diate between the two. Now the problem is, how is the Melipona to be naturally selected and improved until it can build a cell like the hive-bee? It is solved in this wise : "If a number of equal spheres be described with their centres placed in two parallel layers, with the centre of each sphere at the distance of radius × 2, or radius 141421 (or at some lesser distance) from the centres of the six surrounding spheres in the same layer; and at the same distance from the centres of the adjoining spheres in the other and parallel layer; then if planes of intersection between the several spheres in both layers be formed, there will result a double layer of hexagonal prisms united together by pyramidal bases formed of three rhombs; and the rhombs and the sides of the hexagonal prisms will have every angle identically the same with the best measurements which have been made of the cells of the hive-bee."-p. 227. By what follows we are led to suppose that the Melipona must know all this,-must "somehow judge accurately" of distances, &c.-must act upon it; and then "this bee would make a structure as wonderfully perfect as that of the hive-bee." And further, "by such modifications of instincts, in themselves not very wonderful,-hardly more wonderful than those which guide a bird to make her nest,-I believe that the hive-bee has acquired, through natural selection, her inimitable architectural powers."+ Truly, some philosophy, when translated out of its own idiom into the vernacular, sounds wonderfully like folly. Having advanced thus far in our analysis of Mr. Darwin's theory, we think it inadvisable to pursue the subject; for either these are the vagaries of a "distempered brain," or our author is attempting to play off a solemn hoax upon the scientific world; and to this latter theory we do begin "seriously to incline." If, however, all this be intended as real argument and science, we will only in conclusion give a brief summary of the result of the entire argument : 1. The hypothesis of descent or development from one original form, or a few forms, does not appear to be required by any peculiarities of organization, affinities, or geographical distributions; none of these presenting any difficulties more insuperable on the ordinary theory of creation than by this theory. 2. This hypothesis is inadequate to account for the change of any one species into another, when applied to individual instances. It fails wholly also to give any rational history of the origin and development of new and complex organs, and à fortiori of elaborate instincts, such as those noticed. p. 227. † p. 228. VOL. III. 3. There does not appear to be any evidence of the occurrence of "useful variations;' nor any prospect that these, minute as they are represented to be, can be of any avail in the struggle for life, against influences of such potency. 4. There is an entire lack of direct evidence as to any change in species. On the contrary, all history tells of their constancy. No new organ has ever been known to have appeared. 5. Neither between species as now existing, nor between those of which we find the records in the earth's strata, is there the slightest evidence of that fine gradation of transitorial forms which we ought to find had organic life been developed on this principle. 6. There is no evidence anywhere of the development of higher from lower forms. On the contrary, it appears that the higher tribes of any given race first appeared; and that the type after wards dwindled or was "degraded," before the advent of a higher order. 7. The assumption of evidence which may possibly exist some where, under the ocean, or in a metamorphic condition, is a gratuitous and dangerous hypothesis, by which any conceivalle theory might equally be supported: Nevertheless, we rise from the perusal of this very remarkable book, not more impressed with the singularly profound inaptitude of the entire hypothesis, than we are with the patience mani fested by the author in the accumulation of facts,-the artiste skill with which he can impress them into the support of the most opposed positions, and the fertility of resource and it domitable courage with which he battles for his theory, i the face of the most overwhelming odds of opposed phenomena; qualities which, if better directed, could scarcely fail to enrol the name of Darwin amongst those which have become classic in Natural History. THE FIRST ARCTIC EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH-WEST. II. 243 THE FIRST ARCTIC EXPEDITION TO THE NORTHWEST. THE Arctic voyages of the mariners o. Elizabeth stand foremost among the heroic achievements of mankind. In our own day, all the resources of the world's first maritime power have been strained to the uttermost to arm our sailors against the perils of the ice and darkness. They go forth with the most admirable instruments and appliances of science, and with charts and observations which embody the result of three hundred years of daring and successful toil. But these men went out with a gallant hardihood into unknown regions, in mere fishing boats; slightly manned and worse provisioned, sailing out, like the daring Vikings of old, with stedfast courage, into the bosom of the Arctic night. Sir Edward Belcher's splendidly-equipped searching expedition, and