to the subject, said : — " I consider it impossible for any one to 

 be a faithful student of Embryology, in the present state of science, 

 without at the same time becoming an evolutionist." 



Morphology. — From a consideration of the structure of 

 animals, it will be seen that the main argument lies in the very 

 few types or patterns out of which the forms have been evolved. 

 Insects diifer greatly in appearance — for example, the dragon-fly 

 and the lady-bird — and yet their bodies are built up of the same 

 number of segments, viz., 20. Even the crustaceans resemble the 

 insects in possessing 20 segments ; and it is worthy of note that 

 when these creatures have a complex mouth and large claws, a 

 greater number of segments are involved in their production ; while 

 a less number being available for the legs, the latter organs are 

 reduced in number. On the hypothesis of Evolution from a 

 primordial germ possessing 20 segments, the case is clear enough, 

 but we can hardly conceive, on the hypothesis of creation, that the 

 same number should be always adhered to. 



Mr. "Weir then referred to useless rudimentary members, such 

 as the naUs on the fore-paws of the seal and manatee, and the 

 hind legs of certain true serpents, and considered that the sup- 

 pression of unnecessary organs, and the unusual development of 

 others, had brought about the wonderful differences we see in their 

 structure. 



The Lecturer then passed on to the evidences of Evolution 

 as exhibited in the limbs of animals, and spoke of the numerous 

 and remarkable links between the palaeotherium and the horse 

 which have recently been discovered in America. 



Paleontology. — It must be evident to aU that a very small 

 portion of the earth has been examined below the surface, and that 

 therefore, the evidences in support of the theory of the Evolution 

 of life, which can be derived from Palaeontology, is of necessity 

 very incomplete. StUl that evidence, as far as it goes, is in 

 support of the theory. 



The oldest fossil-bearing rocks contain the remains of creatures 

 which differ most from those now inhabiting the earth, and this 

 difference decreases as we approach the more recent deposits, until, 

 in the drift, few genera are met with, perhaps even none, which 



