TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 151 



space of time, a series of changes whicli, when supposed to occupy a period inde- 

 finitely great, and to go on in various ways instead of one way, give us a tolerably 

 clear conception of organic evolution in general." 



It may be said that this argument involves the acceptance of the Darwinian 

 hypothesis ; this would, however, be a mistake ; the objection might indeed be 

 tenable if men belonged to different species, but it cannot fairly be urged by those 

 who regard all mankind as descended from common ancestors ; and, in fact, it is 

 strongly held by Agassiz, one of Darwin's most uncompromising opponents. 



Regarded from this point of view, the similarity existing between savages and 

 childi-en assumes a singular importance, and becomes almost conclusive as regards 

 the question now at issue. 



The Duke ends his work with the expression of a belief that man, " even in his 

 most civilized condition, is capable of degradation, that his knowledge may decay, 

 and that his religion may be lost." Far more noble, as it seems to me, are the 

 concluding passages of Lord Dunraven's opening address to the Cambrian Archseo- 

 logical Association, — " that if we look back through the entire period of the past 

 history of man, as exhibited in the result of archffiological investigation, we can 

 scarcely fail to perceive that the whole exhibits one gTand scheme of progression, 

 which, notwithstanding partial periods of decline, has for its end the ever-increas- 

 ing civilization of man, and the gradual development of his higher faciUties, and 

 for its object the continual manipulation of the design, the power, the wisdom, 

 and the goodness of Almighty God." 



I confess therefore that, after giving the arguments of the Duke of Argyll my 

 most attentive and candid consideration, I see no reason to adopt his melancholy 

 conclusion, but I remain persuaded that the past history of man has, on the whole, 

 been one of progress, and that, in looking forward to the future, we are justified 

 in doing so with confidence and with hope. 



Philosophical Ohjection to Darwinism or Evolution. 

 By ike Eev. J. M'Cann, B.D. 



The Difficulties of Darwinism. By the Eev. F. 0. Mokbis. 



On the occasional definition of the Convolutions of the Brain on the exterior 0/ 



the Skull. By T. S. Prideattx. 



[For Abstract of this Paper see Appendix.] 



On the Eaces of Morocco. By J. Stirling. 



Notes on an Inscribed Sock. By Ralph Tate, F. G.S. 



Initial Life. By C. Staniland Wake, F.A.S.L. 



The object of the paper was to show, by various experiments with the tissue, 

 seeds, and pollen of plants, that the germs of the Infusoria, supposed bj' hetero- 

 genists to be spontaneously generated in infusions of organic substances, are pre- 

 sent in these substances before infusion. These experiments .show also that Infu- 

 soria are developed fi-om the fungus which is produced from milk-globules placed 

 in water, as also from the contents of the pollen-cell, proving that decomposition 

 is not necessary to such development. The conclusion enunciated in the paper 

 is that infusorial germs are essential to the development of all plants, and that the 

 final product of these germs, whether it shall be animal or vegetable, depends on 

 the conditions under which they are brought to matmity. 



Race affinities of the Madecasees, By Stanilaitd Wake, F.A.S.L. 

 The object of the paper was to show, by a comparison of the physical characters, 



