50 Mr. Toulmin Smithes Account of the Ventriculidse. 



this objection. The Acacias i^latyptera, pendula and grandijlora 

 are, for instance, at first sight, almost as incongruous as are 

 Tubulipora patina, Gemellaria loriculata and Halodactylus dia- 

 phanus. 



I doubt not that when the first priest of old nailed to the 

 column's head, after the solemn sacrifice was done, the scalp 

 which he had torn off the devoted ram, he thought he knew very 

 well what a ram's head was, and would have pitied any unhappy 

 wight who might have suggested any resemblance between the 

 head and the tail of the beast which had just smoked upon the 

 altar. It has been reserved for modern science not only to sug- 

 gest but to demonstrate, by one of the most beautiful, most 

 logical, most philosophical, and at the same time most scienti- 

 fically important trains of investigation that has been ever fol- 

 lowed up, that between these so " incongruous " parts there are 

 clear and positive homologies, and that no one can truly " know ^' 

 either part who does not study those homologies. It has been by 

 treading, though at an humble distance, and, I am fully con- 

 scious, with a too faltering step, in the path by which those im- 

 portant truths have been obtained that I have arrived at what 

 Dr. Mantell thinks fit to term " sublime transcendentalisms ;" 

 but which, to my mind, constitute, in every branch of science, 

 the main charm, and the most important end, of the pursuit. 



In conclusion I may be allowed to say, that it is of little im- 

 portance to the world what may be Dr. MantelFs opinion or my 

 own on the present matter ; but it is of importance whether, in 

 pursuing the subject, any fragment of truth has been got at. I 

 had hoped Dr. Mantell would have discussed my facts and argu- 

 ments, and not " replied '' to my conclusions. I hope that he 

 wall do so yet. It is only by full discussion, close examination, 

 and careful consideration that the truth or falsity of my conclu- 

 sions can be tested. Such discussion, examination and consi- 

 deration I shall be ready and most glad to meet from any one in 

 a fair and cordial spirit. But all hope of truth and all scientific 

 investigation is at an end, if it is to be considered as a " reply'' to a 

 long and most carefully conducted train of investigation that, some 

 years before, one or two of the objects whose natural history and 

 relations are thus elucidated had been described in quite a differ- 

 ent way ; and that, therefore, — for that is Dr. MantelFs only ar- 

 gument, — the more recent investigations must be all wrong. I 

 am glad to say that my collection has been already visited by 

 several of the most eminent palaeontologists and anatomists of 

 this country ; and I know that some of these, who have the most 

 carefully examined the scries, are satisfied of the truth of my 

 conclusions. Of the opinion of others I have perhaps no certain 

 information at present ; but I will only add, that, to these or any 



