THE ROMANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



anon brought to light, which compel us to revise 

 our code. It is only a few years since the ex- 

 istence of metamorphosis in the Crustacea, Avhen 

 first announced, was scouted as absurd by natu- 

 ralists of high reputation; and the wide prevalence 

 of what is called Parthenogenesis in the Insects is 

 even now laughing to scorn what had seemed one 

 of the most immutable laws of physiology.* 



I propose, then, to examine a few questions in 

 natural history, the very mooting of which is 

 enough with many to convict the inquirer of 

 wrong-headedness and credulity. High authori- 

 ties — deservedly high, and entitled to speak ex 

 cathedra— hare pronounced verdicts on them ; and 

 numbers of inferior name (as usual, going far 

 beyond their teachers,) are ready to treat with 

 ridicule those who venture to think that, in spite 

 of the nvrbc tya, any other conclusion can pos- 

 sibly be tenable. I by no means wish to appear 

 as a partisan in treating such questions; per- 

 versely adducing evidence only on one side, and 

 cushioning or distorting what might be said on 

 the other ; but honestly to weigh the proof on 

 both sides, so that the reader may be able to 

 determine for himself to which is the preponder- 

 ance. 



Perhaps the most renowned of all these doubtful 

 questions is the existence of the "Sea-serpent." 



For ages, an animal of immense size and ser- 

 pentine form has been believed to inhabit the 



* "Experience," says Sir J. W. Herschell, "once recognised as 

 the fountain of all our knowledge of nature, it follows that, in 

 the study of nature and its laws, we ought at once to make up 

 our minds to dismiss as idle prejudices, or at least suspend as 

 premature, any preconceived notion of what might, or what 

 ought to he, the order of nature in any proposed case, and con- 

 tent ourselves with observing, as a plain matter of fact, what 

 -is."— "Prelim. Discourse," p. 79. 

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