THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION 



LECTURE I 

 PRESENT STATUS OF THE QUESTION 



Among that public which, though educated and 

 intelligent, is yet not professionally scientific, there 

 has been, of late, a widespread belief that naturalists 

 have become very doubtful as to the truth of the 

 theory of evolution and are casting about for some 

 more satisfactory substitute, which shall better ex- 

 plain the infinitely varied and manifold character of 

 the organic world. This belief is an altogether mis- 

 taken one, for never before have the students of 

 animals and plants been so nearly unanimous in 

 their acceptance of the theory as they are to-day. 

 It is true that there are still some dissentient voices, 

 as there have been ever since the publication of 

 Darwin's :< Origin of Species," but the whole trend 

 of scientific opinion is strongly in favour of the 

 evolutionary hypothesis. 



Whatever may be the private opinion of a greater 

 or less number of naturalists on this question, almost 

 the only zoologist of recognized standing who has 

 taken a pronounced and positive position against the 

 theory, is Professor Fleischmann, of Erlangen. He 



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