New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-27
EyOLUTIOs OF LIFE. HRyRY @ CHAPMAN, VI D. avo rpl
4 Ifnuiuc

FyOLUTIOs OF LIFE By HRvRY @ CHAPMAN VI D svo ppI
1870. J. b Lppneoii
The scientific reader will fnd no claims to nov
city TIT present volume, but popular OF
the progress OF research the doctrine Of evolution since
the publication OF Mr. Darwins "orgin OF Species in
1885, II will iii the place OF convenient and useful man
ual OF reference The author has aimed to present. IN
clear aud exhaustive statement as possible, the
most important concentrations of recent theories in
gard 10 the structure OF plants and animals their petr
fed remains mode development. He has brought
the calculation OF the subject the conclusions OF La
marek Darwin, Spencer, Wallace. OXEN Huxley, Hooker
Lyel Haeckel, Btchner Gegenbaur. VOg Vrchow, Mol
eschott Meigs, Leidy, Cope Cray, and other scientific
nqurers the problem Of the origin and evolution Of
the animal and vegetable kingdoms Dr. Chdpmans
statement Of the doctrine Of evolution ia precise and
simple. He understands by it the slow and
gradual development Of life as distinguished
from its special and sudden creation, - that
plants and animals the modified descendants
OF preGxistng organisms and not the unchanged pos
tery Of similar forms Of lfe originally and specially
created. According to the common hypothesis, the
horse for instance the descendant Of pair of horses
proceeding from special act of creation The evou-
ton theory the contrary supposes that the horse is
modified descendant of extinct species OF horse,
which, for the sake OF convenience, may call the
"hipparon." Before the hippanon, there lived the
anchitherium," whose organization bears the same
relation to the hipparion as that does to the
horse, While 10 a SUI Garner peIlUu VIC
find the "paleotheuum " the ancestor OF the
anchitherum But the rhnoceros and the tapir
are also nearly related to the paleothernm Hence all
naturats agree in regarding the horse the rhnoceros'
and the tapir the representatives. OF one group II
these animals derived from common ancestor, it ia
natural that their organization should have much In
common. Applying this mode Of investigation to the
facts Of anatomy embryoOgY and geology it would aD-
pear that the pedigree OF all plants and annas could be
traced to the structureess infinitely small, jelylkc
beings, belonging neither to the animal nor vege-
table kingdom. This view OF the gradual de-
velopmeut OF existing forms Of life from pre-
existing ones DR.. Chapman aflrms. IA in bar
mony with the conclusions OF other sciences. Most
ethnologiss admit that the different OF men have
descended from stock IN spite Of tine diversi
ties Of color shape Of the head and character Of the
hair. The various languages may be traced to one Of
three or four roots The present perfection OF pusic
has been attained only from very gradual additions
from time 70 time. Astronomers teach that the
solar system was chaotic mass, and by slow
degrees attained its present order This line Of thought
carried out by the author with great ullness OF de-
tail, and abundant illustrations from the various
branches OF science. The student OF the subject win
here find greater Of materials for the formation
OF an intelligent opinion than elsewhere be obtained
small a compass.