Theories of Evolution 5 



species in nature were unknown in the time of 

 Darwin. It was a happy idea to choose the ex- 

 perience of the breeders in the production of 

 new varieties, as a basis on which to build an 

 explanation of the processes of nature. In my 

 opinion Darwin was quite right, and he has suc- 

 ceeded in giving the desired proof. But the 

 basis was a frail one, and would not stand too 

 close an examination. Of this Darwin was al- 

 ways well aware. He has been prudent to the 

 utmost, leaving many points undecided, and 

 among them especially the range of validity of 

 his several arguments. Unfortunately this 

 prudence has not been adopted by his followers. 

 Without sufficient warrant they have laid stress 

 on one phase of the problem, quite overlooking 

 the others. Wallace has even gone so far in his 

 zeal and ardent veneration for Darwin, as to 

 describe as Darwinism some things, which in my 

 opinion, had never been a part of Darwin's con- 

 ceptions. 



The experience of the breeders was quite in- 

 adequate to the use which Darwin made of it. 

 It was neither scientific, nor critically accurate. 

 Laws of variation were barely conjectured; the 

 different types of variability were only imper- 

 fectly distinguished. The breeders' conception 

 was fairly sufficient for practical purposes, 

 but science needed a clear understanding of the 



