458 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF PLANTS 



tions * of the individuals have taught us, together with the study 

 of fossil forms of animals and plants in the successive geologic 

 strata of the earth, as well as the method of distribution of 

 plants and animals over the earth's surface. In everything where 

 change and progress takes place, evolution is manifest. 



645. The influence of Darwin in establishing the theory 

 of evolution. To Charles Darwin, probably more than to any 

 other one man, we owe the evidence which has led to the general 

 belief in the theory of evolution as against the theory of the 

 special creation of species. This theory has been accepted, 

 because it appeals to the mind of man as being more reasonable 

 that species should be created according to natural laws rather 

 than by an arbitrary and special creation. 



Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England, Feb. 12, 

 1809, and died in 1882. At an early age he showed an interest 

 in natural science, at the age of eight years becoming interested 

 in insects. In his sixteenth year his father sent him to college 

 to study medicine, but becoming satisfied that his bent w r as in 

 other directions, in 1828, sent him to Cambridge University 

 with the idea of his eventually becoming a clergyman. His 

 interest in natural history, making collections and studies, was 

 continued. By the encouragement and advice of some of his 

 science friends in the faculty, and others, he was led to devote 

 more attention to the subjects of geology and natural history. 

 As a result of this, at the age of twenty-two, he was recommended 

 to the captain of the ship Beadle, who wanted a young naturalist 

 to accompany him on a scientific exploration in different parts of 

 the southern hemisphere. This was the real beginning of his 

 life work. His collections and observations on this voyage led 

 him to serious reflection on the origin of species. 



From this time on his whole life was devoted to careful obser- 

 vation and study of the habits of plants and animals, their vari- 



* The evolution of man from lower animals does not mean that man was 

 developed from the monkey, but that man was developed from some being 

 in the remote past which was probably also the remote ancestor of the anthro- 

 poid apes. 



