" To the desire
expressed in these words I respond, for my own part, with the more
pleasure, as this furnishes me with an opportunity of publicly giving
expression in words to the thanks which I feel most deeply to be due
from me to Darwin for the instructions and suggestions for which I am so
deeply indebted to his book. Accordingly I throw this sand-grain with
confidence into the scale against "the load of prejudice by which this
subject is overwhelmed," without troubling myself as to whether the
priests of orthodox science will reckon me amongst dreamers and children
in knowledge of the laws of nature.
CHAPTER 2. THE SPECIES OF MELITA.
A false supposition, when the consequences proceeding from it are
followed further and further, will sooner or later lead to absurdities
and palpable contradictions. During the period of tormenting doubt--and
this was by no means a short one--when the pointer of the scales
oscillated before me in perfect uncertainty between the pro and the con,
and when any fact leading to a quick decision would have been most
welcome to me, I took no small pains to detect some such contradictions
among the inferences as to the class of Crustacea furnished by the
Darwinian theory. But I found none, either then, or subsequently. Those
which I thought I had found were dispelled on closer consideration, or
actually became converted into supports for Darwin's theory.
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