86 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 







by considering the shoulder structure of the pterodactyl 

 as independently educed, and having relation to physiology 

 only. This conception is one which harmonizes completely 

 with the views here advocated, and with those of Mr. Her- 

 bert Spencer, who also calls in direct modification to the 

 aid of " Natural Selection." That merely minute, indefinite 

 variations in all directions should unaided have indepen- 

 dently built up the shoulder structure of the pterodactyls 

 and carinate birds, and have laterally depressed their optic 

 lobes, at a time so far back as the deposition of the Oolite 



THE AECHEOPTEETX (of the Oolite strata). 



strata, 8 is a coincidence of the highest improbability ; but 

 that an innate power and evolutionary law, aided by the 

 corrective action of " Natural Selection," should have fur- 

 nished like needs with like aids, is not at all improbable. 

 The difficulty does not tell against the theory of evolution, 

 but only against the specially Darwinian form of it. Now, 

 this form has never been expressly adopted by Prof. Huxley; 



8 The archeopteryx of the oolite has the true carinate shoulder struct- 

 ure. 



