l6 FOOT-NOTES TO EVOLUTION. 



not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable. Heaven 

 forfend me from Lamarck nonsense of a tendency to 

 ' progression,' ' adaptations from the slow willing of 

 animals,' etc. But the conclusions I am led to are not 

 widely different from his, though the means of change 

 are wholly so. I think I have found out (here's pre- 

 sumption !) the simple way by which species become 

 exquisitely adapted to various ends." 



In the preface to the Origin of Species, published in 

 1859, he outlined his plan of work in the following i 

 words : 



"When on board H. M. S. Beagle as naturalist, I 



was much struck with certain facts in the distribution 



of the organic beings inhabiting South 



Darwin s America, and in the geological relations 



method. , , , • 1 . -^ ^ r 



of the present to the past mhabitants of 



the continent. These facts seem to throw some light 

 on the origin of species, that mystery of mysteries, as it 

 has been called by one of our greatest philosophers. 

 On my return home it occurred to me (in 1837) that 

 something might perhaps be made out on this question 

 by patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of 

 facts which could possibly have any bearing on it. 

 After five years I allowed myself to speculate on the 

 subject, and drew up some short notes. These I en- 

 larged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions which 

 then seemed to me to be probable. From that period 

 to the present day I have steadily pursued the same 

 object. I hope that I may be excused for entering 

 upon these personal details, as I give them to show 

 that I have not been hasty in coming to a conclusion." 



"Mother Nature," says Huxley, "is singularly ob- 

 durate to honeyed words. Only those who understand 

 the ways of things, and can silently and effectively use 

 them, get much good out of her." 



