374 Canadian Record of Science 



South America, the "Geology of the Falklands," "The 

 Formation of Mould," and a monograph of the Cirri- 

 pedia. These publications, though following in the 

 ordinary paths of Naturalists, contained many original 

 suggestions. But it was his giving to the world his 

 work on the "Origin of Species" which caused him all 

 at once to spring into fame. This proved to be an 

 epoch-making book. It is his monumental work on 

 which his reputation largely rests. It has been well 

 described by Alfred Russell Wallace, who issued about 

 the same time a book suggesting the same theory, as dis- 

 playing "untiring patience in accumulation, wonderful 

 skill in using large masses of facts of the most varied 

 kind, wide and accurate physiological knowledge, aeute- 

 ness in devising and skill in carrying out experiments, 

 and an admirable style of composition, clear and per- 

 suasive." This was a handsome tribute from a contem- 

 porary author who might, to a certain extent, be counted 

 a rival. But it was in no wise exaggerated. The work 

 has exerted an influence greater perhaps than any 

 scientific volume that "ever came from the press, New- 

 ton's "Principia" alone excepted. And its influence 

 has not been confined to the realms of Natural Science. 

 The theory which is pronounced, and which Herbert 

 Spencer termed "evolution," went down to the bottom 

 of things, and it has given a new direction to specu- 

 lations in Physics, Psychology, Moral Philosophy, Bibli- 

 cal Criticism and Theology, as well as Politics. The 

 value of this work does not depend on the correctness of 

 his theory. It contains a compendious statement of well- 

 sifted facts bearing on the life history of plants and 

 animals; and it has given birth to an enormous and 

 valuable literature, both pro and con. 



Before entering upon a consideration of this, Dar- 

 win's most famous work, it is necessary to define what 

 is understood by the term "species." It may be con- 

 sidered from a twofold point of view, Morphological 

 and Physiological, — that is to say ,as regards anatomical 



