DARWINISM IN ENGLAND. 113 



reptilian than mammalian ; while certain Dinosaurian reptiles 

 present distinct indications of progress towards birds. And 

 thus it does not seem at all unlikely that evidence may here- 

 after be obtained, which may adequately support the idea of 

 the descent even of birds and reptiles from a common 

 ancestor.* 



In the mean time I think I may say with confidence that all 

 British naturalists who are not dominated by the prejudices of 

 a bygone age, accept the general doctrine of Continuity as — 

 to say the least — a good working hypothesis, under the guidance 

 of which their inquiries may be advantageously prosecuted; 

 and that they feel the great desideratum to be the acquirement 

 of such a knowledge of extinct types, as may give to the entire 

 pedigree of the animal and vegetable kingdoms a completeness 

 approaching that of the pedigrees already constructed for par- 

 ticular families ; and such an elucidation of the causes of varia- 

 tion as may show under what circumstances those marked 

 divergences of type took place, whereby distinct classes, orders, 

 families, and genera successively came into existence. 



IX. 



The cessation of the summer cruises in which Dr. 

 Carpenter took so active a share, and the completion of 

 the new building of the University of London, which had 

 involved him in much additional and anxious labour be- 

 yond his ordinary duties, set him free for other tasks. He 

 had become the secretary to the Gilchrist Educational Trust 

 on its first establishment in 1865, and was thus brought into 

 connection with a large number of educational movements 

 all over the country. This was especially the case with 

 the courses of popular scientific lectures for the working 

 classes in various large towns, the organization of which 

 fell chiefly upon him. He resumed his place himself upon 



* In 1S82 : "And thus the evidence now in course of accumulation 

 "already afifoids adequate support to the idea, etc." 



