110 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



fresh-water polypus may perhaps be considered as the 

 lowest animal, and as at the same time the highest 

 plant." * 



Looking to the resemblances between animals and 

 plants, he declares that their modes of reproduction and 

 growth involye such close analogy that no difference of 

 an essential nature can be admitted between them.f 



On the other hand, Buffon appears, at first sight, to be 

 more struck with the points of difference between the 

 mental powers of the lower animals and man than with 

 those which they present in common. It is impossible, 

 however, to accept this as Buffon's real opinion, on the 

 strength of isolated passages, and in face of a large 

 number of others which point stealthily but irresistibly 

 to an exactly opposite conclusion. We find passages 

 which show a clear apprehension of facts that the w.orld 

 is only now beginning to consider established, followed 

 by others which no maa who has kept a dog or cat will 

 be inclined to agree with. I think I have already 

 explained this sufficiently by referring it to the im- 

 possibility of his taking any other course under the 

 circumstances of his own position and the times in 

 which he lived. Buffon does not deal with such 

 pregnant facts, as, for example, the geometrical ratio of 

 increase, in such manner as to suggest that he was only 

 half aware of their importance and bearing. On the 

 contrary, in the very middle of those passages which, 

 if taken literally, should most shake confidence in his 

 judgment, there comes a sustaining sentence, so quiet 

 that it shall pass unnoticed by all who are not atten- 

 * Tom. ii. p. 9, 1749. f Ibid. p. 10. 



