Page 81 - The Errors the American National Academy of Sciences

The NAS's Errors Regarding Speciation

he
t
h
vo
Ev
e E

yt
My
e M
of
h o
h
o
nc
n
i
ch
es
e
h
vi
v
l
n
Fi
g F
ng
T T h h he M y t th o f f t th e E v ol lv i in g F in c he s
e

s
T The Myth of the Evolving Finches
Science and Creationism says "A particularly compelling
example of speciation involves the 13 species of finches studied by
Darwin on the Galápagos Islands, now known as Darwin's finches."
(Science and Creationism, p. 10) The fact is, however, that Darwin's
finches are an instance not of speciation, but of variation.
During his trip on the Beagle, Darwin studied different finch
species on the Galápagos Islands, later attributing the differences in
beak size and feeding habits amongst these birds to evolution.
Thirteen species live on the Galápagos Islands themselves and one
species on Cocos Island, some 600 kilometers to the northeast.
Although these birds are classified into 14 different species, they
closely resemble one another, possessing similar body shapes, colors,
and habits. In Science and Creationism, it is suggested that these birds
evolved from a single species that came from South America. Ever
since Darwin, evolutionists have been portraying these birds as an ex-
ample of evolution by means of natural selection and the best-known
proof of evolution. This chapter will explain that the different species
of finch do not represent evidence of evolution, and show how evolu-
tionists attempt to portray them as such by misinterpreting the facts.
e
?
s?
y F
Fi
y
W W h h hy F in c he s ?
W Why Finches?
i
h
es
ch
n
nc
Darwin wrote in his Origin of Species that
the emergence of new species by means of
natural selection is a very slow process,
which is why it cannot be observed, but only in-
ferred. This, however, was not acceptable to the
developing standards of modern science. In order
to maintain their claims that the theory of
79