Masterpieces of Science 



where, several sentences which imply that natur- 

 alists believe in the separate creation of each 

 species; and I have been much censured for hav- 

 ing thus expressed myself. But undoubtedly 

 this was the general belief when the first edition 

 of the present work appeared. I formerly spoke 

 to very many naturalists on the subject of evolu- 

 tion, and never once met with any sympathetic 

 agreement. It is probable that some did then 

 believe in evolution, but they were either silent 

 or expressed themselves so ambiguously that it 

 was not easy to understand their meaning. 

 Now, things are wholly changed, and almost 

 every naturalist admits the great principle of 

 evolution. There are, however, some who still 

 think that species have suddenly given birth, 

 through quite unexplained means, to new and 

 totally different forms. But, as I have attempted 

 to show, weighty evidence can be opposed to 

 the admission of great and abrupt modifications. 

 Under a scientific point of view, and as leading 

 to further investigation, but little advantage is 

 gained by believing that new forms are suddenly 

 developed in an inexplicable manner from old 

 and widely different forms, over the old belief 

 in the creation of species from the dust of the 

 earth. 



It may be asked how far I extend the doctrine 

 of the modification of species. The question is 

 difficult to answer, because the more distinct the 

 forms are which we consider, by so much the 

 arguments in favour of community of descent 

 24 



FMOtEKTY LIBRARY 



