PREFACE 



This volume consists of a series of lectures delivered 

 by the late Professor Marshall in connection with 

 the Extension Lectures of the Victoria University 

 during the year 1893. These have been amplified 

 in some places where occasion required from other 

 unpublished lectures by the same author. 



Owing to the variable nature of the original MS., 

 some parts being fully written, while others were 

 in the form of notes, there is a consequent varia- 

 bility in the fulness of the text, and any errors or 

 discrepancies should be attributed to the editor and 

 not the author. 



It is greatly to be regretted that these Lectures 

 were not elaborated and prepared for publication by 

 the author himself ; but, in spite of the shortcomings 

 of the book, I trust that it may form a useful con- 

 tribution to the literature of Darwinism, since the 

 Lectures were delivered by one of Darwin's most 

 earnest disciples. 



The large majority of the illustrations are taken 

 from original drawings by the author, or from 

 photographs frcm nature. Some of the drawings 

 are modified from other sources, and in these cases 