Martin Frobisher's two boats, "between twenty and five-and-twenty tunne apiece," well mark the difference-not, thank God, in courage, skill, and self-devotion, but in equipment-between the mariners of Elizabeth and our own. These Arctic sailors were the true successors of the Scandinavian sea-rovers, the most daring seamen whom the world has ever seen; who, battling with those stormy Northern seas, which were more terrible to Roman courage than the array of Cimbric battle on the plains of Italy, found high and joyful excitement in the conflict, and owned no masters even in the fiercest tempests which beat upon those ice-bound coasts. It is no exaggeration to speak of the joy, the fierce exultation, of the Northmen in their perilous conflicts with sea and storm. Read Beowulf, read the " Heimskringla," and you will see how this people found in the Northern Ocean the only enemy with which they felt themselves fairly mated; and there they learnt a contempt of minor perils, and a joy in difficult adventure, which has infused its noblest element into the blood of the most sober, sensible, and industrious, but, when pushed, the most daring and terrible nation of the earth. I often think of the sublime picture of the death and burial of the old Scyld, son of Scef, the father of Beowulf, with which that grand old epic opens. That people must have had a splendid imagination, the root of all high daring, who could bury their heaven-sent chief like this: "At his appointed time, then, Scyld departed, very decrepid, to go into the peace of the Lord; they then, his dear comrades, bore him out to the shore of the sea, as he himself requested, the while that the friend of the Scyldings. the beloved chieftain, had power with his words; long he owned it. There upon the beach stood the ring-prowed ship, the vehicle of the noble, shining like ice, and ready to set out. "Then they laid down the dear prince, the distributor of rings, in the bosom of the ship, the mighty one beside the mast; there was much of treasure, of 3. There does not appear to be any evidence of the occurrence of "useful variations;' nor any prospect that these, minute as they are represented to be, can be of any avail in the struggle f life, against influences of such potency. 4. There is an entire lack of direct evidence as to any chan in species. On the contrary, all history tells of their constany, No new organ has ever been known to have appeared. 5. Neither between species as now existing, nor between th of which we find the records in the earth's strata, is there slightest evidence of that fine gradation of transitorial 1 which we ought to find had organic life been developed unti principle. 6. There is no evidence anywhere of the development of h from lower forms. On the contrary, it appears that the hi tribes of any given race first appeared; and that the Type wards dwindled or was "degraded," before the advent of a ha order. 7. The assumption of evidence which may possibly exist where, under the ocean, or in a metamorphic condition, gratuitous and dangerous hypothesis, by which any e theory might equally be supported: Nevertheless, we rise from the perusal of this very rend book, not more impressed with the singularly profound in.;t of the entire hypothesis, than we are with the patiene fested by the author in the accumulation of facts,-the skill with which he can impress them into the suppn most opposed positions, and the fertility of resource domitable courage with which he battles for his th the face of the most overwhelming odds of opposed pheno qualities which, if better directed, could scarcely fail to t name of Darwin amongst those which have become Natural History. THE FIRST ARCTIC EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH-WEST. II. 243 THE FIRST ARCTIC EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH WEST. THE Arctic of the mariners o. Elizabeth stand foremost Voyages mong the heroic achievements of mankind. In our own day, all te resources of the world's first maritime power have been strained the uttermost to arm our sailors against the perils of the ice and rkness. They go forth with the most admirable instruments and pliances of science, and with charts and observations which body the result of three hundred years of daring and successful But these men went out with gallant hardihood into nown regions, in mere fishing boats; slightly manned and se provisioned, sailing out, like the daring Vikings of old, with fast courage, into the bosom of the Arctic night. Sir Edward her's splendidly-equipped searching expedition, and Martin bisher's two boats, "between twenty and five-and-twenty tunne ce," well mark the difference-not, thank God, in courage, skill, self-devotion, but in equipment-between the mariners of beth and our own. These Arctic sailors were the true ssors of the Scandinavian sea-rovers, the most daring seamen the world has ever seen; who, battling with those stormy hern seas, which were more terrible to Roman courage than theay of Cimbric battle on the plains of Italy, found high and the fr for excitement in the conflict, and owned no masters even in the eaven-sent chief like this: a his appointed time, then, Scyld departed, very decrepid, to go into the > set out. they laid down the dear prince, the distributor of rings, in the bosom |