108 DARWmiANA. 



of tlie derivation of species explain which tlie opjDos- 

 ing view leaves nnexplainecl ? 



Questions these which ought to be entertained 

 before we take up the arguments which have been 

 advanced against this theory. "We can barely glance 

 at some of the considerations which Darwin adduces,. 

 or will be sure to adduce in the future and fuller 

 exposition which is promised. To display them in such 

 wise as to indoctrinate the unscientific reader would 

 require a volume. Merely to refer to them in the- 

 most general terms would sufiice for those familiar 

 with scientific matters, but would scarcely enlighten 

 those who are not. Wherefore let these trust the im- 

 partial Pictet, who freely admits that, "in the absence 

 of sufficient direct proofs to justify the possibility of 

 his hypothesis, Mr. Darwin relies upon indirect proofs, 

 the bearing of which is real and incontestable ; " who 

 concedes that " his theory accords very well with the 

 great facts of comparative anatomy and zoology — 

 comes in admirably to explain unity of composition of 

 organisms, also to explain rudimentary and representa- 

 tive organs, and the natui'al series of genera and species 

 — equally corresponds with many paleontological data 

 — agrees well with the specific resemblances which exist 

 between two successive faunas, with the parallelism 

 which is sometimes observed between the series of 

 paleontological succession and of embryonal develop- 

 ment," etc. ; and finally, although he does not accept 

 the theory in these results, he allows that " it appears 

 to offer the best means of explaining the manner in 

 which organized beings were produced in epochs an- 

 terior to our own." 



