Agamogenetic phenomena, that inevitable recurrence to the
original type, which is 'asserted' to be true of variations
in general, by Mr. Darwin's opponents; and which, if the
assertion could be changed into a demonstration would, in
fact, be fatal to his hypothesis.

The other alternative put by Professor Kolliker--the passage of
fecundated ova in the course of their development into higher
forms--would, if it occurred, be merely an extreme case of variation in
the Darwinian sense, greater in degree than, but perfectly similar in
kind to, that which occurred when the well-known Ancon Ram was
developed from an ordinary Ewe's ovum. Indeed we have always thought
that Mr. Darwin has unnecessarily hampered himself by adhering so
strictly to his favourite "Natura non facit saltum." We greatly
suspect that she does make considerable jumps in the way of variation
now and then, and that these saltations give rise to some of the gaps
which appear to exist in the series of known forms.

Strongly and freely as we have ventured to disagree with Professor
Kolliker, we have always done so with regret, and we trust without
violating that respect which is due, not only to his scientific
eminence and to the careful study which he has devoted to the subject,
but to the perfect fairness of his argumentation, and the generous
appreciation of the worth of Mr. Darwin's labours which he always
displays. It would be satisfactory to be able to say as much for M.
Flourens.

But the Perpetual Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences deals with
Mr. Darwin as the first Napoleon would have treated an "ideologue;"
and while displaying a painful weakness of logic and shallowness of