Sir Walter Raleigh and Evolution

Abstract

I HAVE recently come across a passage in Sir Walter Raleigh's “History of the World” which seems to me sufficiently remarkable for the author to deserve a notable place among those early naturalists who anticipated in some measure the modern views on evolution. In the historical sketch at the beginning of the “Origin of Species” Darwin quotes Buffon, who was born a century and a half later than Raleigh, as “the first author who in modern times has treated the subject in a scientific spirit”; but although, scientifically, Raleigh cannot be compared with Buffon, the fact of his having penned at such an early date the words I am about to quote possesses some interest. The passage I refer to is to be found in the 1621 edition (part i., book i., chap vii., § 9, p. 94). Speaking of the days of the Flood, he says: “But it is manifest, and undoubtedly true, that many of the Species, which now seeme differing, and of severall kindes, were not then in rerum natura. For those Beasts which are of mixt natures, eyther they were not in that age, or else it was not needfull to preserve them, seeing they might be generated againe by others: as the Mules, the Hyœna's, and the like; the one begotten by Asses and Mares, the other by Foxes and Wolves. And whereas by discovering of strange Lands, wherein there are found divers Beasts and Birds differing in colour or stature from those of these Northerne parts; it may be supposed by a superficiall consideration, that all those which weare red and pyed Skinnes, or Feathers, are differing from those that are lesse painted, and were plaine russet or blacke; they are much mistaken that so thinke. And for my owne opinion, I find no difference, but onely in magnitude, betweene the Cat of Europe, and the Ownce of India; and even those Dogges which are become wilde in Hispagniola, with which the Spaniards used to devoure the naked Indians, are now changed to Wolves, and begin to destroy the breed of their Cattell, and doe also oftentimes teare asunder their owne Children. The common Crow and Rooke of India is full of red feathers in the drown'd and low Islands of Caribana; and the Black-bird and Thrush hath his feathers mixt with blacke and carnation, in the North parts of Virginia. The Dog-fish of England is the Sharke of the South Ocean: For if colour or magnitude made a difference of Species, then were the Negro's, which wee call the Blacke Mores, non animalia rationalia, not Men, but some kind of strange Beasts: and so the Giants of the South America should be of another kind, than the people of this part of the World. We also see it dayly, that the natures of Fruits are changed by transplantation, some to better, some to worse, especially with the change of Clymate. Crabs may be made good Fruit by often grafting, and the best Melons will change in a yeere or two to common Cowcummers, by being set in a barren Soyle.”