FRANK BUCKLAND'S LAST WORDS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3058, 14 April 1881, Page 3

FRANK BUCKLAND'S LAST WORDS.

The following are some of the last words spoken by the eminent naturalist: — " Of late years the doctrines of so-called "Evolution" and "Development" have seemingly gained ground amongst those interesfed in natural history ; but I have too much faith in the good sense and natural acumen of my fellow-countrymen to think that these tenets will be very long lived.

"To put matters very straight, I steadfastly believe that the Groat Creator, as indeed* we are directly told, made all things perfect and " Very Good " from the beginning ; perfect and very good every created thing is now found to be, and will so continue to the end of time.

" I am willing to prove my case by holding a court at any time or place before any number of people of any class. _ I would empanel a jury of the most eminent and skilful railway and mochanical engineers, while the only witnesses I should call would be the fish fresh from the deep-sep trawler, the city fish market, or the fishmonger's slab. I would adduce from them evidence "of design, beauty, and order," as evinced in such as the electric organs of the torpedo—the gun lock spine of the file figli—the water reservoirs and spectacles of the eel—the teeth of the gilthead, bream, and throat-teeth of the carp, bream, &c. — the anchor of the lumpsucker and remora— the colouring of the perch and bleak—the icthyophagous teeth of the pike, shark, and silvery hairtail—the tail of the fox shark— the prehensile lips of the dory and sprat— the nose of the barbel and dog fish—the resplendence of the Arctic gymnetrus and scabbard fish —the dagger in the tail of the sting ray —the nest of the stickleback —the armour plates of the Bturgeon —the nostril, breathing powers, and stoi'e. of fat in the salmon—migrations of the salmon, herring, pilchard, sprat, and mackerol, &c. —and, above all, the enormous fertility of fishes useful as feed to the human race.

"I am satisfied that I should obtain a verdict in favour of my view of the case, namely, that in all these wonderful contrivances there exists evidence of design and forethought and a wondrous adaptation of means to an end. A full acknowledgment must necessarily follow that these were due to the immediate creation of " the Lord and Giver of life."