294 OWEN'S POSITION IN 



any of Geoffroy's fundamental theses. And even In 

 his later years, Sir Charles Lyell, many years ago, 

 gave me reasons for the opinion that Cuvier was 

 by no means confident about the fixity of species. 

 There was never any lack of the scientific imagi- 

 nation about the great anatomist ; and the charge 

 of indifference to general ideas, sometimes brought 

 against him, is stupidly unjust. But Cuvier was 

 one of those happily endowed persons in whom 

 genius never parts company with common-sense ; 

 and whose perception of the importance of sound 

 method is so great that they look at even a truth, 

 hit upon by those who pursue an essentially 

 vicious method, with the sort of feeling with 

 which an honest trader regards the winnings of a 

 gambler. They hold it better to remain poor 

 than obtain riches by the road that, as a rule, 

 leads to ruin. 



So far as Cuvier was actuated by such feelings, 

 one can but applaud the course he took. For it 

 is plain to anyone, who studies these old contro- 

 versies by modern lights, that Geoffroy, how- 

 ever good his general ideas may have been, was 

 singularly unfortunate in his attempts to illus- 

 trate and enforce them. Even where he was 

 strongest, as upon the topic of the unity of 

 organisation of the Vertebrates, I do not think 

 there is one of his exemplifications of that 

 unity which has withstood criticism ; and, in 

 respect of the primary cause of contention in 1830, 



