xviii HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



Matthew's view from mine are not of much importance: 

 he seems to consider that the world was nearly de- 

 populated at successive periods, and then re-stocked; 

 and he gives as an alternative, that new forms may be 

 generated " without the presence of any mould or germ 

 of former aggregates." I am not sure that I understand 

 some passages; but it seems that he attributes much 

 influence to the direct action of the conditions of life. 

 He clearly saw, however, the full force of the principle 

 of natural selection. 



The celebrated geologist and naturalist. Von Buch, 

 in his excellent 'Description Physique des Isles 

 Canaries' (1836, p. 147), clearly expresses his belief 

 that varieties slowly become changed into permanent 

 species, which are no longer capable of intercrossing. 



Eafinesque, in his 'New Flora of North America,' 

 published in 1836, wrote (p. 6) as follows: — " All 

 species might have been varieties once, and many va- 

 rieties are gradually becoming species by assuming con- 

 stant and peculiar characters; " but farther on (p. 18) 

 he adds, " except the original types or ancestors of the 

 gfinus." 



In 1843-44 Professor Haldeman ('Boston Journal of 

 Nat. Hist. U. States,' vol. iv. p. 468) has ably given the 

 arguments for and against the hypothesis of the develop- 

 ment and modification of species: he seems to lean 

 towards the side of change. 



The ' Vestiges of Creation ' appeared in 1844. In 

 the tenth and much improved edition (1853) the 

 anonymous author says (p. 155): — "The proposition 

 determined on after much consideration is, that the 

 several series of animated beings, from the simplest and 

 oldest up to the highest and most recent, are, under the 



