, 1873-06-29
ruE BATTLE OF THE MAST0DONS.
Acassiz on the Development
Theory.
.hesnre Of Evidence for the Evolution Theory
in The Admitted Facts Of Embryonic
Similarity,

Similarity,
craation the Work Of Hind, and No
q Product of Law.
o..t.,doe haas June 1G Correspondence Of the Ma
Fork Tribune.
4ha following lecture IVES delivered by Prof
.r,seiz before the Mueeum Of Comparative
zoology On the goth OF May:
T. intend this closing lecture Of the proson.
.,rraa to be 8 summary of the preceding ones
~ At the same time an introduction to the
.,1rsa hope to give next Autumn on the sue.
ssssion of organized beings in pas. geological
.ras. Allow me to eay that these lectures have
~ heen compiled from established sources Of
toovledee havo tried to give yon tho fresh
~ results of Investigation not yet incorporated
;nte1t books and manuals. In go doing I have
dnsn largely from my Own resources, and in ep-
,ro,chipg the subject to-day I am forced to say
ma more word OF m5seh, It was my good for
+nns early in my scientific career to reach certain
cancellations which are generally accepted
oaw By scientific men, and which are used,
~~AA1AANAAA46
zl reference to it, to support the transmuta-
tioo doctrine. read, in order to show you that
7d,not make this statement loosely, some OF
t,scts from pamphlet entitled De rO1igine du
Monde O1ganique, just published by Prot. Mar
i'm, Tho Director Of the Botanical Garden in
Montpelier, and OF the leading scientific men OF
Psuca. Speaking Of those who have laid the
.oupdstion for the present state OF the science
Of Natural History, he names in succession the
prominent investigators Of the beginning OF our
century, end then coming to more recent times,
hsnys:
another Of these precursors Of modern science In
1ou 4gssziz. Enlareing and :fertlzing the results
dBaer be has proved that archaeological develop
RAJ: 1n.y b compared to that Of tho embryo. While
u 1niasls now living rise through many stages dur
~ thar growth, the fosela have followed similar
LIZ in past ages. The oldest fossil forms have
saplsg organization thaE the later aud repre-
ke1 so1e stage Of the embryonic Development OF the
Aser This truth, established By Agassiz. has mora
TIN other enlightened the history Of creation and
Esla.ed for the generalization By which the whole
rsJ BE- oomprehended.
Iasnother place the writer says:
rosrn up the question, we may state that, whether
vs!AoE, with Baer, the growth Of the animal in tho
xnr5 uf ita mother. ortise with Darwin and Hoekel
@ 70 the gaest living being or tEses with
q geological fornAuons study parallel phenor.-
e Tho Investigation Of which 1eada to concurrent TO
saEs mutually explained.
Ana more especlauy;
Tae oldest fshes known are ALL moro or leas re-
Lied to the sharks and skates; their teeth and
.ion b,ra een ma hs;, o1 tner
yIsl1 dtrerent from that Of fhe 1jrina .neciaa'
rails thnt Of the embryo of our living fshcs
au truth which Agrssiz was the first to proclaim,
II tae scientific world he; confirmed 1t when
r.nEe sh Of the fresh waters Of North America has
s sskingy similar TO that Of the Fossils Of the De-
ivsen 9he archaeological and the embryonic series
In sault 1s O. .he Deyonian period Is the embryo Of
ling species pota aeraTea ~ from identical M eggs
pny tnss y snf T. q, our e,one sne aoss mn
+, t7oiution md risen many degrees in he seals Of
soral lie.
Az Won perceive. NV results ara here admitted
without reservation, but thoy are presented as
iorpinp an essential part Of the yory foundation
of the transmutation theory,
HoH does it happen then that there is so com
pe.a An sntaeonis1n betveen nv views and those
Of the adherent of this very doctrine girnlv
because their Interpretation of tho facts ia based
mon fa1cied identity between phonomena
1tiA, so far rs We know, have not, and in the
nection. It Is true that. as stated in thc work
a5oye ouoted. the series of trnnnfor1natinna Nh
e7ed tn tbe ecr corresnonds in A cenarsI wav
10 the SUGGESTION Of animals in eeolorical
tines, Embryonic conditions OF the finher ver- !
teb.1tae to-day recall adult forms of !orer W..
tebrstes in the earlier Geological tines
From this fact the Observation-Disclosures infer that
the,p has been some material deva1o1n,ant j.,
ths ionr seonenca NJ ares ~ tbe ona ~ ~
ctber mt fha amhryon;c cnndt;ons ~, ~ - 10
tirher yertabrates recal1 adn1t forns - 1,wa1
1,Teb,aaa INV 1vno thair n,r-, ,o+
int a. mnch and ;o *ha s.na 49, - ths1 ra
esufhe foss forns Shs1t Ta ;T}a- 40 .h.es 10y
tsuee chcEen or - dor IN onr rU, nsvn dsr d.1S ~
certain nhsge of its dare7onmeot Teaarohise - - 1
certain aspects a fn]lserown aIato 4bs+ ths-o =.
fore chickens and doen noradsvs prow ont " I
fihes? Ne know it is not 90: and vat the evi-
deace ia e1act1v tba aame a. 1 4hat 1hio1 * r.
taastna .ationists nea AZ r1a1aihiv to arnrnr+ 8
their theory. The truth is that EhiIe c
rstial presenta:ion OF the facts seems to
t7san this theory. when taken in thair t
tue connection anal fnirlY stated thew destroy +
b proving too much. Tbey shoE that tha ra1a-
tons between fos.il animals supposed to nrova :
escens, esis. also between liyiRe animaIs where,
tksJ h27e nothiIs to do With descent. "'101o t
Its true that tie series OF Growth THAT il. \
lie successive changes in the erel. and tha ~, 2
lie. Of time (the succeesive introduction Of AMI
csls IL the paolcoical nyes1 coror tha o.1na | 1