THE DISCOVERER 7 I 



and believed that each successive annihilation of plants 

 and animals was followed by a fresh creative fiat. 

 His most distinguished pupil, Owen, likewise ex- 

 plained the succession of species as the operation of 

 " a continuously creational law." But, nevertheless, 

 facts were pouring in which could not be thus inter- 

 preted. The fossil-yielding rocks, whose contents 

 both these great anatomists were arranging, making 

 the dry bones tell the story of a long and connected 

 life-history, and of the descent of certain existing ani- 

 mals along well-marked ancestral lines, were to prove 

 the most sure foundation on which the doctrine of 

 organic evolution rests. LyelPs Principles of Geology 

 raised the question, " If natural causation is compe- 

 tent to account for the not-living part of the globe, 

 why should it not account for the living part ? " 

 Herbert Spencer was asking which was the more ra- 

 tional theory to account for the existence of millions 

 of species : — 



Is it most likely that there have been ten millions 

 of special creations ; or is it most likely that by con- 

 tinual modifications, due to change of circumstances, 

 ten millions of varieties have been produced as varie- 

 ties are being produced still ? l 



< 



The answer to that question — an answer which in- 

 volved the putting of more momentous questions — 



1 Leader, 20th March, 1 85 2. 



