The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-21

show you that TINS is not tancltul aSsump-
ton. (The Professor here drew the form of
fish on the blackboard). We have here the
backbone, here the upper spine of the skele-
ton, here also the ribs, here the head, the
mouth, the base of the organs of the senses,
the eyes, the nOstrils, and so on. Suppose we
make a section across the body here through
the centre of the body, or here through the
head, or here through the TAIL there will be a
difference in form no doubt, there will be a
difference in the relative dimensions of the
parts, but there will be no difference in the
relative position of these parts, and i'm the ma
ture of these parts. Suppose / commence with
the section across the middle of the body. The
first thing we find in the centre is the solid
axis, above that we have these spires, which
are in reality an arch covering a cavity; we
have here below the ribs which are another
arch inclosing another cavity; this is the lower
cavity, which contains, as | have said, the
organs of digestion, the intestnes liver, and the
like. In the anterior part of the body we should
find the heart in the middle region we should
find the large vessels which run parallel
to the backbone in the upper cavity we
should find the spinal marrow, and ON the
outside Of that the masses of fesh.whch are
covered by the skin. And now in the tail we
should have exactly the same thing, only that
the central backbone is surmounted by a
smaller arch. The intestines do not extend
here except in the form of vessels and nerves,
and here we have a prolOngation of the spinal
marrow, and we have flesh around here as
before. Now, in the head is the difference
This upper portion is largely developed, in
comparison with the lower portion. This upper
portion becomes the skull. Inside is the
extensive mass of the brain. This is the base
of the skull. Instead of ribs we have the
lower jaw attached. Upon the sides of the
skull we.h have masses of flesh, which keep in
motion these parts which are on the side and
the whole is surrounded by skin, as here. So
that the whole difference is that the cavity of
the intestines is reduced to cavity of the
mouth opening outside, Just as the alimentary
canal is a continuation of the cavity of the
mouth and the spinal marrow of the brain.
The brain is only an enlarged portion of the
spinal marrow, or, to reverse it, the spinal
marrow is a modification of the brain extend
ing through the body. So that you see that
my assertion is true that in what
ever region we may make a section to
examine the relative positions of the organs of
the vertebrate we find the organs identical,
bearing the same relation to one another. If
time would permit | could readily show you
that whatever the form of an animal, whether
it he a fish or a serpent, whether a lizard or a
a turtle, or a bird, the relation of the parts is
again the same, and the differences are chiefly
differences in form and development. And it
is III consequence of this great similarity that
the idea has been started that all these animals
may be derived one from the other; that all
these animals may be the result of successive
notifications of the few. You see on the one
hand we have these uniform conditions which
sustain the most diversified forms; then again
we have this unity of plan, which seems to be
i'll contradiction to the variety of influences
under which these animals exist.
DIVERSITY OF FORM.
Then again we have an extraordinary diver
sity of forms, which seem to indicate the
most diversified organs and yet such is the
similarity among these various things that
they seem to be only modification one of the
other. No wonder, therefore, that investga-
tors should make it their special object to
study these things, and that they should differ
in their opinions so much that there should be
those who cannot conceive the cause of this
diversity, unless it be the immediate manifes-
tatiOn of a special creative act on the part of a
Being capable of producing at once perfect
beings; while others, more inclined, perhaps,
to follow development and progress than to
look at first causes of all things, would rather
have everything derived from few primary
forms which have undergone extraordinary
changes in the course of time. To this subject
! shall return in my last lecture. l can only
point at present to the bearing which these in
vestigatiOns of structural relations have upon
the question of origin, upon the question of
diversity, and upon the question of unity in
diversity.
EVIDENCES OF ONE SUPREME CREATOR.
For all things that exist in some point of
view are alike, chiefly by the unity which pre-
walls throughout nature; while from another
point Of view everything seems different; and
when we come to consider what may be the
origin of all things, we are at once led on the
one hand, to the evidences of the workings of
one mind, and, on the other hand, to the ever
changing conditions under which everything
lives; and in consequence of that these various
opinions-sOme assuming that all things have
grown out of the change of few things, and
others assuming that everything must have
been made as it is by Supreme Power. Gap
plause.)
THE ANIMALS OF THE AMAZON.
Now, with these facts before us, we can turn
our attention to the animals of the Amazon,
and may say that they comprise two different
types OF the same animal. We find in the
Amazon, in these fresh waters, mollusks. and
they belong to two classes. We find in the
Amazon articulates, and they belong to two
classes. We find worms and crustacea. We
md veItebrates in the Amazon, and they belong
TO more than one class. We have fishes and
we have also reptiles, and among them some
lhat are aquatic while others are terrestrial;
we have birds, some of which are aquatic and
others aerial and terrestrial and we have mann
mana or quadrupeds, some of which are
aquatic And not the least of the singular
FEATURES OF this immense basin of fresh water
Is lhe presence i'll it of several representatives
oil the porpoise family. The great family of
whales, to which the porpoise belongs. has five
representatives in the Amazon in the form of a
variety of pOTDOiSes and of that o+Iar sinr,t,