AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



It is not the purpose of the following pages to discuss 

 once more the arguments adduced for and against 

 Darwin's theory of the origin of species, or to weigh 

 them one against the other. Their object is simply to 

 indicate a few facts favourable to this theory, collected 

 upon the same South American ground, on which, as 

 Darwin tells us, the idea first occurred to him of de- 

 voting his attention to "the origin of species, — that 

 mystery of mysteries." 



It is only by the accumulation of new and valuable 

 material that the controversy will gradually be brought 

 into a state fit for final decision, and this appears to be 

 for the present of more importance than a repeated 

 analysis of what is ah'eady before us. Moreover, it is 

 but fair to leave it to Darwin himself at first to beat oft* 

 the attacks of his opponents from the splendid structure 

 which he has raised with such a master-hand. 



F. M. 



Desterro, 1th Sej^t., 1863. 



