darwin and modern science-第89章
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library of reference （now included in the Collection of books placed by Mr F。 Darwin in the Botany School at Cambridge （〃Catalogue of the Library of Charles Darwin now in the Botany School； Cambridge〃。 Compiled by H。W。 Rutherford； with an introduction by Francis Darwin。 Cambridge； 1908。）） appears to have been admirably selected； and in all probability contained （in addition to a good many works relating to South America） a fair number of excellent books of reference。 Among those relating to mineralogy； he possessed the manuals of Phillips； Alexander Brongniart； Beudant； von Kobell and Jameson： all the 〃Cristallographie〃 of Brochant de Villers and； for blowpipe work； Dr Children's translation of the book of Berzelius on the subject。 In addition to these； he had Henry's 〃Experimental Chemistry〃 and Ure's 〃Dictionary〃 （of Chemistry）。 A work； he evidently often employed； was P。 Syme's book on 〃Werner's Nomenclature of Colours〃； while； for Petrology； he used Macculloch's 〃Geological Classification of Rocks〃。 How diligently and well he employed his instruments and books is shown by the valuable observations recorded in the annotated Catalogues drawn up on board ship。
These catalogues have on the right…hand pages numbers and descriptions of the specimens； and on the opposite pages notes on the specimensthe result of experiments made at the time and written in a very small hand。 Of the subsequently made pencil notes； I shall have to speak later。 （I am greatly indebted to my friend Mr A。 Harker； F。R。S。； for his assistance in examining these specimens and catalogues。 He has also arranged the specimens in the Sedgwick Museum； so as to make reference to them easy。 The specimens from Ascension and a few others are however in the Museum at Jermyn Street。）
It is a question of great interest to determine the period and the occasion of Darwin's first awakening to the great problem of the transmutation of species。 He tells us himself that his grandfather's 〃Zoonomia〃 had been read by him 〃but without producing any effect；〃 and that his friend Grant's rhapsodies on Lamarck and his views on evolution only gave rise to 〃astonishment。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 38。）
Huxley； who had probably never seen the privately printed volume of letters to Henslow； expressed the opinion that Darwin could not have perceived the important bearing of his discovery of bones in the Pampean Formation； until they had been studied in England； and their analogies pronounced upon by competent comparative anatomists。 And this seemed to be confirmed by Darwin's own entry in his pocket…book for 1837； 〃In July opened first notebook on Transmutation of Species。 Had been greatly struck from about the month of previous March on character of South American fossils。。。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 276。）
The second volume of Lyell's 〃Principles of Geology〃 was published in January； 1832； and Darwin's copy （like that of the other two volumes； in a sadly dilapidated condition from constant use） has in it the inscription； 〃Charles Darwin； Monte Video。 Nov。 1832。〃 As everyone knows； Darwin in dedicating the second edition of his Journal of the Voyage to Lyell declared； 〃the chief part of whatever scientific merit this journal and the other works of the author may possess； has been derived from studying the well…known and admirable 〃Principles of Geology〃。
In the first chapter of this second volume of the 〃Principles〃； Lyell insists on the importance of the species question to the geologist； but goes on to point out the difficulty of accepting the only serious attempt at a transmutation theory which had up to that time appearedthat of Lamarck。 In subsequent chapters he discusses the questions of the modification and variability of species； of hybridity； and of the geographical distribution of plants and animals。 He then gives vivid pictures of the struggle for existence； ever going on between various species； and of the causes which lead to their extinctionnot by overwhelming catastrophes； but by the silent and almost unobserved action of natural causes。 This leads him to consider theories with regard to the introduction of new species； and； rejecting the fanciful notions of 〃centres or foci of creation；〃 he argues strongly in favour of the view； as most reconcileable with observed facts； that 〃each species may have had its origin in a single pair； or individual； where an individual was sufficient； and species may have been created in succession at such times and in such places as to enable them to multiply and endure for an appointed period； and occupy an appointed space on the globe。〃 （〃Principles of Geology〃； Vol。 II。 （1st edition 1832）； page 124。 We now know； as has been so well pointed out by Huxley； that Lyell； as early as 1827； was prepared to accept the doctrine of the transmutation of species。 In that year he wrote to Mantell； 〃What changes species may really undergo！ How impossible will it be to distinguish and lay down a line； beyond which some of the so…called extinct species may have never passed into recent ones〃 （Lyell's 〃Life and Letters〃 Vol。 I。 page 168）。 To Sir John Herschel in 1836； he wrote； 〃In regard to the origination of new species； I am very glad to find that you think it probable that it may be carried on through the intervention of intermediate causes。 I left this rather to be inferred； not thinking it worth while to offend a certain class of persons by embodying in words what would only be a speculation〃 （Ibid。 page 467）。 He expressed the same views to Whewell in 1837 （Ibid。 Vol。 II。 page 5。）； and to Sedgwick （Ibid。 Vol。 II。 page 36） to whom he says； of 〃the theory； that the creation of new species is going on at the present day〃〃I really entertain it；〃 but 〃I have studiously avoided laying the doctrine down dogmatically as capable of proof〃 （see Huxley in 〃L。L。〃 II。 pages 190…195。））
