THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES. • 15 



deny that sucli influences must liave gravely affected 

 the range and the association of individuals and species 

 on the earth's sui'face. Mr. Darwin thinks that, acting 

 upon an inherent predisposition to vary, they have suf- 

 ficed even to modify the species themselves and pro- 

 duce the present diversity. Mr. Agassiz believes that 

 they have not even affected the geographical range 

 and the actual association of species, still less their 

 forms ; but that every adaptation of species to climate, 

 and of species to species, is as aboriginal, and therefore 

 as inexplicable, as are the organic forms themselves. 



Who shall decide between such extreme views so 

 ably maintained on either hand, and say how much of 

 truth there may be in each ? The present reviewer 

 has not the presumption to undertake such a task. 

 Having no prepossession in favor of naturalistic theo- 

 ries, but, struck with the eminent ability of Mr. Dar- 

 win's work, and charmed with its fairness, our hum- 

 bler duty will be performed if, laying aside prejudice 

 as much as we can, we shall succeed in giving a fair 

 account of its method and argument, offering by the 

 way a few suggestions, such as might occur to any 

 naturalist of an inquiring piind. An editorial charac- 

 ter for this article must in justice be disclaimed. The 

 plural pronoun is employed not to give editorial 

 weight, but to avoid even the appearance of egotism, 

 and also the circumlocution which attends a rigorous 

 adherence to the impersonal style. 



We have contrasted these tw^o extremely divergent 

 theories, in their broad statements. It must not be 

 inferred that they have no points nor ultimate results 

 in common. 



