Scientific Papers of William Bateson

ACCORDING to a statement in his biography, recently published, Bateson intended at some time to write the history of Mendelism. Interesting as such a review would have been, the result has, in effect, been accomplished by the publication of his scientific papers and public addresses; for we have here not only a record of English work covering the early days of Mendelism, but also a general summary of much of the work done elsewhere. These papers, taken in conjunction with Bateson's biography, tell nearly the whole story of the fateful years following the rediscovery of Mendel's work in 1900. Possibly, in retrospect, emphasis might now be differently placed, and much of the detail relegated to the background, but the vividness of the recital by those in the midst of the enthusiasm of verifying and expanding Mendel's work might be lost in a strictly historical review. Scientific Papers of William Bateson. Edited by R. C. Punnett. Vol. 1. Pp. viii + 452 + 7 plates. Vol. 2. Pp. viii + 503 + 29 plates. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1928.) 42s. net each.