72 



organisms in the lower spheres of existence. 

 Doubtless, if by evolution Father Wasmann 

 means that among the inferior orders of animal 

 life the tendency to vary is greater than in the 

 great systematic categories, or that in this realm 

 the lines of the limitations of variation are more 

 elastic ; in other words, that there is a greater 

 plasticity of nature in the lower forms of life; he 

 may not be so far from the truth ; but it would 

 be a travesty of language to dignify this by the 

 name of evolution ; it is simply variation. In 

 deed, we are of opinion that the term variation 

 will cover all the facts that Father Wasmann 

 has found; that is, when scientists will have 

 agreed among themselves as to what consti 

 tutes the true meaning of their own term 

 "species." 



The Biogenetic Principle or Proof from Embryology. 



There is one other proof of evolution which 

 is usually brought forward and upon which 

 Father Wasmann barely touches and then 

 only to reject it which we cannot pass over, 

 so peculiarly does Father Wasmann deal with 

 it. His manner of accepting and rejecting it 



