CONTEXTS. 



common origin to the mammalia. Difficulties of theory. Absence 

 or rarity of transitional varieties, or the origin and transition of 

 organic beings with peculiar habit and structure. The Mustela 

 visnn. Natural selection only acting for the good of the indi- 

 vidual considered. Plying lemur. .... 121 135 



CHAPTER VIII. 



DIVERSIFIED habit considered. Mr. Darwin's illustrations unfortunate. 

 Transmutation of a bear into a whale. American woodpecker. 

 Frigate bird. Organs of extreme perfection and complication. 

 Light objective and substantive. The eye. Irresistible proof 

 against Mr. Darwin's theory draAvn from the structure of the eye. 

 Owen. Buckland on the vision of Trilobites. Nuttall on vision of 

 birds. Eyes of insect. Owen on the eyes of fishes, and his 

 deductions. 1 36 149 



CHAPTER IX. 



ORGANS of little importance ; Mr. Darwin's views upon them considered. 

 The Aye-aye; Dr. Sandwith upon. Darwin's views upon the 

 assumed identity of bones in monkey, horse, bat, and seal. Use 

 of the skeleton. Owen upon the osteology of animated beings. 

 Mr. Darwin's belief that his doctrine would be upset if it could 

 be proved that the organs of one animal were formed for the 

 good of another. The challenge accepted, and the issue proved 

 against Mr. Darwin. The horse not a transmuted tapir. Difference 

 between instinct and habit. Mr. Darwin's views upon" the subject 

 confused. The cuckoo. Slave ants. Cells of hive bee. Neuter 

 insects. Mr. Darwin on accidental variation. The song thrush. 

 Mr. Darwin's canon "Multiply, vary, let the strongest live and 

 the weakest die." Dr. Maclean on the economy of Sphex sabulosus, 

 Limenitis Sibylla, and Apatura iris. Professor Goodsir on the 

 distinction between human consciousness and instinct. 150 181 



CHAPTER X. 



HYBRIDISM. Geoffrey St. Hilaire's deduction utterly opposed to the 

 Darwinian theory. " Imperfection of geological record. Admirable 

 remarks upon the subject from the "Spectator." Owen on the 

 succession of species in geology. Extinction nowhere sudden. 

 Development not in the line from weak to stronger form. Geo- 

 graphical distribution. Dr. Hooker a convert to Mr. Darwin's 

 views. The analogy between plants and animals, as it regards 

 Darwin's doctrine not to be sustained. Dr. Asa Grey's views 

 upon the distribution of plants and animals. Agassi/,; his views 

 upon the same subject. . . . . 182 200 



