4 
tacked at night by enormous bats that fasten 
on their backs and cause dangerous wounds, 
&c” Thus animals, whose proper sphere is 
domestication, are found to suffer when the 
care and attention of man is not exercised over 
them. Probably, in course of time, they would 
become extinct. 
It is generally acknowledged that, of all 
methods of coming to a correct conclusion as to 
specific identity in variable animals, none can 
be so much depended upon as ability to con- 
tinue their kind. Thus, if the two sexes 
present extreme divergence of form, and the 
offspring resulting from their union are also 
fertile among themselves, no one will doubt 
that they are specifically identical. But it is 
found that many distinct species of animals are 
apparently much more closely allied than most 
of our domestic varieties, yet the progeny re- 
sulting from a forced union are invariably 
unprolifie. This grand fact must be considered 
fatal to Mr. Darwin’s theory. He says, (p. 274, 
third edit.) “ That he doubts whether any case 
of a hybrid animal proving fertile has been 
truly authenticated.” Strange that among so 
many nearly allied forms some instance should 
not have been brought forward by so diligent a 
searcher, for it cannot be doubted that these 
must have descended from a common pro- 
genitor, according to his theory ; and, therefore, 
I would add, ought to be fertile among them- 
selves. 
So, in common with the great majority 
of naturalists, we must conclude them to be 
independent creations. Leaving this part of 
the subject, I would remark that the author 
of the ingenious work we are now 
considering, makes good use of anomalous 
forms in confirmation of his favourite doctrine. 
To mention a few. He says : — There are cer- 
tain species of ducks which perch on trees, and 
argues that the web is a sign of incompleteness, 
supposing that in course of ages it would 
become absorbed, and the creature be im- 
proved so as to be a better percher. How 
futile such arguments. These birds require to 
perch and also to swim ; and instead of finding 
fault (as it were) with the Creator’s handy work, 
it would have been far better to have admired 
the wisdom which should thus fit a living 
creature for such extremes of habit. Do we 
not see a similar instance in some species of 
kangaroo, which are able to climb trees — 
animals which might, according to our way of 
thinking, be pronounced as unlikely as possible 
to do so. Mr. D. alludes to woodpeckers where 
there are no trees ; but will he undertake to 
say that he is so perfectly informed respecting 
the habits and economy of these birds, that 
were trees to be introduced where they exist, 
they would be likely to make use of them. 
Auks cannot fly, but are they not most admi- 
rably adapted to their mode of life. 
Inhabiting the most barren, desolate 
spots, islands, often many hundreds of 
miles from a continent, their food consists 
entirely of fish, which they pursue in their 
native element. The wings are in a most rudi- 
mentary condition, but act as powerful paddles, 
which, in addition to the webbed feet, propel 
the creatures through, aud under, the water 
with great velocity — a quality highly essential 
for securing their finny prey. It is true that 
many other piscivorous birds have the capacity 
for flight immensely developed ; but, are we to 
argue from this that the auk is a degraded form 
of albatross, for instance F or that the latter 
is an elevated or improved auk ? I think not ; 
the perfect adaptation of everything to its 
peculiar spheie in the economy of nature must 
be admitted on every hand ; and though we do 
not, in many instances, know the use 
(I might say we seldom know the use) of the 
various kinds of wild animals, and especially 
among the inseot tribes ; yet there is always sa 
much of interest connected with the history of 
everything that has life, that a candid confess 
sion of our ignorance would appear the most 
rational and appropriate conduct in our present 
state of knowledge. Several other important 
points I intended to dwell upon ; but as the 
subject is a very extensive one, I shall reserve 
their consideration for another paper. 
The President, Chief Justice Cockle, occupied 
the chair, and there were present, Messrs, 
Bliss, Pettigrew, Diggles, Coxen, Le G-ould, 
Wight, and Dr. Wilson. 
♦ 
Printed be 0, Wight, “ 0uabdlln” Office, 
