INTRODUCTION. 15 



I presume the gentleman had met with the Bible — 

 a work which lays itself open to a somewhat similar 

 comment. I was gratified, however, at what I had 

 read, and take this opportunity of thanking the writer, 

 an American, for having liked my book. It was so 

 plain he had been relieved at not finding the case 

 smothered to death in the weight of its own evidences, 

 that I resolved not to forget the lesson his words had 

 taught me. 



The only writer in connection with "Life and 

 Habit" to whom I am anxious to reply is Mr. 

 Herbert Spencer, but before doing this I will con- 

 clude the present chapter with a consideration of 

 gome general complaints that have been so often 

 brought against me that it may be worth while to 

 ilotice them. 



These general criticisms have resolved themselves 

 mainly into two. 



Firstly, it is said that I ought not to write about 

 biology on the ground of my past career, which my 

 critics declare to have been purely literary. I wish 

 I might indulge a reasonable hope of one day becoming 

 a literary man ; the expression is not a good one, but 

 there is no other in such common use, and this must 

 excuse it; if a man can be properly called literary, 

 he must have acquired the habit of reading accurately, 

 thinking attentively, and expressing himself clearly. 

 He must have endeavoured in all sorts of ways to 

 enlarge the range of his sympathies so as to be able 

 to put himself easily en rapport with those whom he 

 is studying, and those whom he is addressing. If he 



