272 ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 



of mightily strengthening the theory of pro- 

 gressive development, first suggested by the 

 illustrious Lamarck, and since so ably ex- 

 pounded and defended, under somewhat modi- 

 fied forms, by the author of the " Vestiges of 

 Creation," and by Mr. Charles Darwin. 



There, Messieurs les Critiques, is a chance for 

 you ! " Pitch into him ; jump down his throat ; 

 tear him in pieces ; the Atheist ! the La- 

 marcldan ! the disciple of the atrocious author 

 of the ' Vestiges,' " &c. &c. &c. 



I acknowledge with humility my presump- 

 tion in entering upon so profound a question in 

 Natural History ; but although I make no pre- 

 tensions to the character of a scientific natu- 

 ralist, still I have had opportunities such as 

 few have enjoyed, of observmg and studying 

 the habits and mode of life of strange animals 

 in many strange countries ; and the more I 

 observe nature, and ponder on the subject, the 

 more do I become convinced that Almighty 

 God always carries out his intentions with 

 regard to the animal creation, not by " direct 

 interpositions " of His will, nor by " special 

 fiats of creation," but by the slow and gradual 

 agency of natural causes. 



It might naturally be expected that in such 



