Letters," II., page 29. It is interesting as giving his views on the
mutability of species. Thus he wrote: "With respect to books on this
subject, I do not know any systematical ones, except Lamarck's, which is
veritable rubbish; but there are plenty, as Lyell, Pritchard, etc., on the
view of the immutability." By "Pritchard" is no doubt intended James
Cowles "Prichard," author of the "Physical History of Mankind." Prof.
Poulton has given in his paper, "A remarkable Anticipation of Modern Views
on Evolution" (14/6. "Science Progress," Volume I., April 1897, page
278.), an interesting study of Prichard's work. He shows that Prichard was
in advance of his day in his views on the non-transmission of acquired
characters. Prof. Poulton also tries to show that Prichard was an
evolutionist. He allows that Prichard wrote with hesitation, and that in
the later editions of his book his views became weaker. But, even with
these qualifications, we think that Poulton has unintentionally exaggerated
the degree to which Prichard believed in evolution.

One of Prichard's strongest sentences is quoted by Poulton (loc. cit., page
16); it occurs in the "Physical History of Mankind," Ed. 2, Volume II.,
page 570:--

"Is it not probable that the varieties which spring up within the limits of
particular species are further adaptations of structure to the
circumstances under which the tribe is destined to exist? Varieties branch
out from the common form of a species, just as the forms of species deviate
from the common type of a genus. Why should the one class of phenomena be
without end or utility, a mere effect of contingency or chance, more than
the other?"

If this passage, and others similar to it, stood alone, we might agree with
Prof. Poulton; but this is impossible when we find in Volume I. of the same