96 APPENDIX. 



" that stage. The truth is, no one ever pretended 



that there was such an identity. It is only said, that there 

 is a resemblance in general character between the parti- 

 cular embryotic stage of being, and the mature con- 

 dition and form of the appropriate inferior animal*." 

 He then adverts to a special charge brought against 

 him, that he assumes " not only that the organic germs 

 of all creatures are alike, but that they are identical," 

 which he states was not his meaning ; but simply, " that 

 the embryos of all animals are not distinguishably dif- 

 ferent from each other f; " a proposition which but few 

 physiologists will be disposed to impugn. In justifi- 

 cation of myself, and of those who, like me, have mis- 

 apprehended, (not misrepresented), this author's opin- 

 ions, I quote the following passage, which may be 

 regarded as a concise expression of his theory. 



" The idea, then, which I form of the progress of 

 organic life upon our earth and the hypothesis is 

 applicable to all similar theatres of vital being is, that 

 the simplest, and most primitive type, under a law to which 

 that of like-production is subordinate, gave birth to the 

 type next above it, that this again produced the next 

 higher, and so on to the very highest, the stages of ad- 

 vance being in all cases very small namely from one 



* Explanations, p. 108. f Ibid, p. 109. 



