370 General Notes. [ June, 
uralists that this same genetic connection has furnished the text for 
many a sermon from their high priest. Infallible himself, he has been 
unsparing in his condemnation of the ignorance and shallowness of his 
opponents. Proved now to be in the wrong, we expect, therefore, jus- 
the next number of the Jenaische Zeitschrift for a thorough castigation 
of Haeckel by Haeckel, showing up the absurdity of allaogenesis and 
all that hangs thereby.” 
Finally, Professor Haeckel has proposed various theories. The most 
widely known of these is his Gastræa-Theorie. The inspiration of 
this was the theory of the germinal layers being homologous in all 
classes of animals. Do not let us confuse matters, but remember that 
this theory was suggested by Von Baer ! in 1828, and by Rathke half a 
century ago. It was brought prominently forward by Kleinenberg in 
his memoir on Hydra, and then further established by Mecznikow and 
Kowalewsky, and since by numerous observers. 
e Gastrea-Theorie is an attempt to explain these homologies. 
Claus ? proves that this is unsuccessfully tried, because it disagrees with 
the facts in many cases. He further points out that Haeckel has con- 
tradicted himself several times flatly in his system of classification. 
Haeckel has proposed a biogenetical fundamental law (biogenetisches 
Grundgesetz), namely, that embryology is the repetition of phylogeny. 
This is merely a misshapen repetition of the principle taught by Agassiz, 
that the embryos of higher animals resemble the adults of lower forms. 
Kölliker è demonstrates the falsity of Haeckel’s mode of stating the case 
by noticing some of the conclusions he draws, but which are disproved 
by facts. 
It does not seem to me desirable to continue these quotations and 
references, for I think that the inaccuracy of Haeckel’s pictures, of his 
statements of facts, and finally of his theories, has been sufficiently indi- 
cated. I close with a quotation from Professor His’s Unsere Körper- 
form, page 171 : — 
“ I myself have grown up in the faith that among all the qualifications 
of a naturalist, the only one which cannot be spared is accuracy and an 
unconditional respect for the truth. At present, also, I still hold the 
view that the absence of this one qualification tarnishes all others, may 
they be never so brilliant. Others may, therefore, admire Mr. Haeckel 
as an active and relentless party leader; in my judgment he has, by his 
very manner of attack, resigned his right to be reckoned an equal in Abe 
- circle of serious investigators.” — CHARLES SEDGWICK Minot. : 
[We should not lose sight of the fact that Haeckel stands as an orig- 
inal investigator far above some of his critics. He has established a dis- 
1 Uber Entwickelungsgeschichte der Thiere. Theil I., page 245. 
2 Die Typenlehre und E. Haeckel’s sog. Gastrwa-Theorie. Vienna, 1874. 
? Entwickelungsgeschichte. 2te Aufl, page 392. 
