CHAPTEE V. 



DR. ERASMUS DARWIN CONCLUDED. 



IT is one of the Lamarckian dogmas of Erasmus, that 

 " the means of providing food has diversified the forms 

 of all species of animals." And this is illustrated at 

 great length by reference to the hardened snout of the 

 grubbing swine, the elongated nose of the elephant (for 

 the enabling of it to drink and to pull down branches 

 to eat), the claws and talons of the beasts of prey, the 

 rough tongues of the browsing cattle, the beaks and bills 

 of birds (respectively, as needs were, hard or soft, long 

 or broad, sharp, etc.) :" All which seem to have been 

 gradually produced during many generations by the per- 

 petual endeavour of the creatures to supply the want of 

 food, and to have been delivered to their posterity with 

 constant improvement of them, for the purpose required." 

 Even wings seem to Erasmus but as results results of 

 the endeavours of the feet for speed ; and, similarly so, 

 many other diversified forms, as length of fin to the 

 1lying-fish, spread of membrane to the bat, hard or armed 

 shells to the tortoise and the echinus marinus. The 

 snake, and wild cat, and leopard are so coloured as to 

 resemble dark leaves and their lighter interstices ; and 

 moths and butterflies are painted like the flowers which 

 they rob of their honey. 



" These colours have, however, in some instances " 



