EV0LU7V0NARY VIEtVS OF BUFFO N 207 



characters. This, however, should not prevent our 

 classifying them as different species now, for the 

 difference is no less real though it dates from the 

 creation. \^ Nature, I inaintain, is in a state of con- 

 tinual flux and movement. It is enough for man if he 

 can grasp her as she is in his own time, and throw but 

 a glance or two upon the past and future, so as to try 

 and perceive what she may have been in form.er times 

 and what one day she may attain to!' * »' 



Buffon thus suggests the principle of the struggle 

 for existence to prevent overcrowding, resulting in the 

 maintenance of the balance of nature : 



" It may be said that the movement of Nature 

 turns upon two immovable pivots — one, the illimit- 

 able fecundity which she has given to all species ; 

 the other, the innumerable difficulties which reduce 

 the results of that fecundity, and leave throughout 

 time nearly the 'same quantity of individuals in every 

 species ; . . . destruction and sterility follow closely 

 upon excessive fecundity, and, independently of the 

 contagion which follows inevitably upon overcrowd- 

 ing, each species has its own special sources of death 

 and destruction, which are of themselves sufificient to 

 compensate for excess in any past generation." f " 



He also adds, " The species the least perfect, the 

 most delicate, the most unwieldy, the least active, 

 the most unarmed, etc., have already disappeared or 

 will disappear." \ 



'' On one occasion, in writing on the dog, he antici- 

 pates Erasmus Darwin and Lamarck in ascribing to 

 the direct cause of modification the inner feelings of 



* Tome ix., p. 127, 1761 {ex Butler). 



f Tome vi., p. 252, 1756 (quoted from Butler, /. 6., pp. 123-126). 



\ Quoted from Osborn, who takes it from De Lanessan. 



