Masterpieces of Science 



close similarity between man and the lower 

 animals in embryonic development, as well 

 as in innumerable points of structure and con- 

 stitution, both of high and of the most trifling 

 importance — the rudiments which he retains, 

 and the abnormal reversions to which he is 

 occasionally liable — are facts which cannot be 

 disputed. They have long been known, but, 

 until recently, they told us nothing with respect 

 to the origin of man. Now, when viewed by the 

 light of our knowledge of the whole organic 

 world, their meaning is unmistakable. The 

 great principle of evolution stands up clear and 

 firm when these groups of facts are considered 

 in connection with others, such as the mutual 

 affinities of the members of the same group, 

 their geographical distribution in past and 

 present times, and their geological succession. 

 It is incredible that all these facts should speak 

 falsely. He who is not content to look, like a sav- 

 age, at the phenomena of Nature as discon- 

 nected, cannot any longer believe that man 

 is the work of a separate act of creation. He 

 will be forced to admit that the close resemb- 

 lance of the embryo of man to that, for instance, 

 of a dog — the construction of his skull, limbs 

 and whole frame on the same plan with that of 

 other mammals — the occasional appearance of 

 various, structures, for instance, of several 

 distinct muscles, which man does not normally 

 possess, but which are common to the Quad- 

 rumana — and a crowd of analogous facts — all 

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