New-York tribune., 1874-08-15
CHANGE BY GRADUAL MODIFICATION NOT
THE UNIVERSAL LAW.

At the conclusion of Prof. Meehans paper,
published to-day, the Section adjourned Tor dlhher Al
o'clock when it again assembled, discussion on the
points the paper sprauG up, begun by ProI Morse'
who said simply that the impression seemed to prevail
among great many that Prof. Meehan's paper was
an argument against Darwinsm. while IN reality in
whatever sense you look at 1t confederation OF
the theory OF evolution. Prof c. V. Riley succeeded
Prot Morse, making this point: That most OF the CIT
cumstances cited by Prof Mechan found their parallels
in what generally known 10 BIOLOGISTS as wen hs
hotansts as sports" or even mOnstrOsitc" and that
Mr.. Darwin himself had lnstanced some Ot the most
~ six-lncercd children from normally hve-hn
gered parents and the production OF biacK sheep
speaker of the opinion hat these sudden deparues
mated to die out again. IN the struggle Tor existence
than those which accrued from shght mOdlnGatloh
that is 10 say that while many OF these SPORTS under
be care Of man in domestication and cultivation might
retained In state OF nature most OF the cases IN
stauced 10y Mr. Meehdn would nave necoMe iosl, ana
thus after all, the Old aphOris winch Mr. Darwin lays
much stress upon" Ndturd non faclt satum -nelu
true and these could only be considered uhln-
pOrtant exceptions to It; that by no medns did tins n
validate the theory OF evolution On the contrary as
Pof Morse sand whatever sense II was looked AT the
theory was strongly upheld,
Proi GIN said there was always tendency to push to
an extreme the views that held IL seemed 10 nlm
there really no discrepancy between Fr0 Meehah
views and those of Prois DARWIN and HuA'ty IL was
not claimed by Darwin and Huxley thdJ there was
necessarily greater modification o type but IL was au
Darwin in hs last edition of his "Orgn OF Species ana
al Huxley,
thero was not by necessity any limit to modIhct-
tnn or apy reason why species should be very slowly
modifeu There were too many arguments III laNOr OF
rcater modification contend that everything must
OF necessity arise by abrdpt DEVIATION "a the Othcr
hand there tOo many Instances of this abrupt de-
walton 10 eainsay that many such may come into play
There sOrs th2t "g;ccd win edch Oher m almost
all and hich vet exhibited mOdcatlOus
SO serious as be .ardcd, though OF the same family,
&C ~ ,TeCIan suggested briefly that he thought his
facts rather tended ad the theory of evolution than
otherwise. They simply were intended 10 SHOW thdt
evolution not gradual MODIFICATION OF I'fs III an
cases They were rather a reply 70 Mr.. Darwin, VINO
said If II could be proved that species came INTO exist
ence through any other way than Dy gradual mCdihcd
op o. form through long series or years then ne was
willing 10 coucede tnat ms theory OF natural selection
fell TO ground. Tae speaker Thought lie need not
nave made such an admissions ina the theory might De
and yet species sprAs lhtO esteuee III te Idpu
way lie mad shown
prof GRAY the welknown botanist remarked that
he only wished 10 state III respect 10 variations occur
the knd u Things which Mr.. Darwin would nave re-
garded any way interfering win his view, ana ne
dld not think Mr.. Mccnan had rightly cOmprrhcnded
the statement 10 winch he had called attention. i
think pursued doctor that the statement, Whatever
10 is, tax III connection wlth the remark when Ir
Riley made, ana which Mr, Darwin gJJI dedl insists
upOn VIZ that he does not look 10 mousrOSltle Tor the
introduction form, because the mOnstrOsties may
he expected be taken out OF relation to the surround
winch in relation to circumstances and changing
ciIcums that can De utluzed and turned to ac
couut-is not t. be found fault with. Mr. Darwin dis
tuct.y that mOnsrostes may he hereditary and
be supposed even 10 DC continued II tncy were
sufficient il relation 10 Olndng circumstances. So
Mr. Darwin readily takes into his view CnanEes Ike
that which every one calls mUnstrOsiues, hemay readily
be expected 10 regard II any infringement upon
the maxim that varieties should come into existence
quite abruptly with considerable differences. tnink u
that varieties apt 10 arise IN hdt way WITH
very considerable dlf renCes. ana true that those
surely -ie not the kind OF things TO which MI Darwin
looks difficulties 10 overcome, but as steppng-stones
ia hls way.