FROM LAMARCK TO ST. HILAIRE, 

 GOETHE AND NAUDIN 



A Question of Priority — Lamarck — Geoffroy St. Hilaire 

 — Discussion between Cuvier and St. Hilaire — Goethe — 

 Cuvier — Treviranus — Bory de St. Vincent — Isidore St. 

 Hilaire — Naudin. 



THE movement toward placing Evolution 

 upon a truly observational or inductive basis, 

 begun by Buffon, continued throughout the first 

 half of the nineteenth century. There were scat- 

 tered observation and speculation upon the filia- 

 tion and transmutation of species. There was a 

 rapid extension of the sciences of geology, pa- 

 Iseontology, zoology, botany, and comparative 

 anatomy. Nature in each of these great branches 

 manifested the evolution principle, but in none 

 was the evidence so strong and cumulative as to 

 overcome arguments and ecclesiastical influence 

 on the conservative side. Consequently the move- 

 ment steadily declined toward the middle of the 

 nineteenth century, and notions of the fixity of 

 species had a stronger foothold than ever in the 

 teachings of the great masters of zoology like 

 Cuvier and Agassiz. 



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