FIFTY YEARS OF DAHWINISM 



BY 

 EDWARD B, POULTON 



On this historic occasion it is of special interest 

 to reflect for a few moments on the part played 

 by the New World in the origin and growth of 

 the great intellectual force which dominates the 

 past half century. The central doctrine of evo- 

 lution, quite apart from any explanation of it, 

 was first forced upon Darwin's mind by his South 

 American observations during the voyage of the 

 Beagle; and we may be sure that his experience 

 in this same country, teeming with innumerable 

 and varied forms of life, confirmed and deepened 

 his convictions as to the importance of adaptation 

 and thus prepared the way for Natural Selection. 

 Wallace, too, at first traveled in South America ; 

 only later in the parts of the Old World tropics 

 which stand next to South America in richness. 



Asa Gray in the New World represented Sir 

 Joseph Hooker in the Old, as regards the help 

 given to Darwin before the appearance of the 

 Origin, and in strenuous and most efficient de- 

 fense after its appearance. Chauncey Wright 

 similarly represents Henry Fawcett. Fritz 

 Miiller not only actively defended Darwin, but 



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