Ill 



LECTURES ON EVOLUTION 133 



same character the coincidence of the observed 

 facts with theoretical requirements. 



The only way of escape, if it be a way of escape, 

 from the conclusions which I have just indicated, 

 is the supposition that all these different equine 

 forms have been created separately at separate 

 epochs of time ; and, I repeat, that of such an 

 hypothesis as this there neither is, nor can be, any 

 scientific evidence ; and, assuredly, so far as I 

 know, there is none which is supported, or pretends 

 to be supported, by evidence or authority of any 

 other kind. I can but think that the time will come 

 when such suggestions as these, such obvious 

 attempts to escape the force of demonstration, will 

 be put upon the same footing as the supposition 

 made by some writers, who are I believe not 

 completely extinct at present, that fossils are mere 

 simulacra ; are no indications of the former exist- 

 ence of the animals to which they seem to belong ; 

 but that they are either sports of Nature, or special 

 creations, intended as I heard suggested the 

 other day to test our faith. 



In fact, the whole evidence is in favour of evo- 

 lution, and there is none against it. And I say 

 this, although perfectly well aware of the seeming 

 difficulties which have been built up upon what 

 appears to the uninformed to be a solid foun- 

 dation. I meet constantly with the argument 

 that the doctrine of evolution cannot be well 

 founded, because it requires the lapse of a very 



