THE MADEIRA BEETLES CONCLUSION. 373 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE CASE OF THE MADEIKA BEETLES AS ILLUSTRATING 

 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EVOLUTION OF 

 LAMARCK AND OF MR. CHARLES DARWIN CON- 

 CLUSION. 



AN island of no very great extent is surrounded by a 

 sea which cuts it off for many miles from the nearest 

 land. It lies a good deal exposed to winds, so that the 

 beetles which live upon it are in continual danger of 

 being blown out to sea if they fly during the hours and 

 seasons when the wind is blowing. It is found that 

 an unusually large proportion of the beetles inhabit- 

 ing this island are either without wings or have their 

 wings in a useless and merely rudimentary state ; and 

 that a large number of kinds which are very common 

 on the nearest mainland, but which are compelled to use 

 their wings in seeking their food, are here entirely 

 wanting. It is also observed that the beetles on this 

 island generally lie much concealed until the wind lulls 

 and the sun shines. These are the facts ; let us now see 

 how Lamarck would treat them. 



Lamarck would say that the beetles once being on 

 this island it became one of the conditions of their 

 existence that they should not get blown out to sea. 

 For once blown out to sea, they would be quite certain 

 to be drowned. Beetles, when they fly, generally fly for 



