[PatrickHenry]

One of the ocservations Darwin made was that the fossil record should be replete with evidence of transitional species, a record which simply does not exist.

Nonsense. He said exactly the opposite, and explained it in detail. He took a whole chapter to discuss this:
The Origin of Species, Chapter 9 - On the Imperfection of the Geological Record.

[longshadow]

imperfekt placemarker

[VadeRetro]

You nailed it. And with a link!

One can do no more than you have done, considering that the issue is what Darwin actually did say. Somehow, I don't know how, you'll get a naysaying reply if you get one at all.

[shibumi]

(Quoting from your link) "So that the number of intermediate and transitional links, between all living and extinct species must be inconceivably great. But assuredly if this theory be true, such have lived upon this earth."

Please understand that I am not attempting to characterize all people who ascribe to this theory in a particular manner, nor am I saying that the theory was fabricated from whole cloth. I am simply applying the principle "plurality should not be posited without necessity" in light of what we know today concerning the distinctness of DNA, the spontaneous appearance (and disappearance) of species and the nature of consiousness, non-locality, subjectivity of time and the non-substantial nature of matter. (Please refer to post #149.)

The best to you in all things capitalist and the ongoing search for truth.