THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 



VI 



have served newer tribes of animals for food, and 

 may have rid the sea of some of its superfluous 

 Hme in their interest. In short, the hypothesis of 

 evolution will explain the derivation of other animals 

 from Eozoon if we adopt its assumptions, just as it 

 will in that case explain anything else ; but the 

 assumptions are improbable, and contrary to such 

 facts as we know. 



Eozoon itself, however, bears some negative though 

 damaging testimony against evolution, and I take 

 the liberty of repeating here a summary of its 

 imaginary autobiography : — " I, Eozoon Canadense, 

 being a creature of low organization and intelligence, 

 and of practical turn, am no theorist, but have a 

 lively appreciation of such facts as I am able to 

 perceive. I found myself growing upon the sea- 

 bottom, and know not whence I came. I grew and 

 flourished for ages, and found no let or hindrance to 

 my expansion, and abundance of food was always 

 floated to me without my having to go in search of 

 it. At length a change came. Certain creatures 

 with hard snouts and jaws began to prey on me. 

 Whence they came I know not ; I cannot think 

 that they came from the germs which I had dis- 

 persed so abundantly throughout the ocean. Un- 



I8 



