theories, that purely zoological suppositions are often the forerunners of original experiment and the discharge of a battery of new or little-known facts. In this way the opponents of evolution have been of the greatest service to the cause. They have acted as deterrents to too hasty generalizations; by their contentions a greater precision in the argument has been attained; while the facts adduced as weapons in their controversy have not only often proved new, but actually supportive of the cause attacked, and have not infrequently become honoured inmates of the evolutionary armoury.
Much biological controversy is only of a more or less forensic character. It has often occurred to the writer that considerable interest would attach to biological briefs being drawn up by different theorists, and the same handed to eminent Queen's Counsel to be made much, or little of, as ingenious argument could bolster up or destroy. Dean Buckland, as related by his son, once placed the evidence for the former existence of hyænas in England before "one of the most learned judges in the land," with the further argument of their equally rapacious and ravenous character. And now, said the Dean, "what do you think of that, my lord?" Such facts, replied the Judge, "brought as evidence against a man, would be sufficient to convict and even hang him."[1] Judicial consideration would be most beneficial in many biological theories, where the facts are strong but the argument weak, or, as is not altogether unusual, the strength of the advocacy is in an inverse ratio to that of the evidence. There is also a danger, now that we have entered so many of nature's portals, in believing that our present keys will open all locks, and that our explanations of many problems in animal colouration are sufficient for universal application. It seems more probable, however, that we have captured many outworks, and threatened the citadel, but certainly not secured it, and under these circumstances one may offer some suggestions and indulge in some criticism, as at a council of war, without being proclaimed a deserter from evolutionary principles, or an enemy to advanced ideas of natural selection.
How far have we at present accounted for the varied animal colouration which we see around us? the glory of our cabinet-
- ↑ 'Curiosities of Nat. Hist.,' Pop. Edit., 2nd ser., p. 53.
