species were immutable productions, and had been separately created. This view has been ably maintained by many authors. Some few naturalists, on the other hand, have believed that species undergo modification, and that the existing forms of life are the descendants by true generation of pre-existing forms. Passing over allusions to the subject in the classical writers,* the first author who in modem times has treated it in a scientific spirit was Buffon. But as his opinions fluctuated greatly at different periods, and as he does not enter on the causes or means of the transformation of species, I need not here enter on details.*Aristot)e, in his ' Physic.-e Auscultatories' (lib. 2, cap. S, s. 2), after remarking that rain does not fall in order to make the corn grow, any more than it falls to spoil the farmer's corn when threshed out Table of Contents EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION 5; AN HISTORICAL SKETCH; Of the Progress of Opinion on the Origin of Species 9; INTRODUCTION21; CHAPTER I; Variation under Domestication25; CHAPTER II; Variation under Nature58; CHAPTER III Struggle for Existence76; CHAPTER IV; Natural Selection; or the Survival of the Fittest 93; CHAPTER V; Laws of Variation145; CHAPTER VI Difficulties of the Theory17S; CHAPTER VII PAGE; Miscellaneous Objections to the Theory of Natural Selection219; CHAPTER VIII Instinct262; CHAPTER IX; Hybridism298; CHAPTER X; On the Imperfection of the Geological Record 333; CHAPTER XI; On the Geological Succession of Organic Beinss 364; CHAPTER XII Geographical Distribution395; CHAPTER XIII Geographical Distribution-continued 427; CHAPTER XIV; Mutual Affinities of Organic Beings: Morphology: Embryology: Rudimentary Organs 450; CHAPTER XV Recapitulation and Conclusion499; GLOSSARY531; INDEX541

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