The Facts of Variation 333 



conflict with natural forces, that is, variations in moisture, 

 in temperature, in light, and so on. 



4. It stands to reason that the majority of each gen- 

 eration, destroyed before reaching maturity, consists of the 

 individuals who are less favored in their structure or in their 

 processes than the surviving minority. 



5. Finally, it is a matter of common observation that 

 individuals transmit to their offspring their characteristic 

 traits. 



Here then we have a common-sense explanation, re- 

 lying upon commonly observed facts. The chief obstacle 

 at the time to the general acceptance of Darwin's theory was 

 the fact that most people were not prepared to think in 

 transformation terms. Most of the lay criticisms that ap- 

 peared were therefore directed not to the merits of the special 

 theory but to the absurdity of reptiles coming out of eggs 

 of fish or to the enormity of conceiving man to have " de- 

 scended from monkeys." Most scientists, on the other hand, 

 who were predisposed to assume the process of evolution, 

 accepted Darwin's explanation as sound in fact and in 

 principle. 



The result, as has been indicated, was a dissipation of 

 intellectual energies. The opposition concerned itself with 

 a priori discussion of the general theory of evolution. The 

 supporters of evolution had to waive a critical analysis of 

 Darwin's theory of Natural Selection defending the general 

 theory of evolution. For nearly a quarter of a century the 

 research and speculation among biologists and paleontologists 

 were chiefly directed to finding further illustrations and ap- 

 plications of Darwin's theory. Supplementary theories and 

 amendments in detail were suggested but there was no sub- 

 stantial scientific opposition or criticism. 



The Facts of Variation 



Darwin accepted the existence of variation among the 

 individuals of any species as fact. He recognized that there 



