LINNAEUS. 83 



This is, however, the case only with those to whom the 

 miracle of creation is absolutely without existence ; 

 whereas an observer, who regards any miracle, how- 

 ever slight, or any sort of disturbance of the order of 

 nature, as possible, must deem his science of Biology 

 complete with the erudition formerly propounded, and 

 subsequently extended by countless items of special in- 

 formation. We cannot therefore do otherwise than give 

 to Goethe's maxim, " Belief is not the beginning, but the 

 end of all knowledge," the interpretation that belief is 

 incompatible with knowledge, and that hence belief in a 

 creation of life is incompatible with the investigation 

 of it. 



But if Life did not originate in an incomprehensible 

 manner, it must have been developed. Many decades 

 elapsed before this idea with its consequences could be 

 stated ; and in order to comprehend the obstinacy 

 with which the contrary was maintained, and a circle of 

 opinions allowed to take root, against which modern 

 Biology alone has waged a successful war, it is necessary 

 to call to mind some of the chief epochs in the history of 

 Geology, and their representatives. This will naturally 

 lead us to the point whence the shaft of knowledge has 

 been sunk. 



After the middle of the last centur}'. Comparative 

 Anatomy, almost independently of systematic Zoology, 

 took a prosperous course, and became far richer in 

 ideas than tliis descriptive Natural History. One of its 

 maxims, however, '-vas accepted without examination — ■ 

 the constancy and immutability of species ; and this 

 maxim forms the centre of the views entertained by 

 Linnaeus. The continued authority of this great de- 

 7 



