60 EVOLUTION AND DOGMA. 



by hybrid generation, that is, by intercrossing with 

 other species." 1 



The first one to formulate a working hypothesis 

 respecting the mutation of species was the eminent 

 French naturalist, Buffon. According to Lanessan, 

 he "anticipated not only Lamarck in his conception 

 of the action of environment, but Darwin in the strug- 

 gle for existence and the survival of the fittest." The 

 questions of heredity, geographical distribution, the 

 extinction of old and the apparition of new species 

 he discussed with rare perspicacity and suggestive- 

 ness. He was undoubtedly a believer in the unity 

 of type, and the community of origin of all animal 

 forms, although the diverse views he entertained on 

 these subjects at different periods of his life have 

 led some to minimize the importance of his contribu- 

 tions to the theory of Evolution. 8 



'"Suspicio est," he says, " quam diu fovi neque jam pro 

 veritate indubia venditare audeo, sed per modum hypotheseos 

 propono ; quod scilicet omnes species ejusdem generis ab initio 

 unam constituerint speciem, sed postea per generationes hybridas 

 propagatse sint. . . . Num vero hse species per manum Om- 

 nipotentis Creatoris immediate sint exortse in primordio, an vero 

 pernaturam, Creatoris executricem, propagatze in tempore, non 

 adeo facile demonstrabitur." " Amcenitates Academics." Vol. 

 VI., p. 296. 



It is interesting to observe that this view found favor with 

 the celebrated Scriptural commentator, Dom Calmet. Only on 

 the supposition that all the species of each genus originally 

 formed but one species, was he able to explain how all the ani- 

 mals could find a place in the ark of Noah. 



2 Speaking of the factors of evolutionary changes he writes : 

 " What cannot nature effect with such means at her disposal ? 

 She can do all except either create matter or destroy it. These 

 two extremes of power, the Deity has reserved for Himself alone; 

 creation and destruction are the attributes of His Omnipotence. 

 To alter and undo, to develop and renew these are powers 

 which He has handed over to the charge of nature." 



