New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-23
THE LECTURE.

| LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: In my last lecture had
occasion to place before you evidence derived from
fossil remains which, as stated, perfectly con-
sistent with the doctrine Of evolution, favorable
| to it, but could not be regarded the highest kind
of evidence before that sort of evidence that call
| demonstTative.
pointed out. in fact, that as we go back in time
the great intervals which at present separate the
larger divisions of animals become less COM
pletcly obterated by the appearance of interme-
date FORMS so that if take the particular case OF
reptiles and birds, upon which dwelt at length we
find in the mesozoic rocks animals which, If ranged
in SERIES would completely bridge the inter-
val between the reptile and the bird that it would
be very hard to say where the reptile ends
and where the bird begins Evidence distinctly
favorable as this Of evolution is far weightier than
that upon which men undertake to say that they
believe many important propositions; but 1t Is not
the highest kind of evidence attained, for this
reason that as it happens the intermediate forms
to which have referred do not occur in the exact
order in which they ought to occur, if they really
had formed steps in the progression from the reptile
to the bird that is to say, find these fOras IN
cOtempOraneOus deposits, whereas the require
ments of the demonstrative evidence OF evolution
demand that should find the series of gradations
between one group of animals and another, in such
order as they must have followed if they had con-
sttutcd succession of stages in time, of the devel-
opment Of the form at which they ultimately ar
rive. That is to say, the complete evidence of
the evolution of the bird from the reptile-what 1
call the damonsrative evidence because It Is the
highest form Of this class Of evidence; that EVIL
dence should be of this character, that in some an
cient formation reptiles alone should be fOundi
in some later formations birds SHOULD first be- met
with, and in the intermediate forms we should dis
cover in regular succession forms which pointed
out to you which are intermediate between the rep
tile and the BIRDS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HORSE
The proof of evolution cannot be complete until
We have obtained evidence of this character, and
that evidence has of late years been forthcoming in
considerable and continually increasing quantity.
Indeed it Is somewhat surprising how large is the
quantity of that evidence and how satistactoryis
its nature, if we consider that obtaining such
evidence depends upon the occurrence in that par
ticular locality of an undsturbed series deposited
through long period Of time, which requires the
further condition that each of these deposits should
| be such that the animal remains imbelded in them
are not much disturbed and are imbedded IN state
OF great and perfect preservation. Evidence OF tms
kind as have said. has OF late years been aecumu-
llting largely and in respect TO all divisions of the
| animal kingdom. But will select for my present
purpose only one particular case which Is more
adaptedt the object have in VIEW as 1t relates TO
the origin to what may call the pedigree, OF ono
of our most familiar domestic aninals-the horse.
But may say that in speaking of the origin OF the
horse / shall use that term in general sense as
equivalent TO the technical term Eqags, and mean
ing not what you ordinarily understand as such but
also asses and their notifications, ZeDTaS &C Inc
horse is in many ways most remarkable animal,
inasmuch as it presents us with an example Oh one
Of the most gSIefS ae among no mammals t cam
not be said that there is any locomotive SO perfectly
adapted to its purpOses' doing so much work WITH
so small quantity Of fuel, as this anlmal-tho
horse And as a necessary consequence of any sore
of perfection, of mechanical perfection as OF Others
you find that the horse is beautiful creature; one
the perfect balance of its form and the rhythm an
perfection of its action. The locomotive apparatus
Is as you are aware resident IN its slender fore ana
hind limbs they are flexible and elastic levers ca
pable of being moved by very powerful muscles;
aud in order to supply the engines when WORK Snese
levers with the force which they expend, the horse
Is provided with very perfect feeding apparatus,
a very perfect digestive apparatus.
Without atteaPtagd LS kg y11 ns Se Ia
for this question depends upon the comparison OF
such trouble you with some points respect
ing the anatomical structure of the horse and more
especially with those which refer 10 the structure OF
its fore and hind limbs But shall only upon
those points which are absolutely essehtla 20 !ne
leg bone of horse in his hand is the f0re-leg OF
horse The bone which is cut across at tins point
arm a. Sn"S what YOU would call the humerus. This
referring TO tho bonei corresponds WIN my
forearm. What we commonly term the knee OF the
horse is the wrist; it answers TO the wrist IN man
This part of the horses leg answers to one OF the
human fingers and tho hOof which covers this ex-
tended Joint answers to one OF my nails. -. az.
Now, there certain peeuliantles ABOUT tnls
structure bearing relation to further details OF the
different portions of the human arm to which have
referred You observe that to all appearance ire
ferrng to the horses egl there is only one bone in
the forearm Nevertheless, at this end can trace
two separate pOrtons tins part uc Ct the Bnt
and the one am do NOW Ou rnps at 9Ss
back part into the general bone, and cease to be
able to trace it beyond certain point Ibis large
bone is what is termed the radius, ana answers 70
the bone am touching in my arm, ana TINS 0tner
norton of bone corresponds to what Is called the
ulna To all appearance IN the forearm OF the horse
the una is documentary and seems 70 De Iused INTO
n looks thus as if the ulna running of below,
came 10 an end and it very often happens IN works
on the anatomy of the horse that you hnd these
facts are referred to- and horse Is said TO nave an
imperfect ulna. But careful examination shows
YOU that the lower extremity OF the ulna is not
wanting in the horse. IL you examine very young
horses limb you wll nnd lnat TINS PtS f ~ tb
rest and only unites as the animal becomes oi0ess
and this u.s. in point of fact, the lower extremity ~
the una that we may say that N the morse a sn
nina in the middle part becomes rudimentary aEi
becomes united with the radius, ana 50 carry uISo
with the lower extremity that every dlstlhct uAoS
of separation has vanished
THE FOOT OF THE HORSE Considered
Ineed not trouble you with the structure OF tnss
portion that answers to the wrist, nor Win mi"
full description of the singular peeuiiannes o.
part, because we can do without them ior tne -'-<
ar4 Int will 90 ON to q consideration OF the re-
markable series of bones which terminates 'ne ,or
H,nh We have one continuous series In the middle
.,;oh teammates in the coffin bone Of tho
- ,non which the weight of the fore part OF tho
hody "a sunnorted This series answers TO hnger
- mv hand and there are good reasons-perieev
LID and convincing reasons, which need not say
a. .orhIa you with--wbich are demonstrat1ye tnas
60 ,vors En- the third finger of my hand ehor-