312 SPAKKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMEB. 



But it might be suggested that each term in the equine 

 series belonged to one of the kingdoms of organic nature, 

 in which genetic relationships constitute an eminent char- 

 acteristic; while the forms of naval structure are known 

 to possess no such characteristic. This was the purport 

 of the replies of " Pikestaff," " I. J. ft.," and " G. K. G." 

 But right here lay the gist of my irony. It was because 

 we could conclude the same thing concerning inorganic 

 structures as had been inferred concerning organic struct- 

 ures that that mode of reasoning became reduced ad 

 absurdum. Not that the inference concerning the organic 

 series was impossible; it was simply not what was claimed 

 demonstrated. Admitted, with the utmost alacrity, that 

 the genetic relation is a possibility in one case, and an 

 impossibility in the other; yet, even in the possible case, 

 there is another explanation which is also possible, I 

 need not say equally probable, and that is the possibility 

 of a series of independent origins. This is so far from 

 absurd that it was almost the unanimous opinion of man- 

 kind till within a few years. It was defended by Linnaeus 

 and Cuvier and Agassiz. The latter stood up in the midst 

 of the storm of opposition, and almost on his dying day 

 flung fact after fact and inference after inference in the 

 faces of the confronting army of Darwinists. So far is 

 another explanation possible, not to say plausible. It is 

 perfectly easy to conceive that each new type may have 

 been a separate origination. Even if this were the case, 

 we should expect that each new origination would be 

 based on a plan of structure having all its fundamentals 

 in common with preceding types. For why does any 

 organism have such structures as it has unless to be 

 suited to the conditions in which it is placed? And if 



