Here is what I found in a 1967 copy of "Biology" (Third Edition: Johnson, Laubengayer, DeLanney, Cole, page 685).
EVIDENCE FROM DEVELOPMENT
The embryos of higher animals repeat many of the stages passed through by embryos of lower animals. This has been referred to as recapitulation. This concept as originally used by von Baer indicated that some of the developmental stages of an organism are similar to some of the developmental stages of its ancestors. Unfortunately, however. Haeckel modified the concept to mean that the individual in its development passes through stages like the adult stages of its ancestors. Modern students of development insist that Haeckel's version is wrong and, as a matter of fact, our present knowledge of the hereditary mechanisms tends to support the views of von Baer. Several examples of recapitulation have been described in a previous section. In the development of any mammalian embryo, the heart is a four-chambered in-series structure as it is in fish embryos; then it has partitions of the auricles (atria) similar to those of amphibian embryos, followed by ventricular division that is incomplete for a period as it is in the embryos of reptiles.
As far as I am concerned, this is the only actual evidence put forward on the truthfulness of "Icons of Evolution", and until I see equivalent evidence to the contrary, the issue is settled.
Jonathan Wells is a liar.
I am neither familiar with this individual nor aware of his statements WRT this contoversy. Apparently you found a textbook from 1967 that allows you to pass this kind of judgment on the man. Good for you.