164 Darwin and his Teachings. | April, 
to the rank which he continues to hold, of one of the greatest 
naturalists the world has ever produced. 
When Darwin’s hypothesis concerning the origin of species 
is compared with that of Lamarck, that is to say, when we consider 
the evidence brought forward by our illustrious contemporary in 
support of his theory, as compared with the reasons adduced by 
the eminent French naturalist, who may be regarded as the original 
exponent of that theory,* we cannot help being astonished, first at 
the large amount of experience and information which had been 
accumulated by all classes of naturalists between the periods at 
which the two observers wrote; and, secondly, with the immense 
amount of original thought and observation that Darwin has 
brought to bear upon the question. This is most strikingly 
exhibited in the Introduction to the last edition of his work, where 
the author unintentionally groups around himself as writers in 
favour of his views, Lamarck, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, the Hon. and 
Rev. W. Herbert, Dean of Manchester, Prof. Grant, the Author of 
‘The Vestiges of Creation, Prof. Owen(!), (he had not read the 
Introduction to Owen’s ‘ Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrata,’ 
just published, or we think he might, perhaps, have omitted 
this celebrated paleontologist), Isidore St. Hilaire, Schaafhausen, 
the Rev. Baden Powell, Mr. Wallace, Prof. Huxley, Dr. Hooker, 
and others. We say “ unintentionally” because he does not call 
them believers in jis theory, but in that of the modification of 
species, of which he is the latest and most able exponent; and he 
might with propriety have added halfa-score of highly-respected 
and well-known naturalists (in the widest sense of the term), who, 
not unwisely, delayed the expression of their views until they 
should have had an opportunity of forming a clear and well- 
founded judgment upon his theory, and some of whom may be 
called his disciples, with a certain amount of reservation. 
He bases his opinion that living species are the modified 
descendants of other pre-existing species on various observed facts 
in nature. First, because it is possible to produce, and he has 
himself succeeded in producing, such a degree of variability in 
species under domestication as almost to amount to the creation 
of a new species, and he thinks that what he and others have been 
able to effect imperfectly, in a brief period of time, could easily be 
completely brought about by ‘‘ Nature” in a practically indefinite 
period. Man, he says, does not actually himself produce variability, 
but this is accomplished by the conditions in which he places the 
creatures acted upon; and if they can produce it in one case (under 
domestication), they can in another (in nature). Let us inquire 
into the accuracy of these views as we proceed, and observe that 
whilst we are prepared to give him the full benefit of his effects, we 
* Buffon had some vague ideas concerning the transmutation of species. 
