16 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



well developed, and in which the phrenologist finds the 

 organ of veneration so much enlarged. I shall, in the 

 meanwhile, call these simious narrow skulls of Switzer- 

 land 'Apostle skulls,' as I imagine that in life they must 

 have resembled the type of Peter, the Apostle, as repre- 

 sented in Byzantine-Nazarene art." 



In encountering such a spirit, can it be wondered at that 

 disputants have grown warm ? Moreover, in estimating 

 the vehemence of the opposition which has been offered, 

 it should be borne in mind that the views defended by 

 religious writers are, or should be, all-important in their 

 eyes. They could not be expected to view with equa- 

 nimity the destruction in many minds of " theology, 

 natural and revealed, psychology, and metaphysics ;" nor 

 to weigh with calm and frigid impartiality arguments 

 which seemed to them to be fraught with results of the 

 highest moment to mankind, and, therefore, imposing on 

 their consciences strenuous opposition as a first duty. Cool 

 judicial impartiality in them would have been a sign 

 perhaps of intellectual power, but also of a grievous defi- 

 ciency of generous emotion. 



It is easy to complain of onesidedness in the views of 

 many who oppose Darwinism in the interest of orthodoxy ; 

 but not *at all less patent is the intolerance and narrow- 

 mindedness of some of those who advocate it, avowedly 

 or covertly, in the interest of heterodoxy. This hastiness 

 of rejection or acceptance, determined by ulterior con- 

 sequences believed to attach to " Natural Selection, " is 

 unfortunately in part to be accounted for by some ex- 

 pressions and a certain tone to be found in Mr. Darwin's 

 writings. That his expressions, however, are not always 

 to be construed literally is manifest. His frequent use 



