Mr.Wallace says (referring to Mr.Croll's paper in the _Phil.

Mag._), "As we are now, and have been for 60,000 years, in a period of low eccentricity, _the rate of change of species during that time may be no measure of the rate that has generally obtained in past geological epochs_." [230] "Habit and Intelligence," vol.i.p.

344.
[231] If anyone were to contend that beside the opium there existed a real distinct objective entity, "its soporific virtue," he would be open to ridicule indeed.

But the constitution of our minds is such that we cannot but distinguish ideally a thing from its even essential attributes and qualities.

The joke is sufficiently amusing, however, regarded as the solemn enunciation of a mere truism.
[232] Noticed by Professor Owen in his "Archetype," p.76.Recently it has been attempted to discredit Darwinism in France by speaking of it as "_de la science mousseuse!_" [233] "Lay Sermons," p.