CHAPTER V 



THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ^ 



INDIVIDUALS and species are continually 

 varying. The unfit are weeded out; the 

 fittest survive. Who are the fittest? Are 

 there any permanent and essential characteris- 

 tics of fitness true alike at all stages of develop- 

 ment? This Is evidently a most Important ques- 

 tion. Our answer to It will determine largely 

 our views concerning the whole theory of evolu- 

 tion. 



One or two characteristics of fitness are neces- 

 sary and fundamental, and evident at the outset. 

 The fittest form must be progressive. However 

 great Its past attainments, If It goes no farther, 

 it will surely be surpassed and left behind by 

 some other steadily advancing form. But prog- 

 ress must be continued through a long series of 

 generations. Hence It must be capable of sur- 



1 See Appendix Chart VII. 

 92 



