THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTRODUCTORY. 



The problem of the genesis of species stated. — Mature of its probable 

 solution. — Importance of the question. — Position here defended. — 

 Statement of the Darwinian Theory, — Its applicability to details of 

 geographical distril)ution.; to rudiraentar)^ structures ; to homology ; to 

 mimicry, &c. — Consequent utility of the theory. — Its wide acceptance. 

 — Reasons for this, other than, and in addition to, its scientific value. ^ 

 Its simplicity. — Its bearing on religious questions. — Odium theologicum 

 and odium antitheologicum.- — The antagonism supposed by many to 

 exist between it and theolog}?^ neither necessary nor universal. — 

 Christian authorities in favour of evolution.— Mr. Darwin's "Animals 

 and Plants under Domestication." — Difficulties of the Darwinian 

 theory enumerated. 



The great problem wliicli has so long exercised the minds 

 of naturalists, namely, that concerning the origin of dif- 

 ferent kinds of animals and plants, seems at last to be 

 Mrly on the road to receive — perhaps at no very distant 

 future — as satisfactory a solution as it can well have. 



But the prol)lem presents peculiar difficulties. The birth 

 of a " species " has often been compared with that of an 

 " individual." The origin, however, of even an individual 

 animal or plant (that which determines an embryo to 



B 



