species are not immutable productions. But I cannot see how the two supposed "impulses" account in a scientific sense for the numerous and beautiful co-adaptations which we see throughout nature; I cannot see that we thus gain any insight how, for instance, a woodpecker has become adapted to its peculiar habits of
life. life. 1861 1866 1869 | Life. 1872 |
The work, from its powerful and brilliant style, though displaying in the earlier editions little accurate knowledge and a great want of scientific caution, immediately had a very wide circulation. In my opinion it has done excellent service in
this country in calling this country in calling 1866 1869 1872 |
calling in this country 1861 |
attention to the subject, in removing prejudice, and in thus preparing the ground for the reception of analogous views. |
In 1846 the veteran geologist M. J. d'Omalius d'Halloy published in an
excellent, excellent, 1861 1866 1869 | excellent 1872 |
though short paper ('Bulletins de l'Acad. Roy.
Bruxelles,' Bruxelles,' 1861 1866 1869 | Bruxelles, 1872 |
tom.
xiiI. xiiI. 1861 1866 | xiii. 1869 1872 |
p. 581), his opinion that it is more probable that new species have been produced by descent with
modification, modification, 1861 1866 1869 | modification 1872 |
than that they have been separately created: the author first promulgated this opinion in 1831. |
Professor Owen, in 1849 ('Nature of Limbs,' p. 86), wrote as
follows:—"The follows:—"The 1866 1869 | follows:— "The 1861 1872 |
archetypal idea was manifested in the flesh under diverse such modifications, upon this planet, long prior to the existence of those animal species that actually exemplify it. To what natural laws or secondary causes the orderly succession and progression of such organic phenomena may have been committed, we, as yet, are ignorant." In his Address to the British Association, in 1858, he speaks (p. ii.) of "the axiom of the continuous operation of creative power, or of the ordained becoming of living things." Farther on (p. xc.), after referring to geographical distribution, he adds,
"These "These 1861 1866 1869 | 'These 1872 |
phenomena shake our confidence in the conclusion that the Apteryx of New Zealand and the Red Grouse of England were distinct creations in and for those islands respectively. Always, also, it may be well to bear in mind that by the word 'creation' the zoologist means 'a process he knows not what.'" He amplifies this idea by adding, that when such cases as that of the Red Grouse are "enumerated by the zoologist as evidence of distinct creation of the bird in and for such islands, he chiefly expresses that he knows not how the Red Grouse came to be there, and there exclusively; signifying
also also 1861 1866 | also, 1869 1872 |
by this mode of expressing such
ignorance ignorance 1861 1866 | ignorance, 1869 1872 |
his
belief, belief, 1861 1866 | belief 1869 1872 |
that both the bird and the islands owed their origin to a great first Creative Cause." If we interpret these sentences given in the same Address, one by the other, it appears that this eminent philosopher felt in 1858 his confidence shaken that the Apteryx and the Red Grouse first appeared in their respective homes,
'he
knew not
how,' how,' 1866 1869 | how," 1872 |
or by some process
'he
knew not
what.' what.' 1866 1869 | what." 1872 |
|