172 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



we feel uncertain whether it is or is not beneath Buffon's 

 dignity. 



Here, as often with pictures and music, we cannot 

 criticise justly without taking more into consideration 

 than is actually before us. We feel almost inclined to 

 say that if the passage is by Buffon it is probably right, 

 and if by M. Gueneau de Montbeillard, probably wrong. 

 It must also be remembered that, as we learn from the 

 preface already referred to, Buffon was seized at this 

 point in his work with a long and painful illness, which 

 continued for two years ; a single hasty passage in so 

 great a writer may well be pardoned under such cir- 

 cumstances. 



Looking through the third and remaining volumes 

 on birds, the greater part of which was by Gueneau de 

 MontbeiUard, and bearing in mind that in point of date 

 they are synchronous with some of those upon quadru- 

 peds from which I have already extracted as much as 

 my space will allow, and not seeing anything on a rapid 

 survey which promises to throw new light upon the 

 author's opinions, I forbear to quote further. I there- 

 fore leave Buffon with the hope that I have seen him 

 more justly than some oUiers have done, but with the 

 certainty that the points I have caught and understood 

 are few in comparison with those that I have missed. 



