164 Kansas Academy of Science. 



the struggle for existence. Hence the incentive to record the minutest 

 variations and to search for their causes. . . . Paleontology was born 

 anew and the distribution of life in the past and present became the subject 

 of ardent study. . . . The constantly increasing tendency during the 

 last half century to substitute a careful genetic study — that is, a study of 

 all the life processes— for the ancient cut-and-dried methods— has spread far 

 beyond the confines of biology properly so called. ... (P. 385:) These 

 tendencies have reached not only psychology and philosophy, but even soci- 

 ology, anthropology, archeology, philology, economics and education. Of 

 course great progress would necessarily have been made in fifty years if 

 Darwin had not revived the doctrine of evolution, but that it dominated and 

 quickened the development theory there can be no doubt. But for the doc- 

 trine of evolution we would still be contemplating living organisms from 

 afar, in the scholastic and theologizing spirit of the first half of the nine- 

 teenth century, and not, as now. at close range, with a deeper and freer 

 insight into the significance of the minutest details of development, struc- 

 ture and function." 



As to Darwin's influence on zoology, the one science in which 

 he was preeminent — although he was well accomplished in botany 

 and geology also — Prof. T. H. Morgan, of Columbia University, 

 wrote (Pop. Sci., Apr , 1909, p. 367) : 



"It is the general belief of zoologists that Darwin's influence in bringing 

 about the acceptance of the theory of evolution marked a turning point in 

 the history of their science. ... In the mind of the general public Dar- 

 winism stands to- day for evolution, which is generally accepted as Darwin's 

 chief contribution to human thought. To the zoologist Darwinism means 

 evolution especially as accounted for by natural selection. . . . The ex- 

 ample of Darwin's precision in observing, his truthfulness in recording, and 

 wisdom in interpreting has transformed zoology from prosaic description to 

 acute speculation — from an interesting study to an aggressive science. This 

 change has taken place in an incredibly short space of time. . . . The 

 loyalty that every man of science feels toward Darwin is something greater 

 than any special theory; it is the spirit of Darwinism, the point of view, the 

 method, the procedure of Darwin. .' . . (P. 372:) After Darwin, and 

 largely as the result of the outgrowth of the wide interest his views aroused, 

 there was increased activity in all fields of zoology. The systematists, in 

 their intensive study of species and varieties, the geographical and geologi- 

 cal distribution of animals, and the influence of environment in modifying 

 species, have supplied the most extensive contributions, perhaps, that have 

 been made to the theory of species formation and transmutation. . . . 

 The morphologists. or philosophical anatomists, form the second group of 

 students whose activity is the result of Darwinism. They have determined 

 the relationship of the great classes of animals on the principle of descent ; 

 they have pursued the history of the species in embryology, and have studied 

 heredity in relation to the germ cells that are the links in the chain of or- 

 ganic life. Few other studies have advanced in recent years at so rapid a 

 pace and few have added facts of greater significance. . . . These stu- 

 dents have advanced the principles of their science, and the aspect of modern 

 zoology is largely the outcome of their varied and far-reaching labors. . . . 



