CHAPTER XXIII. 



INDIVIDUALS, EPHEMEROMORPHS, AND SPECIES. 



Individuality. Different views concerning. Modes of Origin of Indepen« 

 dent Units. Views about ' Species.' Recent Modifications. Modes 

 of Reproduction, Dawn of Sexual Process Blending of Sexual and 

 Asexual Processes, Views of Prof. Huxley and Dr. Carpenter. 

 These not in accordance with doctrines of Evolution. Other objec- 

 tions. Nature of Lowest Forms of Life. Their correlation with 

 one another. Ephemeromorphs. Their different Modes of Origin. 

 Light thrown upon ' Alternate Generation.' Principal Varieties of. 

 Bearing of facts upon Nature of Individuals and Species. Expla- 

 nation of apparent Anomalies. Transmutations of Species. Mr. 

 Darwin and ' Natural Selection.' Two meanings of Term. These 

 not always distinguished. Mr. Herbert Spencer's Views. Influence 

 of Change in External Conditions. Direct and Indirect actions of. 

 Instances cited, by Mr. Darwin. Internal Causes of Change. Great 

 difference of Views concerning. Mr. Herbert Spencer's Doctrines. 

 Opposing Nature of, on this Subject. Undue importance attached 

 to External Influences. Mr. Darwin not an advocate of ' Progres- 

 sive Development.' Slight influence of External Conditions over 

 Lower Organisms. Their Forms more dependent upon Molecular 

 Polarities. Instances of ' Spontaneous ' Variation. Convertibility 

 of the Nectarine and the Peach. Origin of black-shouldered 

 Peacock. Importance of such Transformations. Influences which 

 produce and modify the Forms of Organisms. Author's Views as 

 compared with those of Mr. Darwin and Mr. Herbert Spencer. 



WHILST the various modes of origin of living 

 things and their subsequent metamorphoses are 

 subjects of surpassing interest, the true meaning or 



