The Evolution of the Horse 



the coincidence of the observed facts with theo- 

 retical requirements. 



The only way of escape, if it be a way of es< 

 from the conclusions which I have just indicated, 

 is the supposition that all these different equine 

 forms have been created separately at separate 

 epochs of time; and, I repeat, that of such an 

 hypothesis as this there neither is, nor can be, 

 any scientific evidence; and, assuredly, so far as 

 I know, there is none which is supported, or pre- 

 tends to be supported, by evidence or authority 

 of any other kind. I can but think that the time 

 will come when such suggestions as these, such 

 obvious attempts to escape the force of demon- 

 stration, will be put upon the same footing as 

 the supposition made by some writers, who arc, I 

 believe, not completely extinct at present, that 

 fossils are mere simulacra [images], are no indica- 

 tions of the former existence of the animals to 

 which they seem to belong; but that they are 

 either sports of Nature, or special creations, in- 

 tended — as I heard suggested the other day — to 

 test our faith. 



In fact, the whole evidence is in favour of evo- 

 lution, and there is none against it. And I say 

 this, although perfectly well aware of the seeming 

 difficulties which have been built up upon what 

 appears to the uninformed to be a solid founda- 

 tion. I meet constantly with the argument that 

 the doctrine of evolution cannot be well founded 

 because it requires the lapse of a very vast period 

 of time; while the duration of life upon the earth. 

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