46 DARWINIAITA. 



The limits allotted to this article are nearly reached, 

 jet only four of the fourteen chapters of the volume 

 have been touched. These, however, contain the 

 fundamental principles of the theory, and most of 

 those applications of it which are capable of something 

 like verij6.cation, relating as they do to the phenomena 

 now occurring. Some of our extracts also show how 

 these principles are thought to have operated through 

 the long lapse of the ages. * The chapters from the 

 sixth to the ninth inclusive are designed to obviate 

 difficulties and objections, " some of them so grave 

 that to tliis day," the author frankly says, he " can 

 never reflect on them without being staggered." We 

 do not wonder at it. After drawing what comfort 

 he can from " the imperfection of the geological rec- 

 ord " (Chapter IX.), which we suspect is scarcely exag- 

 gerated, the author considers the geological succession 

 of organic beings (Chapter X.), to see whether they bet- 

 ter accord with the common view of the immutability 

 of species, or with that of their slow and gradual 

 modification. Geologists must settle that question. 

 Then follow two most interesting and able chapters 

 on the geographical distribution of plants and animals, 

 the summary of which we should be glad to cite ; then 

 a fitting chapter upon classification, morphology, em- 

 bryology, etc., as viewed in the light of this theory, 

 closes the argument ; the fourteenth chapter being a 

 recapitulation. 



The interest for the general reader heightens as the 

 author advances on his perilous way and grapples 

 manfully with the most formidable difficulties. 



To account, upon these principles, for the gradual 



