The Doctrine of Evolution

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2000, 2 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Doctrine of Evolution-

Tub Chemist and Drugpitt (London) gives the annexed extracts from a paper read recently before the Oldham Chemists' Assistants' and Apprentices' Association by Mr. W. Buckley : After defining the term evolution, the essayist remarked that it was generally confounded with the Darwinian theory, and gave an extract on the meaning of evolution from Dr. Hooker. He then proceeded to describe the various forms of animal life, beginning with the gregorina, and treating of the other forms to the vertebrata. Gregorina is an animal food as a parasite of the cockroach, which takes in its food in any part of its surface. This is the lowest form of animal life. Amoc was then described as seizing its food, whioh is foroed through the mass of protoplasm and excreted anywhere. Infusoria is a step higher, being distinguished by the possession of a definite mouth and oesophagus and egestive region. Waterweed hydra, sea anemone, entozoa, earthworm, leech, insect, vertebrata, were described in order of superiority, the various changes in structure being pointed out until the highest point of animal life was reached in the case of the vertebrata. The lecturer then explained the evolution of reproduction, describing the mode of reproduction, first, of the gregorina, by incystation — that is, the animal surrounds itself by a mass of gelatinous matter, and then splits up, each part becoming a fresh animal. Infusioria are reproduced by splitting into two equal parts, and also by budding, a portion becoming attached to the animal, and i after some time becoming free and having the powers of its predecessor. In alluding to the descent of man, Mr. Buckley showed the similarity of the structure of the human being to that of some monkeys, especially in the chimpanzee and gorilla, explained the arguments from the useless muioles of the human body, and indioated the reasons for regarding them as useless.