272 ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 



of mightily strengthening the theory of pro 

 gressive development, first suggested by the 

 illustrious Lamarck, and since so ably ex 

 pounded and defended, under somewhat modi 

 fied forms, by the author of the &quot; Vestiges of 

 Creation,&quot; and by Mr. Charles Darwin. 



There, Messieurs les Critiques, is a chance for 

 you ! &quot; Pitch into him ; jump down his throat ; 

 tear him in pieces ; the Atheist ! the La- 

 marckian ! the disciple of the atrocious author 

 of the &amp;lt; Vestiges/ &quot; &c. &c. &c. 



I acknowledge with humility my presump 

 tion in entering upon so profound a question in 

 Natural History ; but although I make no pre 

 tensions to the character of a scientific natu 

 ralist, still I have had opportunities such as 

 few have enjoyed, of observing and studying 

 the habits and mode of life of strange animals 

 in many strange countries ; and the more I 

 observe nature, and ponder on the subject, the 

 more do I become convinced that Almighty 

 God always carries out his intentions with 

 regard to the animal creation, not by &quot; direct 

 interpositions &quot; of His will, nor by &quot; special 

 fiats of creation,&quot; but by the slow and gradual 

 agency of natural causes. 



It might naturally be expected that in such 



