Darwin and Descent 199 
“On my view” became “ on our view ” in 1869. 
Again :— 
“Glancing at instincts, marvellous as some are, they 
offer no greater difficulty than does corporeal structure 
on the theory of the natural selection of successive, slight, but 
profitable modifications ”’ (p. 474). 
Again :— 
“On the view of all the species of the same genus having 
descended from a common parent, and having inherited 
much in common, we can understand how it is,’ &c. 
(P. 474). 
Again :— 
“Tf we admit that the geological record is imperfect in an 
extreme degree, then such facts as the record gives, support 
the theory of descent with modification. 
“| .. The extinction of species . . . almost inevitably 
follows on the principle of natural selection ’’ (p. 475). 
The word “ almost ” has got a great deal to answer for. 
Again :— 
“We can understand, on the theory of descent with modifi- 
catton, most of the great leading facts in Distribution ” 
(p. 476). 
Again :— 
“‘ The existence of closely allied or representative species 
in any two areas, implies, on the theory of descent with 
modification, that the same parents formerly inhabited 
both areas. ... It must be admitted that these facts 
receive no explanation on the theory of creation... .. The 
fact . . . is intelligible on the theory of natural selection, 
with its contingencies of extinction and divergence of 
character ”’ (p. 478). 
Again :— 
“ Innumerable other such facts at once explain themselves 
on the theory of descent with slow and slight successive modi- 
fications ”’ (p. 479). 
