THE EVOLUTION OF SPECIES 151 



the lines along which evolution advanced. It shows the 

 various forms through which, in ages of ages, the original 

 germ passed in its forward journey. The history of 

 the embryo makes manifest the history of the species. 

 Ontogeny, or the history of the individual, unfolds the 

 course of the phylogeny, or stages in the advance of 

 the tribe. From the germ to the perfect man, there 

 were, it is affirmed, twenty stages. 



In some such manner, according to the theory of 

 evolution, have all species of plants and animals been 

 gradually brought into being. But, supposing it true, 

 the theory accounts for little, for comparatively very 

 little. It deals principally with the manner in which 

 the work has progressed, the laws according to which 

 it has been accomplished. It describes processes; it 

 states laws. But it does not account for the processes ; 

 it does not account for the laws. It gives no real ex- 

 planation of the wealth of order and adjustment pervading 

 the work from its first beginning on through its surpass- 

 ingly perfect processes and triumphs till it is crowned in 

 man. It assumes the existence of the elements, of 

 materials the vastest in quantity, the most marvellous 

 in quality, of materials so ordered as naturally and neces- 

 sarily to grow into the great kosmos in the midst of which 

 we live. All that has been evolved must have been 

 originally in the primary elements. They had in them 

 the potencies and measures ; they existed in the quantities 

 and conditions which sufficiently account for all which 

 they have built up. They were so ordered on this view 

 as to be capable of carrying forward the advances which 

 have issued in a world of form and life indescribably rich 

 and magnificent. It ascribes to them a glory of order 

 of which of necessity an account must be demanded. 



In the evolution of living forms the springing into 



