INTRODUCTORY. 



that creatures really different in kind may have been 

 continuously produced, in succession, simply by evolu- 

 tion. To say this, however, is to confound a real, 

 philosophical difference of "kind" (which, of course, is 

 what Mr. Romanes has in view) with a mere popular use 

 of the word. It is as if a man were to say he liked three 

 " kinds " of toast for breakfast—" dry," " buttered," and 

 " French." But a real difference of kind, a difference 

 of essential nature^ cannot be evolved. It cannot 

 possibly admit of " more " or " less." It simply " is " or 

 it " is not." Mr. Romanes has rightly apprehended the 

 task before him, and has vigorously applied himself to 

 it. He does not "palter with us in a double sense," 

 but honestly and honourably strives to meet, point- 

 blank, the strongest arguments of his adversaries. 



Before beginning our examination of Mr. Romanes's 

 work, we think it well to state distinctly what our own 

 position exactly is. 



We deem this necessary, because, as will shortly 

 appear, our views have been so singularly misappre- 

 hended by Mr. Romanes. We therefore cannot but 

 feel sure that other persons less gifted, or less interested 

 in the subject than he is, may, not improbably, have 

 misunderstood us also. It therefore seems to be in- 

 cumbent on us to take what pains we can to obviate 

 such misconceptions, by giving as plain and full a state- 

 ment of our convictions as it is in our power to do. 



A careful study of the facts of life (human, animal, 

 and vegetal) has impressed us with the following con- 

 victions : — 



(i) Although our intellectual and volitional nature 



