618 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



subject of dependence of one species or order upon another 

 will be treated in a separate section later on. All I am 

 showing in this section is the potentiality of divergence and 

 the reason of the law. For the more one studies the vagaries 

 of animal life the more one is convinced that it is necessary 

 to look quite apart from this earth to understand nature's 

 designs ; and until we do this — until we thoroughly grasp the 

 immense field of divergence— a field that means all the mil- 

 lions of stars we see, their different wants, and the application 

 of nature's law of divergence to those wants — we shall never 

 understand why matters have been so mixed that deer weep, 

 hyenas laugh, or elephants have the sagacity of men. These 

 things, however, again go to prove the common nature of the 

 vital force. I may perhaps be allowed here to give a few 

 other instances of divergence to illustrate my meaning. 



There are many varieties of antelope — some forty to fifty — ■ 

 and many of the rhinoceros. In South Africa there are four 

 distinct species of rhinoceros ; in North Africa, one, differing 

 from all these ; whilst the large Indian rhinoceros bears but 

 slight resemblance to any of the former. A distinct species 

 from any is the rhinoceros of Sumatra, and another is the 

 Java rhinoceros. So we have eight kinds, all specifically 

 differing from one another. 



Now, what use have we upon this small planet for the 

 different varieties of this particular animal ? Scarcely any. 

 Nor do I believe they have ever been of much use in nature's 

 workings here. But in larger planets these different varieties 

 may be of immense service, being partly amphibious. Only, as 

 all creatures are bound to diverge, each particular animal 

 having in itself the power of change and adaptability to cir- 

 cumstances, upon the slightest change of circumstances the 

 animal adapts itself to its new environment. This law of 

 divergence and progressive adaptation is like the most deli- 

 cately-set hair-spring, ready to expand upon the slightest 

 change of condition ; in fact, it cannot help changing. It 

 acts upon this small planet the same as it acts upon a much 

 larger planet. So that no type can possibly be constant for 

 ever. It must change directly the climatic condition of the 

 particular zone alters, or any species happens to be trans- 

 planted to a different zone. Darwin mistook the exemplifica- 

 tion of this law as to origin of species by natural selection. 

 The same reasoning applies to the elephant. There is the 

 Asiatic elephant and the Indian elephant. Great differences 

 exist between the two species. And of the Asiatic elephant 

 there are many varieties, some with tusks pointing down- 

 wards, some curving upwards, some with short legs and large 

 trunks, others with small trunks and long legs, for swiftness. 

 Then there is the white elephant, but he is an albino. 



