THE EVIDENCE FROM MISSING LINKS. 145 



continued distinctness of each species would seem to argue power- 

 fully at once in favour of the " special creation " of the varied kinds 

 of animals and plants, and against the evolution of new species from 

 the old, and against the hereditary connection of species one with 

 another. The argument derived from the visible gaps between even 

 nearly related kinds of animals, was therefore too apparent to be over- 

 looked by popular critics of evolution, and it was also too important 

 to be made light of by evolutionists themselves. " Distinct now, 

 distinct always/' was the opinion which was duly expressed regarding 

 the nature of species, in the early days of the historical controversy 

 concerning their origin. We may not be surprised, therefore, to find 

 Mr. Darwin, in speaking of this subject, saying that one objection to 

 his theory, " namely, the distinctness of specific forms, and their not 

 being blended together by innumerable transitional links, is a very 

 obvious difficulty;" and. again, "Why is not all nature in confusion, 

 instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?" Alike 

 grave, then, to evolutionists and their opponents is the question of 

 " missing links." Let us endeavour to examine this question in the 

 light of recent research, with the view of determining to which side 

 the balance of evidence, duly weighed, will lead us. 



Amongst the procedures commonly witnessed in our courts of 

 law there is one which I believe is styled, in legal parlance, " taking 

 an objection to the relevancy of the record or indictment." The 

 essential feature of that procedure consists in one of the interested 

 parties showing that certain parts of the statement of facts made by 

 the opposing side involve items which may be absolutely untrue or 

 incorrect, and which therefore require to be expunged from the list 

 of matters involving litigation. In this way the details of a lawsuit- 

 become simplified, and the chariot- wheels of justice are enabled to roll 

 easily onwards in that glorious ease and uncertainty of movement 

 which is one of the most ancient if also unsatisfactory, characteristics 

 of legal science and practice. The contention before us at present in 

 one respect admits of its issues being amended through an objection 

 to their relevancy. The chief points for discussion are those con- 

 cerning the need for "missing links" according to the theory of 

 evolution, and the ability or inability of the evolutionist to supply 

 them. Let us suppose, however, that counsel for the evolutionist 

 moves the relevancy of these points.. The following will be his line 

 of argument : " It is demanded that we produce the ' missing links,' 

 or transitional forms between existing species. Unquestionably the 

 demand is a just one ; and in furnishing its reply, it is clear we must 

 point out such links either in the existing world, or in the fossils 

 found in rock- formations, as representing the life-systems of the 

 past. We shall be able presently to demonstrate that whatever 

 evidence geology has to show is all in our favour, and that where a 



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