86 



TIIK GENESIS OF SPECIES. 



[ClIAl 



by considering the shoulder structure of the pterodactyl 

 as indej^endcntly educed, iind 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, Avho also calls in direct modification to the 

 aid of " Natural Selection." Tliat merely minute, indefmite 

 variations in all directions should unaided have indej)cn- 

 dently built up the shoulder structure of the plerodaclyls 

 and carinate birds, and have laterally depressed their o])tic 

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



THE AECiiEOPTEUYX (of the OoUtc struta). 



strata,* 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 dilliculty 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 ; 



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



ure. 



