NATURE SERIES.
BY
ZOOLOGICAL SECRETARY OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY.
London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1882.
The Right of Translation and Reproduction is Reserved.
LONDON:
R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS,
BREAD STREET HILL.
pg. v
Several months ago I published inthe Fortnightly Review a lecture, which I had previouslydelivered at the Philosophical Institutions of Edinburgh andBirmingham, and which bore the above title. The late Mr. Darwinthought well of the epitome of his doctrine which the lecturepresented, and urged me so strongly to republish it in a form whichmight admit of its being “spread broadcast over the land”,that I promised him to do so. In fulfilment of this promise,therefore—which I now regard as more binding than ever—Ireproduce the pg. viessay in the“Nature Series” with such additions and alterations asappear to me, on second thoughts, to be desirable. The only object ofthe essay is that which is expressed in the opening paragraph.
London,
June 1, 1882.
Since this little Essay was published,it has been suggested to me that, in its mode of presenting thearguments in favour of Evolution, there is a similarity to that whichhas been adopted by Mr. Herbert Spencer in the third part ofhis Principles of Biology. I should therefore like to state,that while such similarity is no doubt in part due to the similarityof subject-matter, I think, upon reading again, after an interval often years, his admirable presentation of the evidence it may also inpart be due to unconscious memory. This applies particularly to theheadings of the chapters, which I find to be almost identical withthose previously used by Mr. Spencer.
G. J. R.
pg. 1
Although it is generally recognised thatthe Origin of Species has produced an effect both on thescience and the philosophy of our age which is without a parallel inthe history of thought, admirers of Mr. Darwin's genius arefrequently surprised at the ignorance of his work which is displayedby many persons who can sc