60 RAMBLES AND REVERIES. 



of new species. The testimony of palaeontology on 

 this point, in my judgment, altogether subverts the 

 prevalent theory of l survival of the fittest,' and 

 shows that the struggle for existence, so far from 

 being a cause of development and improvement, 

 has led only to decay and extinction, whereas the 

 advent of new and favourable conditions, and the 

 removal of severe competition, are the circumstances 

 favourable to the introduction of new and advanced 

 species." 



Opinions so authoritative, based upon such weighty 

 considerations, are deserving of respectful and care- 

 ful attention, and should certainly make all who 

 desire to know the truth and to see it prevail receive 

 with the utmost caution any partial hypothesis which 

 requires so much aid from the imagination to make 

 it fit in to the demands of the case as do many of 

 the current theories and speculations concerning the 

 origin and development of life on the earth. 



