331 . THE STORY OP THE EAETH AND MAN. 



cannot explain without the introduction of some ne'W 

 efficient cause. The one term of the analogy is a 

 revolution, and the other is an evolution. The re- 

 volution within the circle of the reproduction of the 

 species gives no evidence that at some point the body 

 will fly off at a tangent, and does not even inform us 

 whether it is making progress in space. Even if it 

 is so making progress, its orbit of revolution may 

 remain the same. But it may be said the reproduc- 

 tion of the species is not in a circle but in a spiral. 

 Within the limit of experience it is not so, since, 

 however it may undulate, it always returns into 

 itself. But supposing it to be a spiral, it may ascend 

 or descend, or expand and contract; but this does 

 not connect it with other similar spirals, the separate 

 origin of which is to be separately accounted for. 



I have quoted the latter part of the passage because 

 it is characteristic of evolutionists to decry the intel- 

 ligence of those who differ from them. Now it is fair 

 to admit that it requires some intelligence and some 

 knowledge of nature to produce or even to understand 

 such analogies as those of Mr. Spencer and his fol- 

 lowers, but it is no less true that a deeper insight 

 into the study of nature may not only enable us to 

 understand these analogies, but to detect their 

 fallacies. I am sorry to say, however, that at pre- 

 sent the hypothesis of evolution is giving so strong 

 a colouring to much of popular and even academic 

 teaching, more especially in the easy and flippant 

 conversion of the facts of embryology into instances 



