Observation, however, shows that the species of existing Anthozoa cannot be traced very far back: those with a flexible, or with a branched, calcareous axis began only at the tertiary period; and, of the genera of eocene lamellate or stony corals, all the species are extinct, and have been superseded in their grand and useful operations by those now forming reefs and atolls. As we extend our researches back.in time we find generic and family types of coral-polypes passing away: the prevalent pattern of stellate cups of rays of six or its multiples, has superseded a simpler pattern of four or its multiples. Of the Cyathophyllida of the paleozoic reefs which present a quadripartite character of their plaited polype-cells, not one such species now exists, or has been observed in any formation later than lower green-sand. Moreover, the filling up of abandoned cells in the course of growth of the polypary becomes changed from a more complex to a more simple method, as we recede in time in pursuing our comparisons.' With this generalised result of observation of reef-building polypes we return to the initial question in a frame of mind inevitably other than that in which the creation of a coral-island is pondered on by one ignorant of the geological history of the class engaged in its construction. Was direct creation, after the dying out of its result as a 'rugose coral,' repeated to constitute the succeeding and superseding tabulate coral'? Must we, also, invoke the miraculous power to initiate every distinct species of both Rugosa and Tabulata? These grand old groups have had their day and are utterly gone. When we endeavour to conceive or realise such mode of origin, not of them only, but of their manifold successors, the miracle, by the very multiplication of its manifestations, becomes incredible-inconsistent with any worthy conception of an all-seeing, all-provident Omnipotence! It is not above, but against, reason; and I may assume the special primary creative hypothesis of the successive and coexisting species of Anthozoa to be not now held by the scientific naturalist. Let us then test the propounded explanations of their origin by secondary law. That of appetency' subsides from the impotency of a coral-polype to exercise volition. The weak point of Lamarck's creative machinery is its limited applicability, viz., to creatures high enough in the scale to be able to want to do something:' for the determined laws of the 'reflex function' in the physiology of the nervous system and the necessity of the 1 CLXXX. pp. 23-28. superadded cerebral mass for true sensation rigorously fix the limits of volitional faculties. We pass then to considerations of the ambient medium' and 'natural selection.' We have no evidence that the fabricators of the coral-reef of Wenlock-edge, or of those skirting the Cambrian slates and Devonshire killas,' or of those in the lofty limestone cliffs of Cheddar, worked in an ocean otherwise constituted than the present. What conceivable character of sea or of the air dissolved or diffused therein could have changed the loose aggregation of the individuals of composite Rugosa into the close combination, with intercommunicating pores, of those of the composite Tabulata? Or what possible external influence could have transmuted the comparatively simple massive mode of growth or deposition of carbonate of lime common to both Rugosa and Tabulata into the light and complex character of the polyparies of most existing lamelliferous Anthozoa? In the first mode the old polypecell is successively partitioned off from the one in occupation by floor after floor crossing the cavity: in the other, radiating vertical partitions alone occupy the deserted cell and extend uninterruptedly from its bottom or beginning to the superficial inhabited chamber. The quadripartite pattern of the plaited cup of the paleozoic coral has changed into the sexpartite disposition of the radiating lamellæ of the polype-cells of tertiary and modern corals. But personifying the fact of such transmutations by the term 'natural selection' gives no more insight into the manner of the operations than we learn of that of the budding out of a new leg in a maimed newt, by being told that it is done by the nisus formativus' or by pangenesis'! Even were there evidence of changes in the composition of the atmosphere, their modus operandi' in effecting such structural differences would not be more conceivable. 6 I do not believe that a sexpartite type of coral was miraculously created to supersede a quadripartite one. If the grounds are good for admitting the continuous operation of a secondary cause of the specific forms of Vertebrate life, à fortiori it is admissible in the lower sphere of Radiate life. It is consistent with facts that a quadripartite coral might bud out, or otherwise generate, a variety with a greater number of radiating laminæ. Some varieties, like those expressed by the modern generic terms Porites, Millepora, especially the M. complanata, with its strong vertical plates, were better adapted to bear the brunt of the breakers, and flourish in the surf, under the protection of the coating Nullipore. But to how small an exception is this rela tion applicable! Of the 120 kinds of coral enumerated by Ehrenberg in the Red Sea, 100, at least, exist under the same conditions. The majority of species, originating in uncalled-for, unstimulated, unselected departures from parental structure, establish themselves and flourish independently of external influences. All classes of animals exemplify this independence: the Cetaceans, under an extraordinary and nicely graduated range of generic and specific modifications; and the same may be said of most Fishes.2 So, being unable to accept the volitional hypothesis, or that of impulse from within, or the selective force exerted by outward circumstances, I deem an innate tendency to deviate from parental type, operating through periods of adequate duration, to be the most probable nature, or way of operation, of the secondary law, whereby species have been derived one from the other. It operates, and has operated, in the surface-zones where the chambered cephalopods floated, and at the depths where the brachiopods were anchored, as in the more defined theatre in which the various polypes of the coral reef display their diversities of colour, size, shape, and