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From the ''Origin of Species'', we have Darwin''s beautifully clear exposition of natural selection and of the case against creationism; from the ''Descent of Man'' we have his explanation of human intelligence and morality, and his theory of sex differences; and from ''Coral Reefs'' we have his wholly original theory of the origin of coral atolls - a theory that is still widely accepted today. We see him as an experimentalist, unveiling the loves of the plants; as a travel writer describing ''that little world within itself'', the Galapagos Islands; and as a natural philosopher, serenely calculating how the actions of worms over long periods emerge as a geological force and the agency of archaeological preservation. ''A Darwin Selection'' contains many memorable details too; we can rediscover, for instance, the rudimentary tip of the human ear - the curiosity that finally introduced evolution to the polite conversation of the Victorian sitting-room... ''Ridley''s selection of Darwiniana - as befits his reputation as one of the most widely read of all evolutionary biologists - is a first-rate one.'' STEVE JONES, author of ''The Language of the Genes'' ''Ridley''s compilation is most welcome. I hope that he will succeed in his quest to bring Darwin closer, especially to students - whetting their appetites and inspiring them to explore Darwin further on their own.'' NILES ELDREDGE, ''Nature'' ''A selection made with care and understanding'' GEORGE C. WILLIAMS, ''Quarterly Review of Biology''
