1898] THE STUDY OF VABIATIONS ?ir, 



quickly in nature, and more easily under cultivation; (2) the -sub- 

 jective idea of a" species," which is only a mental creation, of which 

 Nature knows nothing. 



A systematist calls slight variations from a given type " varieties," 

 and as long as they are linked (and there are not too many of them) 

 in a series, f/^ to a^, say, r/g is often regarded as much a variety as a^ ; 

 but if f/o to «5 be wanting, then he chooses to call a^ a " species " ; 

 l)ut his naming it as such makes no difference as to the oriifin of it. 

 If Natural Selection has killed off a^ to Or,, a^ existed long before 

 Natural Selection came on the scene, call a^ what you please. 



Natural Selection thus applied only separates varieties, and 

 makes them more distinct for the benefit of the classifier. 



With all this Neo-Lamarckism has nothing whatever 

 to do. It is only concerned w4th tracing out the causes 

 which originate or bring; about the variations them- 

 selves. These are now palpably plain to all who can or will 

 open their eyes bodily and mentally.-^ 



I could criticise a good deal more in j\Ir Tayler's paper, but will 

 only refer to the conclusion. 



Mr Tayler proposes a new kind of Classification of Variations, viz.: — 



Unadaptive Variations, i.e., " Wholly unfitted for their environ- 

 ment." 



Indefinite Variations, i.e., " Varying in all directions round a 

 central position." 



Definite Variations, i.e., " All variations being of selective value, 

 but that value varying in degree." 



Ada2>tive Variations, i.e., " No selection, except from general 

 strength." 



In this last I seem to recognise my own position : and all I 

 would ask Mr Tayler to do is to supply, say, half-a-dozen examples 

 of plants and animals, living in a wild state, which he can place 

 within the first three groups respectively. If he can do so — or he 

 may reduce the number to three each, if he likes — then one may 

 credit him with theorising ; if he cannot, then the above remain as 

 valueless a priori assumptions. 



Until he and other modern Darwinians can see — witli Darwin 

 liimself — that natural selection has nothing whatever to do witli the 

 Causes of Variations, but only with the distribution of plants and 

 animals, in space and time, like Mr Tayler, I too " fail to see the 

 use of continuing this discussion as it now stands " in his paper on 

 The Study of Variations. Geoece Henslow. 



^ It is a great gratification to finrl, that while I have been busy with these ques- 

 tions in England, Mr J. Costantin has been studying them simultaneously on the Con- 

 tinent. His new work, "Les Vt'gi'taux et les ]\Iilieux Cosmi(|ues, " consisting of 280 pp. 

 8vo, embraces a great deal of what I have given in my books ; but he also adds a great 

 deal which I have not touched upon. His conclusions hoAvever, are absolutely identical 

 with my own, 



