The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15
SOME NEW BOOKS
Arc we Descended from tho Ape.s

toned by the great majority OIL sclenists touch-
ing the dcc.rino OF evolution. both In its widest
inspect and in its special bearing on the Reneal-
ogy OF man. An exposition Of the theory, Mt
once authoritative and complete, expressed
with precision yet avoiding the profuse en-
ployment OF technical terms. has not hitherto
been accessible TO English readers. Such a
lucid and popular statement OF results accepted
by the most competent inquirers. Is now offered
in n translation OF the great work entitled The
Evolution Of Nan. 2 vols. by ERNST HAECKEL
(Appletons). In this treatise. tho distin-
guished Professor. who has abundnntly proved
his qualifications for Independent research. has
undertaken the more modest. but not less useful
function Of distribution In this attempt to dis
close to wide circle Of educated people the
facts Of human germ history. and to interpret
these by human tribal history. ho has encoun-
tered peculiar difficulties in transferring argu-
ments and conclusions from the exact language
OF science into the terms OF common speech. II
was not to be expected that he would succeed 30
fully In his aim as Huxley and Tyndall. or even
rs Horschel and Lyell have succeeded because
no other branch OF natural science has yot re-
manned so exclusively confined ~ has anthro-
pOgony to its own technical students. II follows
that what may be called the bases and buttresscs
ofhis reasoning do unquestionaby call for a GER
tain acquaintance with human embryology and
comparative anatomy. Moreover il was the more
neediu to set forth with considerable minute-
ness the grounds and processes Of his argu-
ment because, since the nrst edition OF his work.
issued five years ago. some Of his conclusions
have been combated by other investigators.
most Of whom. however. are determined one-
mics Of tho doctrine OF descent. Tho more per-
tinent and forcible OF thor objections are. IL
seems to us, satisfactorily met by Prof Haeckel
in his preface to the present edition. and by the
supplemental proofs furnished in certain chap
tiers OF this volume. Into this poomcal discus
zion we do not propose to enter. nor can we In
tho compass OF this notice give any space to tho
elaborate demonstrations which support tho
keystones Of his theory For the proofs OF his
assertions. and the stops OF his induction. wo
must refer tho readers to the book itself; and we
can best persuade them to examine for them-
selves most important and interesting disqui-
sitlon by submitting an outline OF results--by
stating. in ms plain and succinct way rs posi-
BILE. the truths held by one OF tho foremost VI
living scientists to be impregnably established
regarding the descent of man.
1t has often been pointed out that tho child OF
civilized parents in its growth after birth
through infancy aud youth reproduces with
curious cxactitude. the successive stages OF de-
veloDmont through which the human race has
passed In its progress from an inarticulate cry
10 tlt ulhhktIy OF u cntupieA anu luOuEulslluln-
ined language. Just 80 the strongest light is
thrown on a far obscurer problem. viz: the evo-
luton Of man from a lower grade OF animals.
by the changes undergone In the period preced-
ing birth by the human embryo. There Is a
surprising amount OF Ignorance among the So
called educated classes respecting the marvel
lous correspondence and suggestions Of the lat
ter analogy. Few people are aware. for instance.
that each human individual is developed from
IN egg. and that this ogg is simple cell like that
OF any other animal or plant. Neither are they
conversant with the fact that in tho development
OF this egg an organism is first formed which
Is entirely different from tho fully developed
human body. to which it bears no trace OF re-
semblance. The majority OF educated persons
have never seen such human germ or embryo
In Its early stages nor have they learned that
IL is not at all different from those OF other ami
mails They do not know that at n certain period
this embryo has essentially the anatomical
structure OF fish, at a somewhat later time.
the structure Of amphbian and mammal FORMS
and that in the gradual evolution OF the latter
the human germ first Stimulates those which
stand lower In the series. namely, forms allied
10 the beaked animals next those akin TO the
pouched animals like the kangaroo these
again being followed by shapes most nearly re-
sembnR apes. till at last the peculiar human
form is produced rs the ultimate result
These fncts are MS well established and
indisputable any phenomena OF nature.
and vet. strange to say. they are very generally
unknown. No one needs to be told that the
butterfly proceeds from a pupa. the pupa from
q caterpillar. to which Il bears no resemblance
and again, the caterpillar from the egg OF the
butterfly. But few. except those Of the medical
profession. are aware that man, in the course Of
his individual evolution. passes through a
4
and remarkable than the butterfy's well-known
metamorphoses. The mere tracing of this
wonderful series Of forms through which the
human embryo passes in the course OF its de-
velopment Is Of great general interest. and to
this end Prof. Haeckel has devoted portion OF
these volumes. But the main object OF his work
is to refer these remarkable facts to their efficient
causes. and to enable us TO recognize their pro-
found historical significance.
What is the precise relation between the his
tory Of the human germ to which we may. for
convenience apply Haeckers term. ontogeny
and philogeny or the history of the tribe-thai
is to say. the record of the development Of tho
human species through successive types Of ani-
NAL life? The connection between these two
branches OF evolutionary science is not exter-
nal and superficial. but profoundly internal and
causal. Our author proDounds, at the outset
the fundamental law which he proposes "a
demonstrate. and on whose recognition de-
ponds the thorough understanding Of the sub.
ject This may be briefly expressed in the fol.
lowing proposition The history Of the germ Is
an epitome OF the history Of the descent; or. in
other words. ontogeny Is recaptulation Of
phiogeny. To make the statement more OK
plicit. We may say that the series OF forms
through which the individual organism passes
during It's progress from tho egg cell to Its fully
developed state. is n compressed reproduction
OF the long chain Of forms through which the
animal ancestors OF that organ ism Tor the an
cestral precursors OF its speciesl have passed
from the earliest periods Of so-called organic
creation down TO the present time. The evou
ton OF the tribe. which is itself dependent OF
the laws OF heredty and adaptation. effects al
the events which take place in the course Of tia
evolution OF the individual germ or embryo.
should be noted here however TINT the parallel
Ism between the two series Of phenomena is no
absolutely complete. II is vitiated here an'
there. by the fact that many forms which actual
lived in the philogenetc series have boon los
from the ontoRenetlc chain OF evolution Wer
tho correspondence. indeed. quite perfect, W
should only have TO ascertain, with the aid O
microscope and scalpe the gradations through