126 THE DARWINIAN HYPOTHESIS 



it questionable that they have had the most important 

 influence on the progress of science. More recently Mr. 

 Darwin, with a versatility which is among the rarest of 

 gifts, turned his attention to a most difficult question of 

 zoology and minute anatomy ; and no living naturalist and 

 anatomist has published a better monograph than that 

 which resulted from his labours. Such a man, at all events, 

 has not entered the sanctuary with unwashed hands, and 

 when he lays before us the results of 20 years' investigation 

 and reflection we must listen even though we be disposed 

 to strike. But, in reading his work it must be confessed 

 that the attention which might at first be dutifully, soon 

 becomes willingly, given, so clear is the author's thought, 

 so outspoken his conviction, so honest and fair the candid 

 expression of his doubts. Those who would judge the book 

 must read it ; we shall endeavour only to make its line of 

 argument and its philosophical position intelligible to the 

 general reader in our own way. 



The Baker-street Bazaar has just been exhibiting its 

 familiar annual spectacle. Straight-backed, small-headed, 

 big-barrelled oxen, as dissimilar from any wild species as 

 can well be imagined, contended for attention and praise 

 with sheep of half-a-dozen different breeds and styes of 

 bloated preposterous pigs, no more like a wild boar or 

 sow than a city alderman is like an ourang-outang. The 

 cattle show has been, and perhaps may again be, succeeded 

 by a poultry show, of whose crowing and clucking pro- 

 digies it can only be certainly predicated that they will be 

 very unlike the aboriginal Phasianus Callus. If the seeker 

 after animal anomalies is not satisfied, a turn or two in 

 Seven Dials will convince him that the breeds of pigeons 

 are quite as extraordinary and unlike one another and 

 their parent stock, while the Horticultural Society will 

 provide him with any number of corresponding vegetable 

 aberrations from nature's types. He will learn with no 

 little surprise, too, in the course of his travels, that the 

 proprietors and producers of these animal and vegetable 

 anomalies regard them ;is distinct species, \vith a firm 

 belief, the strength of which is exactly proportioned to 

 their ignorance of scientific biology, and which is the 

 more remarkable as they are all proud of their skill in 

 originating such " species." 



On careful inquiry it is found that all these, and the 

 many other artificial breeds or races of animals and 



