76 THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [ibftu 



that I have given, as yet, is far too briefly. I have found it 

 very important associating with fanciers and breeders. For 

 instance, I sat one evening in a gin palace in the Borough 

 amongst a set of pigeon fanciers, when it was hinted that 

 Mr. Bull had crossed his Pouters with Runts to gain size; and 

 if you had seen the solemn, the mysterious, and awful shakes 

 of the head which all the fanciers gave at this scandalous 

 proceeding, you would have recognised how little crossing 

 has had to do with improving breeds, and how dangerous for 

 endless generations the process was. All this was brought 

 home far more vividly than by pages of mere statements, &c. 

 But I am scribbling foolishly. I really do not know how to 

 advise about getting up facts on breeding and improving 

 breeds. Go to Shows is one way. Read all treatises on any 

 one domestic animal, and believe nothing without largely 

 confirmed. For your lectures I can give you a few amusing 

 anecdotes and sentences, if you want to make the audience 

 laugh. 



I thank you particularly for telling me what naturalists 

 think. If we can once make a compact set of believers we 

 shall in time conquer. I am eminently glad Ramsey is on 

 our side, for he is, in my opinion, a first-rate geologist. I sent 

 him a copy. I hope he got it. I shall be very curious to 

 hear whether any effect has been produced on Prestwich ; I 

 sent him a copy, not as a friend, but owing to a sentence or 

 two in some paper, which made me suspect he was doubting. 



Rev. C. Kingsley has a mind to come round. Quatrefages 

 writes that he goes some long way with me ; says he exhibited 

 diagrams like mine. With most hearty thanks, 



Yours very tired, 



C. DARWIN. 



[I give the conclusion of Professor Huxley's lecture, as 

 being one of the earliest, as well us one of the most eloquent 

 of his utterances in support of the * Origin of Species ' : 



u I have said that the man of science is the sworn inter- 

 preter of nature in the high court of reason. But of what 



