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4 FER 1969

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INTRODUCTORY.

THE title of the journal, the first number of which is now under the reader's eye, describes exactly what its promoters intend that the journal shall be. Embracing within its scope, not only literature, but also the sciences, the fine arts, and the industrial arts, nothing of importance shall take place in either of these four great fields of human activity without being immedately "register"-ed in the journal we commence to-day.

In the prospectus issued by its promoters, the intended character of the contents of the REGISTER was indicated in detail as follows:

Thus much simply in explanation of the plans of the conductors of the REGISTER. Further promises they have not to make, preferring to be judged solely by their perfomances.

THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES CONTROVERSY.*
I.-MR. DARWIN'S VIEWS.

IN the introduction to Mr. Darwin's deeply interesting work
on the Origin of Species, its author declares his matured
opinions in these words :-" I am fully convinced that species
are not immutable; but that those belonging to what are
called the same genera are lineal descendants of some other
and generally extinct species, in the same manner as the
acknowledged varieties of any one species are the descendants
of that species. Furthermore, I am convinced that natural
selection has been the main but not exclusive means of modi-
fication."

These convictions, we shall find, have been arrived at from an analysis of the circumstances and rules which surround and govern the production of varieties in cultivated plants and domesticated animals, and from a certain application of

lows:

“A principal feature of its department devoted to literature the principles therein involved to the larger question of the will consist of analytical notices of all new books of impor-production of species, and their relations to each other in tance, whether published in England, on the continent of nature. The course of Mr. Darwin's argument runs as folEurope, or in America. These notices, for the most part, will be descriptive rather than critical, and will aim chiefly Amongst vegetables in a state of cultivation, and animals at acquainting the reader with whatever new facts the books in a state of domestication, it frequently happens that certain individuals produce offspring with slight, or, more rarely, treated of may announce, with the gist of whatever new with important, variations from their so-called specific or thoughts they may enunciate, and with the nature of what-parent form. These variations have been attributed to ever new arguments they may put forth. These notices will changes in external conditions, such as increased confinement, thus constitute a much more satisfactory guide to bookbuyers than the mere criticism of the ordinary literary journals, and will also be much more welcome to readers unable to obtain access to the books themselves.

difference in or superabundance of food, changes of habit, and so on, or to some change of that very susceptible part of the organization, the reproductive system; but it is admitted that we are but ill-acquainted with their causes and laws, and some at least appear to be attributable to an inherent ten"In its department devoted to the fine arts the new jour-dency to vary. They are one and all inheritable. Provided, nal will record, from time to time, everything of interest that occurs in connexion with music, painting, sculpture, architecture, or the application of the arts of design to manufactures; while in its department devoted to the sciences it will record and describe every fresh discovery in every department of scientific research, every new scientific theory, and every new application of science to either the industrial or the fine arts.

AUG. 1860.

however, that all the external conditions surrounding any one species remain uniform, and free inter-breeding is permitted, such accidental varieties soon fade out, and the specific type remains substantially the same. But if, on the other hand, individuals presenting any, even the slightest, peculiarities of size, form, or colour, are kept apart or selected by man, and are separately cultivated or made to propagate with each other,

• The Origin of Species by Natural Selection. By CHARLES DARWIN. 8vo. London: John Murray.

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