REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSION. 885 



theories, would either be obscured or entirely elude 

 our view. 



Much, undoubtedly, remains yet to be done, but 

 no one who is familiar with the history of science 

 in the past half century, can deny that marvels 

 have been accomplished during this time, and that a 

 flood of light has been thrown on some of the most 

 puzzling problems of natural science. Whatever 

 value, then, we may attach to the theories of Lamarck 

 and Saint-Hilaire, of Darwin and Wallace and Mivart, 

 no one can deny that they are entitled to a lasting 

 debt of gratitude for their brilliant researches, and 

 for their untiring zeal and signal success in collect- 

 ing and coordinating facts in a way that has never 

 before been accomplished. Whether their theories 

 be all that has been claimed for them or not, they 

 have certainly popularized an idea which prior to 

 their promulgation interested but a few, and given to 

 the study of science an impetus which it had never 

 before experienced. They have given to the evolu- 

 tionary idea a relief, and endowed it with a fascina- 

 tion, which have captivated the world. They have 

 inspired among the masses a love of nature which did 

 not previously exist, and have stimulated investiga- 

 tion and spurred on progress in a manner to win the 

 admiration and extort the plaudits of the most in- 

 different and phlegmatic. As to the authors of these 

 theories they have ushered in a new era, and are the 

 kings and prophets of the most active and most 

 prolific period of research that the world has yet 

 witnessed. Others will come after them who will 

 correct their errors and improve on their theories, 



E.-9S 



