XXVI. 



WHAT IS A SPECIES? 



UNTIL within less than a generation, the almost 

 ■ universal idea among Christian nations re- 

 garding the different species of plants and animals 

 upon the earth was that they were the direct pro- 

 ducts of original creation, and had existed un- 

 changed since they first came into being upon the 

 earth about 6,000 years ago. Any other idea as to 

 their nature or origin was considered to be not 

 only false, but unworthy to be entertained by those 

 who believed in any influence of a supernatural 

 power over the affairs o° this world. 



There had not been wanting, it is true, even from 

 ancient times, those wlio had held to a belief la 

 some form of developement of highe;- from lower 

 beings. Lamarck, in the last century, boldly advo- 

 cated this theory on scientific grounds to account 

 for the presence of the different forms of life upon 

 the earth. Hi3 opinions attracted but little atten- 

 tion, however, and it was not until the publication 

 of Darwin's book, " The Origin of Species," in 1859, 

 that scientific men began seriously to study the 

 subject, The arguments presented in this book 



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