144 THE MAIN CURRENTS OF ZOOLOGY 



To Lamarck, the eminent French zoologist, be- 

 longs recognition as the founder of the doctrine of 

 organic evolution, fifty years before the publication 

 of Darwin's great book, The Origin of Species. It is 

 true, however, that the publication of Darwin's book 

 was the means that brought the matter prominently 

 before the world and started the vigorous contro- 

 versy regarding the truth or falsity of the theory. 



There are four theories of organic evolution that 

 have received a large amount of attention from 

 naturalists in addition to several supporting and 

 some rival theories. No one can be adequately in- 

 formed on the matter who does not take the trouble 

 to get an idea of the prominent features of these 

 theories and their relation to one another. The four 

 theories referred to are those of Lamarck, Darwin, 

 Weismann, and De Vries. 



Lamarck. Although the evolutionary point of 

 view had been vaguely suggested at different times 

 prior to Lamarck, he was the first to announce a 

 comprehensive theory of organic evolution that has 

 maintained to the present time a creditable standing 

 in the intellectual world. His immediate predeces- 

 sors, Buffon, Goethe, and Erasmus Darwin (grand- 

 father of Charles Darwin), dealt with the same great 



