LINNAEUS TO LAMARCK 37 



though really included in the plan of organiza- 

 tion of animals of their class." 



The idea of the serpent getting its long 

 body, or the giraffe its long neck, or shore 

 birds their long legs by "stretching," has 

 brought a good deal of ridicule upon Lamarck's 

 theory, and that part of it has never been taken 

 very seriously. 



This mistake however, will no more affect 

 Lamarck's title to a place among the im- 

 mortals, than will the equally unfortunate 

 theory of "pangenesis" endanger the status of 

 his still greater successor — Darwin. 



Lamarck's glory is that he boldly proclaimed 

 and largely proved the general theory of de- 

 scent — biological evolution. 



We shall now proceed to a consideration of 

 the efforts of the great savants who have suc- 

 ceeded him, to ascertain its processes. 



