I LAMARCKIAN THEORY 19 



bility were supplied to him by all sorts of animals, and 

 in part by the domesticated forms, and among these 

 the pigeon and fowl, of which, later, Darwin made 

 great use. Lamarck believed in spontaneous genera- 

 tion under laws given by a Creator of elemen- 

 tary organisms which became gradually perfected and 

 transformed into higher beings, under other laws which 

 Lamarck recognized and stated. Among these laws is 

 that of the hereditary transmission of acquired char- 

 acters, which is at present so much discussed, after 

 Weismann's opposition. As to the cause of variability, 

 it is to be found, says Lamarck, in " new needs of the 

 organism," so that the influence of environment plays 

 but an accessory part. Whatever opinions may be 

 entertained as to the views of this naturalist concern- 

 ing the causes and methods of variation, it must be 

 conceded that he was the first clearly to perceive and 

 state the problem of the origin of species. 



Geoffrey Saint Hilaire (Etienne) was rather a 

 disciple of BufFon than of Lamarck. He believed 

 much in the influence of environment 1 and fought 

 hard against Cuvier and his views, while Bory de 

 Saint Vincent upheld the views of Lamarck. Of 

 Geoffroy Saint Hilaire we shall have to speak again 

 further on. We do not pretend to give here any com- 



1 See his Sttr le Degre if Influence du Monde ambiant po^lr modifier 

 es Formes animates. 



C 2 



