54 Scientific Sophisms. 



To this question the answer is both unambi- 

 guous and conclusive. To present it the more 

 clearly, let us take separately the two points 

 involved. First, what is the evidence for the 

 succession of life from lower to higher forms ? 

 And second, what is the evidence as to the 

 existence of any instance of the conversion or 

 transmutation of one species into another ? 



Let Professor Huxley answer. For we shall 

 find no witness more competent than he ; none 

 whose authority in all matters of natural history 

 and palaeontology is more indisputable ; none 

 more illustrious in his championship of Evolu- 

 tion in general, or of Mr. Darwin's views in par- 

 ticular. " There is but one hypothesis," he tells 

 us, " as to the origin of species of animals in 

 general which has any scientific existence that 

 propounded by Mr. Darwin." l Testimony from 

 that quarter, therefore, cannot fail to have a 

 special force. And on the first part of the 

 question Professor Huxley writes thus : 



" What, then, does an impartial survey of the positively 

 ascertained truths of palaeontology testify in relation to 

 the common doctrines of progressive modification, which 

 suppose that modification to have taken place by a neces- 

 sary progress from more to less embryonic forms, or from 



f " Man's Place in Nature," p. 106. 