structure, independently of outward influences. This tendency, moreover, is not exemplified in the ratio of the number, variety, or force of conceivable 'selective' surrounding influences, but is directly as the simplicity of the organism. In the Foraminifera, e. g., it is manifested in such degree that as many as fifteen genera defined by one given toIntrigue with the specious chaos, and dispart Its most ambiguous atoms with sure art; Their points of contact and swift counterchange, have been found by his followers to be but varieties of a single type; and even this, too inconstant to come under the definition of a species given in p. 792. The departure from parental form, producing the beautiful varieties of perforate and imperforate Rhizopods, and which exemplify each group, respectively, under the Lagenine, Nummulinine, Globigerine, or under the Gromiine, Milioline, and Lituoline types, has effected its ends independently of inner volitions or of outer selections. Certain encrusting forms seem by the presence of siliceous spicula to have been derived from sponges; but no explanation presents itself for such transitional changes, save the fact of anomalous, monstrous births-as these varieties, and the whole assemblage of alternate-generative phenomena, would be called in high life.' 1 cccxix". p. 46. 2 XCIX'. p. 44. According to my derivative hypothesis, a change takes place first in the structure of the animal, and this, when sufficiently advanced, may lead to modifications of habits. But we have no evidence that the observed amount of change in Porifera, Foraminifera, and Anthozoa, &c. has been attended with any change in the way or power in which they extract from their ambient medium, and precipitate, silex and carbonate of lime, or in the performance of any other vital function. As species rise in the scale, the concomitant change of structure can and does lead to change of habits. But species owe as little to the accidental concurrence of environing circumstances as Kosmos depends on a fortuitous concourse of atoms. A purposive route of development and change, of correlation and interdependence, manifesting intelligent Will, is as determinable in the succession of races as in the development and organisation of the individual. Generations do not vary accidentally, in any and every direction; but in preordained, definite, and correlated courses. If the survey of a series of siliceous polycystins and diatoms, of zoophytes, of brachiopods, of ammonites, excites pleasure by their beauty, and raises worship of the Power manifesting itself in such inconceivable and exhaustless variety, I accept the relation as one designed, and in His due time, fulfilled:— To doubt the fairness were to want an eye; To doubt the goodness were to want a heart! 'Derivation' holds that every species changes, in time, by virtue of inherent tendencies thereto. Natural Selection' holds that no such change can take place without the influence of altered external circumstances educing or selecting such change. 'Derivation' sees among the effects of the innate tendency to change, irrespective of altered surrounding circumstances, a manifestation of creative power in the variety and beauty of the results: and, in the ultimate forthcoming of a being susceptible of appreciating such beauty, evidence of the preordaining of such relation of power to the appreciation. Natural Selection' acknowledges that if ornament or beauty, in itself, should be a purpose in creation, it would be absolutely fatal to it as a hypothesis. Natural Selection' sees grandeur in the "view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one: "Derivation' sees, therein, a narrow invocation of a special miracle and an unworthy limitation of creative power, the grandeur of which is manifested daily, ccxm". Ed. 1860, p. 490. hourly, in calling into life many forms, by conversion of physical and chemical into vital modes of force, under as many diversified conditions of the requisite elements to be so combined. 'Natural Selection' leaves the subsequent origin and succession of species to the fortuitous concurrence of outward conditions: 'Derivation' recognises a purpose in the defined and preordained course, due to innate capacity or power of change, by which nomogenously-created protozoa have risen to the higher forms of plants and animals. The hypothesis of 'derivation' rests upon conclusions from four great series of inductively established facts, together with a probable result of facts of a fifth class: the hypothesis of 'natural selection' totters on the extension of a conjectural condition, explanatory of extinction to the origination of species, inapplicable in that extension to the majority of organisms, and not known or observed to apply to the origin of any species. § 427. Epigenesis or Evolution ?-The derivative origin of species, then, being, at present, the most admissible one, and the retrospective survey of such species showing convergence, as time recedes, to more simplified or generalised organisations, analogous to Von Baer's law of individual development, the result to which the suggested train of thought inevitably leads is very analogous in each instance. If to Kosmos or the mundane system has been allotted powers equivalent to the development of the several grades of life, may not the demonstrated series of conversions of force have also included that into the vital form? In the last century, physiologists were divided as to the principle guiding the work of organic development. The evolutionists' contended that the new being pre-existed in a complete state of formation needing only to be vivified by impregnation in order to commence the series of expansions, or disencasings, culminating in the independent individual. 6 The epigenesists' held that both the germ and its subsequent organs were built up of juxtaposed molecules according to the operation of a developmental force, or nisus formativus.' 6 Haller maintained the principle of 'evolution,' Buffon that of 'epigenesis.' Hunter, who surpassed all his contemporaries in observations on the formation of the chick, thought he could see both principles at work, together with a third.' However, as he limited the pre-existing entities' to the materia vitæ universalis' and the absorbent faculty,' he would now be classed with the epigenesists.' For, he reckoned among the parts newly 6 |