PALAEONTOLOGY SINCE CUVIER. 63 



to set up pedigrees those systems of the probable 

 geological connection which are ridiculed only by 

 persons who lack the preliminary knowledge for 

 forming a judgment. 



Yet Gaudry, like other of his countrymen who 

 maintain the incontestability of the theory of 

 descent, is not a disciple of Darwinism i.e. of 

 finding a proof for the theory of descent in the 

 hypothesis of natural selection in the struggle for 

 existence. He, like E. Owen, remains within the 

 realm of miracles, and supposes a personal Creator 

 to have directed the countless forms of develop- 

 ment towards definite and pre-ordained purposes. 

 With this conception of things which at a certain 

 point sets sober inquiry aside the assumption of 

 accident has to be met, and accident, in the 

 opinion of Darwin's opponents, is raised to the 

 rank of principle. We do not, of course, intend 

 here to enter into any further polemics while 

 speaking of the great achievements of a man who 

 admits his belief in such things, but still we must 

 again remark that even that which is called 

 accident is not beyond the pale of legitimate occur- 

 rence. We leave it to the reader to decide whether 

 it appears more reasonable to assume that the 

 absolute intelligence of a personal Creator should 



