226 FROM THE GREEKS TO DARWIN 



work of 1802. This has very httle similarity with 

 Darwin's form of statement or language, al- 

 though it embodies essentially the same theory. 

 To Huxley's rather pointed question, "It would 

 be interesting to know what was the occasion of 

 Lamarck's change of view between 1779 and 

 1802," we may answer that this change was prob- 

 ably due to the change of his studies from 

 botany to zoology, for it was upon the influence 

 of habit as observed in animal life, especially in 

 degeneration and development, that his theory 

 was developed. 



Lamarck' (1744-1829) 



Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, other- 

 wise known as the Chevalier de Lamarck, was, 

 according to his biographer, a man of great 

 physical and moral courage; he distinguished 

 himself by an act of singular bravery in the 

 army. Receiving an injury, he re-entered life as 

 a doctor. He was first attracted to botany by the 

 rich flora observed during his military service 

 near Monaco. Coming to Paris, he gained Buf- 

 fon's attention, and became an intimate friend of 

 his household. His Flore frangaise, written in six 

 months, was printed under Buffon's direction 

 and passed through many editions; this was a 

 systematic work, an adaptation of the system of 



1 Compare A. S. Packard: Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution. 



