influence of external conditions of life, development, and the like, are put in a new light with remarkable clearness and force. The philosophical results derived from the discussion of domestic animals and plants find an application in all animals, including the human species. While the work will be not interesting only, but useful to every one engaged in propagating animals or plants, it commends itself none the less to the intelligent reader who will find abundant food for thought, and, to men of the medical and other learned professions, who cannot fail to be instructed by its contents.

In two neat volumes, of over 500 pages each, illustrated. By mail for $6 -less than half the price of the imported work.

[page] 243

Probably no work ever published in this country met with a more cordial appreciation. We published it, not as endorsing Mr. Darwin's views, but to give the opinion of so eminent a naturalist to the American public in an accessible form. The notices the work has had have been most favorable, even those journals, who are opposed to Mr. Darwin's views giving praise to this remarkable record of facts. As a specimen of the reviews we give the following from the N. Y. Horticulturist:

"Written in admirable English, using no scientific terms but such as are comprehensible to men of fair education, lucidly arranged , and indexed with scrupulous care, there is not an agriculturist or horticulturist in the country who has any taste for the history or theory of his calling but will peruse it with pleasure and profit, and find it difficult to say whether he values it more as a storehouse of facts or as an incitement to observe and to think. Let the reader be of the learned professions, or a child or novice in all that pertains to natural history, he will find in this book food for thought and instruction, knowledge of animal and vegetable life, their origin and perpetuation in a healthy or unhealthy condition, and so mingled with anecdotes, observations, and originality, that its study will be a pleasure to every intelligent mind.

The work is finely illustrated, and published in two volumes of over 500 pages each.

Price, $6, post-paid."