DARWINISM ATTACKED. 83 



dividual selection based on variation 1 in colour, in pattern, 

 in venation and other wing characters, in hairs and in 

 numerous other structural characters, as demanded by the 

 needs of the selection theory, is to be detected. I find 

 just as much variation represented in series of mature 

 individuals collected miscellaneously after having lived for 

 more or less time a free life exposed to all the dangers of 

 this life, exposed, that is, to the rigour of the individual 

 struggle for existence, as among series of similar extent of 

 individuals of the same species collected just at the time of 

 reaching maturity but before enjoying any opportunity to 

 be weeded out (on a basis of disadvantageous variation) 

 by the rigour of the life-struggle. Just as many varying 

 individuals, with variations of just as much extent and va- 

 riety, were found in series exposed to the struggle, in which 

 these variations are presumably capable of saving or losing 

 life, as among series not yet exposed; in other words, just 

 as much variation exists after enduring the selective rigour 

 of the struggle as existed on the day when the insects are 

 first exposed to it. 



Conn 1 expresses his belief concerning destruction by 

 chance and the rigour of the struggle as follows : 



, ,. "Indiscriminate destruction occurs con- 



Conns aiscns- 



sicnof the chances stantlv, and certainly influences the problem of 



n j . -t * * 



survival. Of the hundreds of individuals that 

 are produced where few can live, many are destroyed in- 

 discriminately, independent of the principle of survival of 

 the fittest, and of these that are thus killed doubtless some 

 are superior to those that survive. This principle of indis- 

 criminate elimination does not in the slightest deny the 

 force of the principle of survival of the fittest, but only indi- 

 cates that its action is not absolutely rigid. The fittest do 

 not always survive, for many of them are destroyed. 



"On the other hand the least fit do not always perish. 

 Whether an individual shall live or die in the struggle is 



