42 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Surely in this we see the influence of the preconceived idea. 
Evolution was a new principle to science, and every one was 
imbued with it one way or another. Here was an extra- 
ordinary phenomenon in necks which called for explanation, 
and the two alternatives were suggested as we have already 
seen. Now, whether the original variation was due to the 
acquirement of changes set up in the animals, or to some 
spontaneous adventure of the germ cells, we need not discuss 
here. Our point is that both parties agreed that the giraffe’s 
long neck had a selective value of paramount importance to 
its possessor, a belief which is strongly maintained to-day. 
Subsequent discovery may show this theory to be right, but 
that is quite beside the point, for, meanwhile, who will dare to 
say that the girafie’s long neck is not an hereditary variation 
of no particular selective value at all? For, let us remember, 
the very exceptional nature of this organ should warn us that 
we may be dealing with something which does not rightly 
fall in line with our general interpretation of things. Again, 
consider the consequences of the accepted theory. Inasmuch 
as the necessity has been correlated with the want of vege- 
tation on lower branches, it must follow that the once leafy 
district, rendered leafless by the overcrowded population 
(or some other condition), which caused the gradual destruction 
of the lower plants, must have witnessed the extinction of all 
the larger members of the mammalian fauna save the wily 
giraffe. We may, if we like, invent a story about the migra- 
tion of other forms of life to other parts on the encroachment 
of desert conditions, but then we have to explain why the 
short-necked giraffes did not migrate as well, and we must 
invent some cause, more potent for effect than starvation 
itself, to satisfy us that the giraffes really did stay behind, and 
when we have done this, what have we achieved ? Nothing 
but pure invention. Interesting, I grant you, and justifiable 
enough as a speculation, and as such it should take its rightful 
place in our scheme of the interpretation of things. It is 
quite unjustified as a final conclusion. Is it not possible that 
the length of neck of giraffe is a germinal variation of no 
particular selective value, which may have become of value 
to its possessor at a more defined period of its development ? 
