The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
III.

Mr.. Smith Woodward, writing in Natural
Science, in February, 1893, averred that "Owen
could never be induced TO follow the new school
Of anatomy and zoology that arose with the
epoch-making researches of Won Baer and
Rathko I'm embryology." This marked dlsro-
gard of embryology as the essential adjunct,
even IL not the key of comparative anatomy, was
regarded by Mr.. Woodward as all the more sur
prislng. since so large a proportion Of Owens
researches on vertebrate animals were devoted
to the fossil remains OF past ages. II any phase
Of biological research can benefit by embryology,
that is assuredly palcontology. Owens state
ments on the succession Of genera and species,
and their possible derivation one from another,
were always vague, and capable Of more than one
Interpretation; and. though there Is not much
doubt that he leaned toward the views Of
Geoffrey st. Hilaire and those who believed in
the evolution Of life. his work. nevertheless, for
the most part, Is eminently Cuvierian, that is to
say. a laborious description Of the facts, with a
detailed discussion that rarely extends beyond
strict comparative anatomy and the phenomena
OF geographical or geological distribution. Only
on two occasions. namely. In references to the
horse and to crocodiles, does he appear to have
attempted any broad philosophical deductions.
and even in those cases II is not quite clear how
much he admits. He was perfectly well
aware that the facts Of progression noted
by the anti-evolutionist, Agassiz, among
fishes were equally conspicuous among the
higher vertebrates; but he contented him
self with the bare statement that tho
inductive demonstration of the nature and
mode of operation" of the laws gov
erning life would henceforth be "the great
aim OF the philosophical naturalists." Writing
in Natural Science about the Same time. Prof.
st. George Mivart spoke of Owens position in
the GLOWING terms: "Owen spread abroad in
England the perception that a deep Significance
underlies the structure OF animals; a significance
for which no stress or strain and no influence of
heredity. and certainly no mere practical utility
can account. The temporary overlooking OF
this perception through the retrogade influence
of Darwin's hypothesis OF natural selection Is
now slowly but surely beginning to pass away,
for which no small thanks are due to the efforts
of his jealous disciples. weismann and Ro-
Names" We will now quote n passage from
the letter which Owen received from Adam
sedgwick on the subject Of the origin of species:
"There are many things l want to talk to you
about-Dnrwin's book, &c. Though my pub
lished letter contains an outline of my objection
to the theory, yet 1t Is a mere sketch
written without the shadow of a thought that
the editor would send 1t to the press: but, on
seeing IL In print. / liked 1t far better than l had
expected, and there is not now a word I would
wish 10 keep back. The second publication
was in consequence of a complaint TO the editor
of some glaring misprints. never asserted that
creation or the appearance of a new or multi
piled fauna was not by law. But by what Law?
Not, / may say, OF natural transmutation: not by
turning fishes into reptiles, whales into pachy-
derms, or monkeys into men. in the way of
natural generation, but by q higher law. of
which We may reach the conception hereafter,
as you have reached the conception of an archie