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the far distant past when all tlie mammalia were females. An 
evident absurdity ! 
Then,, again, there must bave been a time when the pro- 
genitors of the present males gradually ceased to perform the 
functions of females, and were gradually transformed into 
males. Another evident absurdity ! We are bold to say that 
such a doctrine as this is an insult to the common sense of 
mankind. And yet this is what Dr. Haeckel must believe if 
he is true to his own doctrine ; and this is what he demands 
that others shall believe on the pain of being pronounced 
unscientific. If not to believe such a theory as' this is to be 
unscientific, then we glory in being unscientific. But it is 
not so. That man is unscientific who allows his imagination 
to control his reason, and who bases his faith on pure assump- 
tions rather than on facts, and such a man we hold the German 
professor to be. 
But it may be asked. If the present species are not the 
result of evolution by natural selection, from whence did they 
spring ? 
Before answering this question, it will be necessary to ask 
another, viz.. What is a true species ? Let the answer be 
that of Dr. Cook, of Boston: — ^^True species are such animals 
as are found within the outermost limits of the sphere of 
ascertainable variability.’’^ Taking this as our guide, let 
us suppose a number of circles, and in each circle place all 
the animals of one order, or, if you please, one genus — say the 
carnivora, or, if you please, the cat tribe, as the case may be ; 
in another circle put the ruminants. We say that there is no 
evidence of any such species having been transmuted into 
another. We may even go further, and say that every genus 
seems to surround itself with a hedge, which renders the 
transmutation impossible. And so in a natural state each 
tribe breeds true. 
Now, as there is no evidence that species are transmuted, 
we say that it is both reasonable and scientific to conclude 
that in the distant past the progenitors of each true species — 
not varieties, but true species — were formed by an Intelligent 
Being, who worked according to a well-defined plan. 
Thus, in the sub-kingdoms of the invertebrated animals 
there is found a general resemblance ; all the radiate animals 
being formed on one plan and all the annulosa on another. 
Again, in the great classes of the vertebrated animals, 
there is also a general resemblance, the fishes being con- 
structed on one plan, the reptiles on another, the birds on 
another, and the mammalia on another. And, in accordance 
with the general plan, we find the presence of certain organs. 
