in the Reconatructiun of ci:tinct Vertebrate Forms. 481 



one, \vc satisfy ourselves by observation of the necessary cor- 

 relation of the parts to effect a common end ; in the other, we 

 speculate from tliese premises, as to whether or no they furnisli 

 proofs of a Suj)reme Designer. We may stop short at the former 

 stage without going further; but we cannot arrive at the second 

 without having gone through the first. The two principles, 

 therefore, have never been employed as instruments of research 

 in natural history, nor are they, in their nature, opposites. 



In disquisitions of this kind, precision of thought and expres- 

 sion is so essential, that it seemed necessary to clear the ground 

 of these preliminary objections, before coming to the gist of Mr. 

 Huxley's argument, namely, that the law of reciprocal relation 

 between the organs of animals is not the principle which guided 

 Cuvicr in his reconstruction of extinct forms. 



Mr. Huxley first takes the beautiful illustration given by 

 Cuvier, of the correlation of the parts in a Carnivore, quoting the 

 summary; and he attempts to refute it by asking, " What differ- 

 ence exists in the structure of tooth, in the shape of the condyle 

 of the jaw, and in that of the temporal fossa, between the herbi- 

 vorous and carnivorous Bears ? If Bears were only known to 

 exist in the fossil state, would any anatomist venture to conclude, 

 from the skull and teeth alone, that the white bear is naturally 

 carnivorous, while the brown bear is naturally frugi\ orous ? 

 Assuredly not ; and thus in the case of Cuvier's own selection, 

 we see that his arguments ai'C absolutely devoid of conclusive 

 force.'' 



Can it be believed, after this, that the case in question is not 

 that of Cuvier's selection ? But such is really the fact. In 

 stating the proposition to be demonstrated, Cuvier puts it thus : 

 " If the intestines of an animal are organized so as only to digest 

 flesh, and the flesh fresh," then these correlative conditions are 

 involved, viz. : its jaws must be constructed to devour a prey ; 

 its claws to seize and tear it asunder ; its teeth to cut it up and 

 divide it ; its organs of motion to pursue and catch it ; its organs 

 of sense to recognize it at a distance ; and it must also be 

 endowed with the instinct to conceal itself and lay tods for its 

 victims. " Such will be the conditions of the carnivorous habit ; 

 every animal destined for such habit will infallibly have them in 

 combination, for its race could not subsist without them." But 

 the Bears have not their " intestines organized only to digest 

 fresh flesh ;" nor their claws to seize a prey and tear it asunder ; 

 nor their teeth only to cut up and divide it; nor their organs of 

 motion to pursue and catch it; nor have they the instinct to 

 conceal themselves and entrap it. What was obviously in 

 Cuvier's mind was, a pure typical digit igrade carnivore like 

 the Tiger, which rigidly fulfils the terms of the proposition, and 



Ann. i)- May. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. wii. 31 



