102 DARWINIAN INTERESTS 



The great objection to the continental extension is, that 

 it may be said to account for everything, but to explain 

 nothing ; it proves too much ; whilst the hypothesis of 

 trans-oceanic migration, though it leaves a multitude of facts 

 unexplained, offers a rational solution of many of the most 

 puzzling phenomena that oceanic islands present : phe- 

 nomena which, under the hypothesis of intermediate con- 

 tinents, are barren facts, literally of no scientific interest — 

 are curiosities of science, no doubt, but are not scientific 

 curiosities. 



He wound up with an amusing apologue upon the reception 

 of new ideas. 



You have all read of uncivilised races of mankind that 

 regard every month's moon as a new creation of their gods, 

 who, they say, eat the old moons, not for their sustenance, 

 but for their glory, and to prove to mortals that they can 

 make new ones ; and they regard your denial that their 

 gods do monthly make a new moon as equivalent to denying 

 that they could do so if they would. 



It is not so long since it was held by most scientific men 

 (and is so by some few still) that species of plants and animals 

 were, like the savages' moons, created in as many spots as 

 we meet them in, and in as great numbers as they were found 

 at the times and places of their discovery. To deny that 

 species were thus created was, in the opinion of many 

 persons, equivalent to denying that they could have been 

 so created. 



And I have twice been present at the annual gathering 

 of tribes., in such a state of advancement as this, but after 

 they had come into contact with the missionaries of the 

 most enlightened nations of mankind. These missionaries 

 attempted to teach them, amongst other matters, the true 

 theory of the meon's motions, and at the first of the gather- 

 ings the subject was discussed by them. The presiding 

 Sachem shook his head and his spear. The priests first 

 attacked the new doctrine, and with fury, their temples 

 were ornamented with symbols of the old creed, and their 

 religious chants and rites were worded and arranged in 

 accordance with it. The medicine men, however, being 

 divided among themselves (as medicine men are apt to be 