After pointing out how impossible it would be for a naturalist to prove that a newly DISCOVERED species was really newly CREATED （Mr F。 Darwin has pointed out that his father （like Lyell） often used the term 〃Creation〃 in speaking of the origin of new species （〃L。L。〃 II。 chapter 1。））； Lyell argued that no satisfactory evidence OF THE WAY in which these new forms were created； had as yet been discovered； but that he entertained the hope of a possible solution of the problem being found in the study of the geological record。
It is not difficult； in reading these chapters of Lyell's great work； to realise what an effect they would have on the mind of Darwin； as new facts were collected and fresh observations concerning extinct and recent forms were made in his travels。 We are not surprised to find him writing home； 〃I am become a zealous disciple of Mr Lyell's views； as known in his admirable book。 Geologising in South America； I am tempted to carry parts to a greater extent even than he does。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 263。）
Lyell's anticipation that the study of the geological record might afford a clue to the discovery of how new species originate was remarkably fulfilled； within a few months； by Darwin's discovery of fossil bones in the red Pampean mud。
It is very true that； as Huxley remarked； Darwin's knowledge of comparative anatomy must have been； at that time； slight； but that he recognised the remarkable resemblances between the extinct and existing mammals of South America is proved beyond all question by a passage in his letter to Henslow； written November 24th； 1832： 〃I have been very lucky with fossil bones； I have fragments of at least six distinct animals。。。I found a large surface of osseous polygonal plates。。。Immediately I saw them I thought they must belong to an enormous armadillo； living species of which genus are so abundant here；〃 and he goes on to say that he has 〃the lower jaw of some large animal which； from the molar teeth； I should think belonged to the Edentata。〃 （〃M。L。〃 I。 pages 11； 12。 See 〃Extracts of Letters addressed to Prof。 Henslow by C。 Darwin〃 （1835）； page 7。）
Having found this important clue； Darwin followed it up with characteristic perseverance。 In his quest for more fossil bones he was indefatigable。 Mr Francis Darwin tells us； 〃I have often heard him speak of the despair with which he had to break off the projecting extremity of a huge； partly excavated bone； when the boat waiting for him would wait no longer。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 276 （footnote）。） Writing to Haeckel in 1864； Darwin says： 〃I shall never forget my astonishment when I dug out a gigantic piece of armour； like that of the living armadillo。〃 （Haeckel； 〃History of Creation〃； Vol。 I。 page 134； London； 1876。）
In a letter to Henslow in 1834 Darwin says： 〃I have just got scent of some fossil bones。。。what they may be I do not know； but if gold or galloping will get them they shall be mine。〃 （〃M。L。〃 I。 page 15。）
Darwin also showed his sense of the importance of the discovery of these bones by his solicitude about their safe arrival and custody。 From the Falkland Isles （March； 1834）； he writes to Henslow： 〃I have been alarmed by your expression 'cleaning all the bones' as I am afraid the printed numbers will be lost： the reason I am so anxious they should not be； is； that a part were found in a gravel with recent shells； but others in a very different bed。 Now with these latter there were bones of an Agouti； a genus of animals； I believe； peculiar to America； and it would be curious to prove that some one of the genus co…existed with the Megatherium： such and many other points depend on the numbers being carefully preserved。〃 （〃Extracts from Letters etc。〃； pages 13…14。） In the abstract of the notes read to the Geological Society in 1835； we read： 〃In the gravel of Patagonia he （Darwin） also found many bones of the Megatherium and of five or six other species of quadrupeds； among which he has detected the bones of a species of Agouti。 He also met with several examples of the polygonal plates； etc。〃 （〃Proc。 Geol。 Soc。〃 Vol。 II。 pages 211…212。）
Darwin's own recollections entirely bear out the conclusion that he fully recognised； WHILE IN SOUTH AMERICA； the wonderful significance of the resemblances between the extinct and recent mammalian faunas。 He wrote in his 〃Autobiography〃： 〃During the voyage of the 'Beagle' I had been deeply impressed by discovering in the Pampean formation great fossil animals covered with armour like that on the existing armadillos。〃 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 82。）
The impression made on Darwin's mind by the discovery of these fossil bones； was doubtless deepened as； in his progress southward from Brazil to Patagonia； he found similar species of Edentate animals everywhere replacing one another among the living forms； while； whenever fossils occurred； they also were seen to belong to the same remarkable group of animals。 （While Darwin was making these observations in South America； a similar generalisation to that at which he arrived was being reached； quite independently and almost simultaneously； with respect to the fossil and recent mammals of Australia。 In the year 1831； Clift gave to Jameson a list of bones occurring in the caves and breccias of Australia； and in publishing this list the latter referred to the fact that the forms belonged to marsupials； similar to those of the existing Australian fauna。 But he also stated that； a
