9 ; 
: 
x OBITUARY 289 
therefore, the origin of species in general lies in 
variation; while the origin of any particular 
species lies, firstly, in the occurrence, and secondly, 
in the selection and preservation of a particular 
yariation. Clearness on this head will relieve one 
from the necessity of attending to the fallacious 
assertion that natural selection is a deus ex machind, 
or occult agency. 
Those, again, who confuse the operation of the 
natural causes which bring about variation and 
selection with what they are pleased to call 
“chance” can hardly have read the opening 
paragraph of the fifth chapter of the “ Origin” 
(Ed. I, p. 131): “I have sometimes spoken as if 
the variations . . . . had been due to chance. 
This is of course a wholly incorrect expression, 
but it seems to acknowledge plainly our igno- 
rance of the cause of each particular variation.” 
Another point of great importance to the right 
comprehension of the theory, is, that while every 
species must needs have some adaptive advanta- 
geous characters to which it owes its preservation 
by selection, it may possess any number of others 
which are neither advantageous nor disadvanta- 
geous, but indifferent, or even slightly disadvan- 
tageous. (Jbid., p.81.) For variations take place, 
‘not merely in one organ or function at a time, but 
‘im many; and thus an advantageous variation, 
which gives rise to the selection of a new race or 
‘species, may be accompanied by others which are 
VOL. II U 
