NEOLAMARCKISM 407 
who also was the first (in 1863) to criticise Darwin’s 
theory of the mode of formation of coral atolls, 
though not referring to Lamarck, published a strong, 
catholic, and original book, which is in general essen- 
tially Lamarckian, while not undervaluing Darwin’s 
principle of natural selection. ‘‘ It appears to me,’’ 
he says, in the preface, “‘ that of all the properties 
of the animal organism, Variability is that which 
may first and most easily be traced by exact investi- 
gation to its efficient causes.”’ 
‘“ By a rearrangement of the materials of his argu- 
ment, however, we obtain, as I conceive, convincing 
proof that external conditions can exert not only 
a very powerful selective force, but a transforming 
one as well, although it must Be the more limited of 
the two 
‘An organ no longer needed for its original pur- 
pose may adapt itself to the altered circumstances, 
and alter correspondingly if it contains within itself, 
as I have explained above, the elements of sucha 
change. Then the influence exerted by the changed 
conditions will be transforming, not selective. 
“This last view may seem somewhat bold to those 
readers who know that Darwin, in his theory of 
selection, has almost entirely set aside the direct 
transforming influence of external circumstances. 
Yet he seems latterly to be disposed to admit that 
he had undervalued the transforming as well as the 
selective influence of external conditions; and it 
seems to me that his objection to the idea of such 
an influence rested essentially on the method of his 
argument, which seemed indispensable for setting 
his theory of selection and his hypothesis as to the 
transformation of species in a clear light and on 
a firm footing ’’ (p. 37). 
