MODERN SCIENCE. 121 



types, and, with this reservation, he followed Geoffrey St. 

 Hilaire as regards unity of organic composition. Likewise, 

 he believed in the variability of species, rejecting, however, 

 the idea of volition on the part of the lower types an 

 objection which implies haphazard selection ; so that he was 

 an opponent of the Darwinian law of evolution, though he 

 recognised it as a factor in the plan of Creation. But his 

 views regarding Darwinism are rather confused and difficult 

 to reconcile with one another. He discovered the type of 

 the vertebrate skeleton. He founded the MICROSCOPIC 

 SOCIETY, and organised the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 

 (London) the finest in the world by far ; and thus was the 

 continuator of Cuvier and of Hunter. As a guide to 

 classification he took the brain for some orders, the teeth 

 for others. His " Odontography," on the teeth of different 

 types, is the finest work of its kind. 



Since Prof. Owen practically finished his work, 

 palaeontology, as we have hinted, has been enriched by 

 numerous and magnificent specimens of extinct species, 

 supplying new links, found chiefly in America. 



b. 1831. Marsh (Prof. O. C), the most eminent living 

 palaeontologist, has probably rendered as much service to 

 science as any of his predecessors taken singly. Some 

 would say that he has surpassed them all, so numerous, 

 varied, important, weighty, and startling are the discoveries 

 that we owe to his indefatigable and intelligent enthusiasm. 

 In estimating the respective work of great men we have, 

 however, to remember that the founders the Lamarcks, the 

 Cuviers, the Owens must ever command undivided admi- 

 ration, for their demonstrations and applications of principles 

 serve as chart and compass to scientific men. Apart from 

 that consideration Prof. Marsh's work is so imposing that 

 it is difficult to set forth all his claims to fame. It might 

 almost be said that before he came into the field, the 

 masters, immense and fruitful as their labours were, had 

 only deciphered the alphabet, interpreted the language, 

 and constructed the grammar of palaeontology, whereas 

 Marsh composed the extensive poem describing its un- 

 suspected wonders. He unearthed from every part of 



