2/o THE GROUNDWORK OF SCIENCE

the subject, so that our readers may run less risk of being

misled and wasting their time over questions which are in no

way to the purpose.

In the first place, we must remember what the action

of " Natural Selection " is, what it can do, and what it is

impossible that it should ever effect.

" Natural Selection," as everyone knows, was put forward

by the late Mr. Charles Darwin to account for the origin

of new kinds (new species) of animals and plants. Consider-

ing that no two individuals of either kingdom are absolutely

alike, and that every species tends to increase rapidly, it is

evident that any variation (whether structural or functional)

which should arise of a seriously detrimental character,

would render almost inevitable the destruction of the indi-

vidual possessing it.

It is no less evident that any animal or plant which

should come to possess a new character exceptionally

favourable, would have a better chance of survival amidst

the various adverse influences which threaten the lives of all

animals and plants.

Thus individuals which survive by escaping the elimina-

tion which awaits others, are said to be naturally " selected."

It is not, however, any active " selection " which takes place ;

it is merely an escape from destruction through the posses-

sion of some favourable characteristic.

"Natural Selection," therefore, is in reality a term denoting

all the destructive powers of nature taken together and

considered as an active unity.

Whether or not this is a sufficient account of the origin

of species is a question upon which we cannot enter at any

length here, and it is the less necessary to do so, as we have

elsewhere explained our views and the arguments which, in

our opinion, support them.

It is, of course, obvious that the origin of a new species

the subject, so that our readers may run less risk of being

misled and wasting their time over questions which are in no

way to the purpose.

In the first place, we must remember what the action

of " Natural Selection " is, what it can do, and what it is

impossible that it should ever effect.

" Natural Selection," as everyone knows, was put forward

by the late Mr. Charles Darwin to account for the origin

of new kinds (new species) of animals and plants. Consider-

ing that no two individuals of either kingdom are absolutely

alike, and that every species tends to increase rapidly, it is

evident that any variation (whether structural or functional)

which should arise of a seriously detrimental character,

would render almost inevitable the destruction of the indi-

vidual possessing it.

It is no less evident that any animal or plant which

should come to possess a new character exceptionally

favourable, would have a better chance of survival amidst

the various adverse influences which threaten the lives of all

animals and plants.

Thus individuals which survive by escaping the elimina-

tion which awaits others, are said to be naturally " selected."

It is not, however, any active " selection " which takes place ;

it is merely an escape from destruction through the posses-

sion of some favourable characteristic.

"Natural Selection," therefore, is in reality a term denoting

all the destructive powers of nature taken together and

considered as an active unity.

Whether or not this is a sufficient account of the origin

of species is a question upon which we cannot enter at any

length here, and it is the less necessary to do so, as we have

elsewhere explained our views and the arguments which, in

our opinion, support them.

It is, of course, obvious that the origin of a new species