The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-21
BuxIEY,s SECOND LECTURE.
The OPENING Of bis Attempt 60 Demonstrate
the hypothesis Of Evolution.

Peter Cooper, the soft-shell candidate for
the Presidency, sat In the very center OF Chick
erIng Hall last night, surrounded by q brilliant
audience, and gazing at the diagrams
Of extinct species before which Prof
Huxley stood TO deliver the second OF his
course OF lectures on Evolution" Not far
from the aged and venerable Cooper was seen
the picturesque and aristocratic head OF the
great apoloRst OF Grantism, T.. W. stouehtou,
while not far of were Prof whitney. Mr. d. q.
Crcy. DR. NJ. II. Henry, Engineer Dckerson,
Prof. Doremus. and hundreds Of the students Of
science and religion.
1t was almost impossible 10 believe that tho
celebrated man OF science. who delivered those
brilliant scientific dscourses published under
the title Of Lay Sermons" was the gentleman
who last night delivered lecture that was so
tedious, so rudimentary and almost inaudible.
In scientific value, in phosophic spirit, In popu-
lar Interest, aud In every other respect,
II was greatly inferior to his nrst
lecture on Monuav night. Probably more IN an
one-haf ~ his audience were unable to hear so
ms TO understand him, and hut small portion
was able to follow MIN throughout, however IN
tentiy they listened. II ~ evident. moreover,
that Prof Huxley believes his audience TO he
totally lacking in scientific knowledge; for he
| spent large part Of his time In setting forth
| facts and principles that arc very familiar TO
everybody OF scientific turn OF mind.
In his nr,t lecture he explained the three
| hypoiheses ~ matcri existence, and last night
! he exnounded the hypothesis OF evolution held
10y himself. lie began by showing that the doc
| trine OF evolution did not mean that ali the
forms and all tho species OF animal
! life had developed In regular progress
sion. from lower TO higher, under the
conditions Of ordinary natural law ms there are,
orexampie' exiting species o. FISH, the re-
| early geological formations In which
/ living organizations make their nrst ap-
! peorance. He showed the limits and
| notifications of research in natural history and
| the geological record, explaining also how Dar
wins doctrine OF the "Survval.of the Fttest p"
| bore upon vital changes and enduring orders.
| which no TT ces are found IN the older
| remains. while in these remains many
! forms not now in existence are found.
ture which are not fully demonstrative Of
| the doctrine OF evolution. but must exist
Il II he true; and 4 they do exist are
strongly In favor of It.. In our times
| by wide differences or absolute breaks from
! each other; ana II IL could he shown that this
state of things always existed. 1t would
! be fatal to the doctrine Of evolution
| is favorable to evolution, though not certain
| proofs OF its soundness. The Professor then
| proceeded to describe the fossil evidences OF
| the existence. In the jurassic period, OF crea-
ture wnicu was all anatomical cross between
| a reptile aud bird, and which filled
up the interval between them. Al consider
ate length he argued that the earth had once
| contained intermediate forms between the bird
| and the reptile. or, IN other words. that there
| were birds which could swim and fishes which
| could fly. In this part OF his discourse be Illus
| trtted the argument by diagrams. IL is not
proved that all birds are developed from reptiles,
| but IL II evident that such transition NAV take
| place. Al TINS point Prof. Huxley abruptly
| closed his lecture, and was greeted with slight
| applause.
| The closing lecture OF the course will be de-
| lvered to morrow night.