CHAPTER IX. 



Professor Fleischmann, zoologist in Erlangen, recent- 

 ly published a book bearing the title, "Die Descendenzthe- 

 orie," in which he opposes every theory of Descent. The 

 book is made up of lectures delivered by the author before 

 general audiences of professional students, hence is popu- 

 lar in form and of very special apologetic value. Numerous 

 excellent illustrations aid the reader in understanding the 

 text. 



One statement in the Introduction characterizes the 

 decided position assumed by the author. He says: "After 

 long and careful investigation I have come to the conclu- 

 sion that the doctrine of Descent has not been substantia- 

 ted. I go even farther and maintain that the discussion of 

 the question does not belong to the field of the exact 

 sciences of zoology and botany." At the outset, Fleisch- 

 mann establishes the fact that in the animal kingdom there 

 are rigidly separated types, which cannot be derived from 

 each other, whereas the doctrine of Descent postulates 

 "one single common model of body-structure" from which 

 all types have been developed. Cuvier in his day, set up 

 four such types of essentially different structure; when 

 Darwin's work appeared two more had been added; R. 

 Hertwig postulates even seven. Boas nine (both 1900); J. 

 Kennel (1893) seventeen, and Fleischmann himself sixteen. 

 In consequence the doctrine of Descent has become 



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