318 MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTIONS, ETC. [Chap. VII. 



have undergone such momentous and abrupt transforma- 

 tions, as those above indicated; and yet should not bear 

 even a trace in its embryonic condition of any sudden 

 modification; every detail in its structure being de- 

 veloped by insensibly fine steps. 



He who believes that some ancient form was trans- 

 formed suddenly through an internal force or tendency 

 into, for instance, one furnished with wings, will be al- 

 most compelled to assume, in opposition to all analogy, 

 that many individuals varied simultaneously. It can- 

 not be denied that such abrupt and great changes of 

 structure are widely different from those which most 

 species apparently have undergone. He will further be 

 compelled to believe that many structures beautifully 

 adapted to all the other parts of the same creature and to 

 the surrounding conditions, have been suddenly pro- 

 duced; and of such complex and wonderful co-adapta- 

 tions, he will not be able to assign a shadow of an ex- 

 planation. He will be forced to admit that these great 

 and sudden transformations have left no trace of their 

 action on the embryo. To admit all this is, as it seems 

 to me, to enter into the realms of miracle, and to leave 

 those of Science. 



