U THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [Chap. 



Such is the Darwinian theory of " Natural Selection," 

 such are the more remarkable facts which it is potent to 

 explain, and such is the reception it has met witli in the 

 AV(n-l(l. A few words now as to tlie reasons for the very 

 wide-spread interest it has awakened, and the keenness 

 witli which the theory lias been both advocated and 

 combated. 



The iin]>ortant bearing it has on such an extensive range 

 of scientilic facts, its utility, and the vast knowledge and 

 great ingenuity of its promulgator, are enough to account 

 for the heartiness of its reception by those learned in 

 natural history. But quite other causes have concurred to 

 produce the general and higher degree (jf interest felt in 

 the theory beside the readiness with which it harmonizes 

 with biological facts. These latter could only be a]»i»re- 

 ciated by jjhysiologists, zoologists, and botanists; whereas 

 the Darwinian theory, s(j novel and so startling, has found 

 a cloud of advocates and opponents beyond and outside 

 the world of physical science. 



in the first place, it was inevitable that very many hall- 

 educated men and shallow thinkers should accept with 

 eagerness the theory of " Natural Selection," or rather 

 what they think to be such (for few things are more 

 remarkable than the manner in which it has been mis- 

 understood), on account of a certain characteristic it has 

 in common with other theories which should not l)e 

 mentioned in the same breath with it, except, as now, with 

 the accompaniment of protest and apology. We refer to 

 its rcmarkalde simplicity and the ready way in \\hich 

 jihenomena the most complex apj^ear exi)licable by a cause 

 for the comjirehension of \\hich laboiious anil per-severing 

 ellbrts arc not required, but which may be represented by 



