188 FROM THE GREEKS TO DARWIN 



All the species of one genus constituted at first 

 [that is, at the Creation] one species — ah initio 

 unam cons tit uerint speciem; they were subsequently 

 multiplied by hybrid generation, that is, by inter- 

 crossing with other species. 



He was thus inclined to admit a gi-eat increase, 

 by intercrossing, of species more or less recent 

 in origin, arising by hybridity, and losing their 

 original perfection of type. He elsewhere sug- 

 gested that a certain degree of degeneration may 

 be a result of the influences of changed climate 

 or environment. 



In the last and thoroughly revised edition of 

 the Sy sterna Naturce, which appeared in 1766, 

 thirty-one years after the original edition, we no 

 longer find the fundamental proposition of his 

 earlier works, nullce specice novce. This change of 

 view as to mutability was, however, of a very 

 mild character in comparison with the very radi- 

 cal views as to the mutability of species under the 

 action of changed environment which Buff on was 

 expressing about the same time, for in 1755 we 

 find an early expression by this great French 

 naturalist as to mutability and even the larger 

 idea of evolution of species. 



Buff on (1707-1788) 

 George Louis Leclerc Buffon may be called 

 the naturalist founder of the modern application 



