Excerpt from Chapters: On Evolution As the objects intended to be subserved by this work are explained in the introductory chapter, there is little need for a formal preface. It may, however, be well to state that the chief aim of the work is to present, in a popular and readily understood form, the chief evidences of the evolution of living beings. In this view, whilst I have been content to assume the reality of that process, I have also endeavoured to marshal the more prominent facts of zoology and botany, which serve to prove that evolution, broadly considered, is not merely a name for an unknown tendency in nature, but is an actual factor in the work of moulding the life with which the universe teems. A considerable experience as a biological teacher has long since con vinced me that the hesitancy with which evolution is accepted, and the doubt with which even cultured persons are occasionally apt to view this conception of nature, arise chiefly from lack of knowledge concerning the overwhelming evidences of its existence which natural history presents. Doubtless a training in botany and zoology is required before the case for evolution can be fully mastered, but there need be no difficulty in the way of any intelligent person forming a just estimate of evolution upon even an elementary acquaintance with the facts of biology. I have accordingly sought to bring such facts prominently before the notice of my readers, and I would fain hope that even the complex topic of development. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.