in the popular mind, and is perpetually reproduced in quasi-scientific
literature. It is commonly said that “Owen evolved a complete extinct
creature from the fragment of a single bone.” The “restoration” of
_Dinornis_ especially is quoted as a triumph of inductive reasoning,
whereas it was simply the empirical application of existing knowledge.
Direct comparison of the fragment with the bones already in the Museum
having shown that it most closely resembled the femur of the existing
ostrich, but was of larger size, all that was really “predicted” or
“evolved” was that a bird having a thigh bone like that of an ostrich,
but of larger size, had existed in New Zealand. Another well-known but
more daring instance of inference as to the general characters and
habits of an extinct animal from a very slender foundation was less
fortunate. A mutilated skull from Australia, with a tooth of very
remarkable form, was described in 1859, as indicating “one of the
fellest and most destructive of predatory beasts,” and named accordingly
_Thylacoleo carnifex_. Upon the same empirical principle as in the
former case, the tooth had been compared with various teeth of known
animals, and appeared to resemble one which is characteristic of many
recent carnivorous animals, especially lions and tigers. The
resemblance, however, was a very superficial one, and the search for its
nearest analogue was unfortunately not carried far enough, or it would
have been found in a group of Marsupials of which the existing members
are harmless, vegetable feeders. When the remainder of the dentition was
discovered it was seen that the famous _Thylacoleo_ really belonged to
this group, and had no claims to the attributes assigned to it.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the abundant demonstration of its fallacy,
Owen continued, with characteristic tenacity, to maintain to the last
his original assumption, never acknowledging that, however valid his
reasoning might have been, it was entirely vitiated by its foundation
upon false premises.
[85] _On the Extent and Aims of a National Museum of Natural History_,
2nd edit. 1852, p. 7.
[86] _The North American Review_, September 1895.
[87] Centenary Meeting of the Linnean Society, 24th May 1888.
[88] The Duke of Argyll.