204 Transactions of tlie 



tongue, forming the hyoid arch, and undergoing much metamorphic 

 change, giving rise on their upper part to the httle chain of ear- 

 bones — they are only partly bony — whilst a " bung " cut out of 

 the ear-sac, and running to the " stapes " or stirrup of each ear, is 

 articulated with this chain. A free process of this chain is attached 

 to the memhrana tympani, or drum-parchment. The four remain- 

 ing arches of the frog's face and throat carry their exquisite tufted 

 gills at first quite free, they then coalesce with each other, and below 

 also to the third or hyoid arch. 



AU this is microscopic work ; step by step everything has to be 

 made out by the most delicate microscopical manipulation, and but 

 for that instrument the whole matter must have been kept secret to 

 the end of the world. It is impossible to overrate the value of 

 such means that lead to such researches, for now we begin to see 

 the absolute Unity of the Vertebrate Series — to say nothing of the 

 other primary groups of animals. The highest type — the human — 

 passes through every stage of morphological structure seen in the 

 series beneath : it does not stop at these stages ; it does not utilize, 

 80 to say, the incipient structures that are ready to be so used, but 

 rutis rapidly along its own line, choosing as it were and refusing, 

 until at length the perfect man is attained. Yet this perfection of 

 parts, this production of a creature who in his lowest attributes is 

 the " paragon of animals," is not brought about irrelatively to the 

 rest of creation ; it is merely an elected consummation of all that is 

 highest and best in morphological structure. Does this exclude 

 " Teleology," or the fitness of every part to other parts and to the 

 rest of the world ? I think not. 



