'An owl to wit'. Satire on Darwin's 'Origin of Species' showing the evolution of a wit, from a candle, via a porcupine and owl. He calls himself a philosopher, and surrounds himself with books, yet a wit he is not, for earlier in his evolution as an owl he had merely covered his stupidity in feathers and earlier still was so afraid of exposing it that he came out in the prickles of a fretful porcupine. He used to be a shining light (three candlesticks) but ironically the book he is holding has evolved from a pair of candle snuffers that will probably ultimately extinguish him.