[231] 



HAECKEL'S " ANTHROPOGENIE." 



BY B. BAMSAY WBIGHT. M.A., B.Sc, 

 Professor of Natural History, University College, Toronto. 



The object of the following paper is to give an idea of the present 

 state of the doctrine of evolution. The Jena Professor's name has 

 been so constantly associated with this doctrine since he established 

 himself as its chief champion in Germany by the piiblication of his 

 " Generelle Morphologie " (1866), that it would be impossible to give 

 such an account without di-awing largely on his works for information. 

 Of these I have selected one of the latest, the " Anthropogenie," for 

 a sketch of its contents will afford a general view of the subject, 

 especially in relation to the development of man, together with an 

 account of the more recent additions with which Haeckel has forti- 

 fied the theory. 



The book is essentially a popular one, and no difficulty need be 

 experienced by any one in becoming acquainted with those arguments 

 which are most favourable to the evolution theory. Those facts, 

 however, which are still stumbling-blocks to the evolutionists are 

 noticeable by their absence; and indeed it is difficult to avoid re- 

 proaching the author with dogmatism in stating his own case, a 

 reproach of which he is not sparing when his opponents are in 

 question. 



The parts of the book likely to be of most general interest are 

 those which are concerned with the history of the science of develop- 

 ment and with the attempt to establish a genealogical system. The 

 rest of the work is occupied with an account of the embryology 

 (ontogenesis) of man, and of the mode of development of the various 

 organs (organogenesis). These subjects are treated in an admirably 

 lucid mannei", so that from this book some knowledge of the remark- 

 able changes which the human being passes through, from the simple 

 unicellular condition to the complex fully-formed body, can be 

 readily acquired, even without previous physiological training. 



That this series of changes presents a great resemblance to different 

 animals has been long recognized, but- the cause of the resemblance 



