43 



I believe, for instance, that one peacock having by some lucky 

 accident come by a new feather of striking appearance, became 

 at once an object of great attraction to the lady-birds about 

 him, so that the next eggs laid hatched out an improved peacock. 

 No doubt about it. No doubt about it ; only see it as I do, 

 and you will see what you will see. " Some naturalists believe " 

 that this is nonsense. All naturalists, do you say? all mankind? 

 Let them say what they like, and think what they like, what 

 is that to me ? They may save themselves the trouble. 



I believe it all; I "see no good ground to doubt" it, although 

 it " should appear childish to attribute any effect to such weak 

 means." Thus you may get at the mental, if .not the moral, 

 qualities of birds by the " help of the Imagination " the 

 " Imagination " according to Tyndall. 



I believe it, I say, again and again, though you may ask me 

 how it came to pass that the admiration was all so on one side, 

 and that the gentleman birds had no such admiration for the 

 " lady-birds," very ungallant, you say, do you ? Well, perhaps it 

 was ; but then, you know de gustibus non disjnitandum, " when a 

 lady is in the case." Nor can I tell you how it has come to be so 

 very much the opposite with mankind, descended as we are from 

 monkeys, or cock sparrows, or what not : I allow that the 

 courting is on the side of the male ; but they must change sides 

 for my argument. You tell me that throughout all Nature 

 " like produces like." That I totally deny. Quite the contrary. 



I believe, " I do not doubt, that some domestic animals vary 

 less than others, yet the variety or absence of distinct breeds of 

 the cat, the donkey, goose, &c., may be attributed in main part to 

 selection not having been brought into play." Don't laugh. Its 

 no laughing matter. It may be a difficulty with you, but it is 

 none with me, though it seems (to you I say) very unaccountable 

 that no change should have taken place in these interesting 

 animals the cat to wit, with its caterwauling hi all the 

 millions upon millions of ages that my theory supposes, down to 

 the present time. Nor is it any difficulty with me that, as I 

 allow, the cats in the mummies of Egypt are precisely the same 

 as those of to-day ; for what is five thousand years in my scale 

 of time ? 



