ASA GRAY. 757 



chule that inscrutable something which produces, as well as that which 

 results in the survival of, 'the fittest,'" p. 388. 



Neither of these doctrines is strictly Darwinian, though not at variance 

 with Natural Selection. They take away what has often been urged 

 against Darwinism: the idea that the environment under Natural Se- 

 lection dominates in the determination of the direction of variation, and 

 hence that evolution comes chiefly through external conditions; and 

 substitutes the idea that the environment works under organic control 

 through Natural Selection. One view implies that the environment in- 

 fluence is superior to organic law in the process ; the other, that organic 

 law is superior to the environment. Moreover, Gray's last sentence ex- 

 presses the opinion that Darwin's Natural Selection can not produce 

 the "survival of the fittest," though "survival of the fittest" is the result 

 brought about. There is an "inscrutable something" that "produces." 

 The writer would go a little farther and say that the "survival of the 

 fittest," under "natural selection," is survival, not the production of 

 "the fittest;" but this substitute I have reason to believe that Gray 

 would not accept. 



Further, Gray was a theistic Darwinian, as abundantly shown in his 

 "Darwiniana," and alike also in his "Natural Science and Religion." 

 Here is his creed in his own words, as published in the preface to the 

 Darwiniana: "I am scientifically and in my own fashion a Darwinian, 

 philosophically, a convinced theist, and religiously, an accepter of the 

 'creed commonly called the Niceue,' as the exponent of the Christian 

 faith." 



Gray's various literary or less scientific papers, contributions mostly 

 to the "North American Review," "Nation," and the "Atlantic 

 Monthly," always show the clear thinker, the graceful writer, and the 

 well-stored head, whatever the topic; and when it is scientific, his method 

 of popularizing and illustrating his views is of the most attractive kind. 

 Ills last contribution to the "Nation" was a long characteristic notice 

 of Darwin's Life and Letters, in November, showing no waning in his 

 faculties; on the contrary, there is manifest the same clearheaded, 

 judicial, and sprightly reviewer, as honest as ever in his opinions and 

 in his modesty amid Darwin's profuse (he says effusive) commendations. 



The last visit to Europe was made during the past year. He went 

 with the intention of doing but little of his herbarium work, and find- 

 ing pleasure among friends old and new. Mrs. Crray, as usual, was 

 with him. It proved to be a triumphal time to the modest botanist, 

 for he received the honor of doctorate from each of the great universi- 

 ties of Britain, that of Oxford, of Cambridge, and of Edinburgh. He 

 returned in October in excellent spirits and health — an apparent prom- 

 ise of some years more of work. He was soon again occupied with his 

 "Flora," the completion of which was the earnest desire of all botanists. 

 Yet while wishing to see its last page himself, his anxiety about it had 

 lessened in later years, because aware that his colleague in charge of 



