540 Experimentation in Biology. [September, 
already been done to establish the truth that closely allied 
or distant species may be differently affedted by the same 
influence, and the investigation now awaiting is the cause of 
each such difference. Anyone making a thorough investiga- 
tion of the cave Amphibia, or other animals, might possibly 
be able to turn to account the experiments of Fubini on the 
relation of light and body-weight (“ Journal of Anatomy 
and Physiology,” October, 1875). In the light, frogs with 
eyes lost more than double in weight in proportion than 
blind ones, but in the dark both increased in weight, the 
blind ones less than their fellows. 
“ If Lamarck could have shown experimentally that even 
races of animals had been produced in this way, there might 
have been some ground for his speculations ; but he could 
show nothing of the kind, and his hypothesis has pretty 
well dropped into oblivion, as it deserved to do.” Such was 
the judgment pronounced by Prof. Huxley some years ago, 
and, though extracted from a ledture in the republication of 
which the author volunteers to accept no further responsi- 
bility than the accuracy of statements, the pradtical verdidt 
is so rigidly in harmony with the spirit of the age, and so 
exquisitely adapted as a test for the further discussion of 
our question, that we needlessly delay in apologising for 
quoting it. Now it happened Lamarck advanced his views 
not as the thoughts of a precocious, fidtitious reality, — 
“ precocious ” as too wise for his age, and a “ fidtitious 
reality ” being, in truth, the alter ego of the author (De 
Maillet), — but in a “ Philosophic Zoologique.” Of this book 
Mr. Samuel Butler has recently presented English readers 
with a seledtion and translation of a copious number of 
passages bearing upon Evolution, and in various countries 
attempts are being made to establish the claims of Lamarck 
as an originator of a theory of Evolution worthy of consi- 
derable respedt : thus we constantly hear of the “Lamarckio- 
Darwinian ” hypothesis ; France is naturally anxious to 
recognise all due merit ; Prof. Cleland, in this country, 
detedts much in modern theories to be Lamarck rendered 
anew, but unacknowledged. Additional proof is needless to 
show that the deserved oblivion of Lamarck is daily growing 
less manifest, yet no parade of quotations can fitly be substi- 
tuted for an array of fadts : new needs, no matter whether 
arising from variations in the environment or from' any vari- 
ation of disposition on the part of the animal, give rise to 
new efforts, and efforts to modifications. The power of 
emergency is well known ; how ordinary speed can be quad- 
rupled, leaps attempted without hurt, and tales (for several 
