CHAPTEE XVII. 



THE PEOBLEM OF THE OEIGIN OF SPECIES. 



HAVING in the last two chapters considered the laws 

 of habit and variation, we are now in a position, not 

 indeed to solve, but to state, the question of the origin 

 of species. 



In the chapter on the Chemistry of Life, we have seen 

 that vital properties are not a resultant from the ordinary 

 properties of matter ; and that the origin of life, as much 

 as the origin of matter and energy, must, in all probability, 

 be directly referred to Ci-eative Power. But the question 

 of the origin of the distinct species and classes of living 

 beings is quite another question, and it may be thus 

 stated : — 



We have seen, in the chapter on Organization, that 

 organization is not the cause, but the effect of life : vital- 

 ized matter has a tendency to produce organization. We 

 have also seen, in the last two chapters, that the characters 

 of species are not absolutely invariable, but that modi- 

 fications may be functionally produced in the lifetime of 

 the individual, and variations, sometimes of very percep- 

 tible magnitude, may arise spontaneously in the production 

 of new individuals ; and also that, in all probability, the 

 germs of many of the lower organisms, if developed in Have all 

 a new habitat, will produce new forms. Does not all this been 

 make it probable that distinct species, and even classes, separately 

 have not been separately created, but that they have been derived 

 all derived by descent, with modification and variation, or^gina/^^^ 

 from oue, or at most a small number, of germs — mere genus ? 



