l895 . NOTES AND COMMENTS. 299 



each species as to leave only a small fraction — the very elect of the 

 elect — to continue the race." 



Specific Stability. 

 At a recent meeting of the Entomological Society (see Nature, 

 April 11, 1895) Mr. F. Galton appealed to those who had made 

 experiments in breeding, for information on three points connected 

 with his theory of positions of Specific Stability. First, he wishes to 

 be made acquainted with " instances of such strongly-marked pecu- 

 liarities, whether in form, in colour, or in habit, as have occasionally 

 appeared in a single or in a few individuals among a brood ; but no 

 record is wanted of monstrosities, or of such other characteristics as 

 are clearly inconsistent with health and vigour." With due deference 

 to the eminent inquirer, may we suggest that the distinction 

 between monstrosities and discontinuous variations is one demanding 

 more interpretation than is congruous with the mere collecting of 

 facts. How is it to be decided whether or no a particular variation 

 be a monstrosity ? Moreover, if positions of organic stability exist, 

 it would seem to us natural that monstrosities should exhibit signs of 

 them as much as what Mr. Galton might consider not to be mon- 

 strosities. If a monstrosity be capable of breeding, the record of its 

 descendants would afford most valuable indications of the range and 

 character of heredity. Whether or no a particular variation were 

 inconsistent with health and vigour, in many cases, must depend on 

 the environment. On the protection theory of coloration, a cater- 

 pillar, varying from the protective pattern of its kind, would be a 

 monster doomed to perish : under the conditions of the breeder, or in 

 the natural absence of enemies, would it propagate its unnatural 

 variation ? 



Secondly, Mr. Galton asks for "instances in which any of the 

 above peculiarities has appeared in the broods of different parents." 

 This point is the root of the whole matter. If such positions of 

 organic stability do occur, they must occur repeatedly. In fact, in 

 addition to each species, there must be a number of possible "para- 

 species " (Mr. Bateson, who is a purist, will object to the term). 



To take a theoretical example of " para-species." A species of 

 butterflies with a particular coloration may range over a plain on 

 which occur isolated high mountains. On each of these high 

 mountains may occur the same "arctic variety " of the species. On 

 the theory of positions of organic stability these arctic-forms may be 

 identical and yet of independent origin on each mountain. They are 

 the outcome of a "position of organic stability" near to the plain- 

 form of the species. They (on the theory) have been called into 

 existence, or have been selected by the conditions on the mountain- 

 tops ; they are " para-species " of the plain-species. Such a condition 

 of things would simplify one's conception of the process of organic 

 evolution. At present it is pure theory, but if Mr. Galton is successful 



