Page 484 - Atlas of Creation Volume 3

matter in the chapter entitled "Difficulties on Theory" and
appended to the book another chapter titled "On the
Imperfection of the Geological Record," that dealt
with the absence of intermediate fossil forms. Thomas Huxley,
Darwin's most fer-
But in both these chapters, Darwin's problem vent supporter.
could be seen clearly. His theory was based on the
claim that species came into being by a long series
of incremental changes. If it were so, intermediate

forms must have existed to link one species to an-
other; but no trace of such creatures has been
found in the fossil record.
Darwin was finally forced to leave this prob-

lem for future researchers. He thought the prob-
lem lay in the insufficiency of the fossil record; he
was certain that, as new fossils were unearthed,
specimens would come to light to prove his theory.

He wrote:

Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely-
graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the
most obvious and serious objection which can be
urged against the theory. The explanation lies, as I

believe, in the extreme imperfection of the geological
record. 20

Darwin's prediction persuaded a growing number to carry
out excavations in search of the supposed "lost" intermediate forms to extend
the fossil record. They made some exciting finds, but over time, it was realized that their ex-
citement was unfounded.

One of these "breakthroughs," discovered in 1860 near the German town of Solnhofen, was the fossil to
which they gave the name Archaeopteryx, the
Greek for "ancient wing." Despite the fact that

it was clearly a bird, it had some peculiar fea-
tures which were considered reptilian: teeth,
a long tail and claws on its wings. This gave
Darwinists a rare opportunity. One of
Darwin's most avid defenders, Thomas

Huxley, announced that Archaeopteryx was
half-bird and half-reptile. The assumption
that its wings weren't suitable for flying led

to the conclusion that it was a primitive bird;
this generated a lot of popular excitement
and thus was born the Archaeopteryx myth
that was to hold sway throughout the 20th
century.

In time, it was realized that this creature
was not a primitive bird; in fact, its skeleton
and feather structure made it well adapted to

flying. Its reptile-like features were also pos-
sessed by some birds of the past and of today.
A fossil Archaeopteryx

482 Atlas of Creation Vol. 3