Permanence and Evolution. 167 



but on the other hand, on more minute 

 investigation, he will find that all his general 

 views depend on the assumption that hydro- 

 graphical relations have been much the same 

 since the origin of existing races or even 

 existing types of greater generality, while at the 

 same time he will find himself compelled in 

 pursuing his notions into detail to suppose 

 hydrographical changes which must be called 

 immense, so that he may perhaps be inclined 

 to feel doubtful of the original suggestion, and 

 to do more than doubt of evolution; to pro- 

 nounce dogmatically against it I feel as little 

 inclined as any man living. 



Speaking generally, it may be said that while 

 large inferences have been drawn as to the 

 origin of species from comparing the present 

 state of different countries with the facies of 

 their fauna, and sometimes from that facies 

 inferences have been drawn as to the former 

 geological relations of land and sea, not nearly 



