272 LAY SERMONS, ESSAYS, AND REVIEWS. [xin. 



&quot; Natura non facit saltum.&quot; We greatly suspect that she does 

 make considerable jumps in the way of variation now and then, 

 and that these saltations give rise to some of the gaps which 

 appear to exist in the series of known forms. 



Strongly and freely as we have ventured to disagree with 

 Professor Kblliker, we have always done so with regret, and we 

 trust without violating that respect which is due, not only to his 

 scientific eminence and to the careful study which he has 

 devoted to the subject, but to the perfect fairness of his argu 

 mentation, and the generous appreciation of the worth of Mr. 

 Darwin s labours which he always displays. It would be 

 satisfactory to be able to say as much for M. Flourens. 



But the Perpetual Secretary of the French Academy of 

 Sciences deals with Mr. Darwin as the first Napoleon would 

 have treated an &quot; ideologue ; &quot; and while displaying a painful 

 weakness of logic and shallowness of information, assumes a tone 

 of authority, which always touches upon the ludicrous, and 

 sometimes passes the limits of good breeding. 



For example (p. 56) : 



&quot; M. Darwin continue : Aucune distinction absolue n a ete et ne pent 

 etre etablie entre les especes et les varie tes. Je vous ai deja dit que vous 

 vous trompiez ; une distinction absolue se&quot;pare les varie te s d avec les 

 especes.&quot; 



&quot; Je vous ai dejd dit ; moi, M. le Secretaire perpetuel de 

 1 Academic des Sciences : et vous 



&quot; Qui n etes rien, 



Pas me me Academicien ; 



what do you mean by asserting the contrary ? &quot; Being devoid 

 of the blessings of an Academy in England, we are unaccustomed 

 to see our ablest men treated in this fashion, even by a &quot;Perpetual 

 Secretary.&quot; 



Or again, considering that if there is any one quality of Mr. 

 Darwin s work to which friends and foes have alike borne 

 witness, it is his candour and fairness in admitting and dis- 



