Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-25
EVENING STAR.
Huxley . Closing Lecture.

A SLIGHT ARGUMENT IN TIE WAY OF M
AoSsTRATiNG TBE LAW OF EvoLUrIoS.
The third lecture OF the course OF Professor
oeiiSered friday night before the audience
OF npe people that filled Chic Serius Han n
4. he began by saying that In his last lee.
though favorable 10 evolution. was NOT a.
monstratve OF Its truth, bu. now he vonia
produce material Of the nature OF positive
proof. We have OF late years been accumu-
lstipg demonstrative evidence of the Law
which applies TO all branches OF the animsl
kirgdom. In proceeding 10 refer 20 this part
take his illustration OF the development the
DRY from the horse. He displayed Q series OF
anatomical specimens and diagrams, by the
aid OF which he showed that the horse has
really, In his bony structure, ten fingers and
toes, all but two of each or which are
rudimentary, and he also dissected the
changing peculisrtties OF the teeth OF
horses. The horse then had originally the
same number OF toes or fagers as most
other mammals; and we have Q series of
FOSSIL remains OF the horse species
through which we can trace the progress OF
olnerentlated, as We now ind IL, from other
ms mmals. In the equine skeleton OF the
oroer pilocene formation. there were three
toes OF The horses foot nearly uniform 10
size; And still earlier, or In the miocene
period, the three leading toes were still NOR
nearly equal In size, while the two rudimen-
iaiy ones were better developed than AZ a
later time. Only so far, until q few vears
ago, did our knowledge of the roiifcstSons
In the horses foot extend; and the Succession
OF changes up 10 that point was exactly thar
required by the hypothesis ofevolution' IA.
Gently, an important addition 20 our kuowl-
eiee IN this line has been Iaade by Professor
Marsh. OF New Haven, who has found In the
mlocepe and eocene formations OF our wes-
tern territories the remains OF q far earlier
type OF horse than bad been heretofore
known TO exist This newly discovered type
had four entire toes and but one rudimeuta-
~, and we are evidently In the way OF the
discovery OF the fossil remains OF the five
toed horse.
This, Then, is demonstrative evidence OF
the truth OF the hypothesis OF evolution
which rests on rs secure q foundation as
modern astronomy. There was no evidences
that these different forms OF the horse were
created separately from each other through
Prof. Huxley briefly discussed the appa-
rent contradiction between the conclusions
OF astronomers and those OF biologists; as 10
the duration OF time during which life hsd
existed on THIS planet; but with these argu-
menus ne had nothing TO do. He concluded
by saying that this subject, a. q whole was
one 10 be treated, not with eloquence, but
with patience
In closing Professor Huxley said: "Tbe
vessel In which take my departure to-mor-
row morning is even now ready To slip her
moorlngs; awake from my deluslon that
am other than stranger and foreigner i
am ready TO so back to my place and coun-
try, but before doing so let me, by way of
thanks for your most kind and cordial re.
ception which you have accorded TO me; and
let me thank you still more for that which
is the greatest compliment which can be az
lorded TO any person in my position-the
continuous and undisturbed attention WIN ich
you have continued TO bestow upon the long
argument which have had the honor to Law
before you" lCheers and applause-l