E VIDENCES OF E VOL U TION. 115 



ous framework of the lobster?" ' But two answers 

 have been given or can be given the answer of the 

 special creationist, 3 that all forms of life were cre- 

 ated as we find them, and the answer of the 

 evolutionist, who contends that community of struc- 

 ture betokens community of origin. 



Argument from Embryology. 



The argument from embryology is next in order, 

 but it is of such a character that its full import can 

 be appreciated only by experts in the science on 

 which it is based. The most remarkable character- 

 istic of the argument is that we find in the life- 

 history of the individual, ontogeny, an epitome of 

 its ancestral history, phylogeny. And this charac- 

 teristic is not only in complete accordance with the 

 theory of organic Evolution, but is, moreover, just 

 what we should expect if the theory be true. 



The great embryologist. Von Baer, was the 

 first to call attention to the remarkable agreement 



1 " Principles of Biology," vol. I, p. 381. 



2 Replying to the argument that rudimentary organs were 

 specially created by God in order to complete the symmetry 

 and harmony of the organism, Dr. Maisonneuve observes : " II 

 me semble etrange que 1'on soit oblige d'en venir a preter a 

 Dieu Tidee de faire des troinpe-l'ceil passez-moi 1'expres- 

 sion et de supposer que 1'Auteur de toutes choses a si mal pris 

 ses mesures, qu'il a ete oblige d'en venir a proceder comme un 

 architecte, dont les plans mal concus ne lui permettent plus de 

 ne placer des fenetres ou des lucarnes que seulment la ou 

 leur existence se trouve justifiee a tous points de vue. Car. vous 

 reconnaitrez sans peine, j'imagine, que 1'ideal pour 1'architecte, 

 c'est d'arriver a ce que chaque detail du palais qu'il construit 

 presente a la fois toutes les qualites.utilite, agrement et beaute." 

 " Compte Rendu du Congres Scientifique International des 

 Catholiques.' 1 tenu a Paris, 1891, Section d'Anthropologie, p. 59. 



