I20 Specific Genesis 



Mr. Cliauncey Wright's remarks on mimicry do not call 

 for reply, as it is now conceded that imitation occurs where 

 Natural Selection cannot have developed it. In reply to my 

 criticism as to the origin of the mammary gland, my 

 opponent suggests that its development may have been pro- 

 duced by a young mammal's clinging by suction to the body 

 of its dam, this clinging causing sebaceous glands to be 

 hjrpertrophied, and this hypertrophy causing their secretion 

 to become nutritious. I confess this seems to me an extreme 

 supposition. 



With regard to sexual selection, Mr. Chauncey Wright 

 asks, ' Is it credible Mr. Mivart can suppose that the higher 

 or spiritual emotions, like aifection, taste, conscience, ever 

 act directly to modify or compete with the more energetic 

 lower impulses, and not rather by forestalling and indirectly 

 regulating them ? ' I answer unhesitatingly, ' Yes ' ; and in 

 return say, ' Is it credible Mr. Chauncey Wright can suppose 

 they do not ? ' 



As to apes, it is enough to reply, that other animals are 

 also kept in cages, but do not exhibit the phenomena to 

 which I referred. 



Passing to the hoods and rattles of poisonous snakes, Mr. 

 Wright asserts that if ' their " warnings " are also used against 

 intended victims, they can only be used either to paralyse 

 them with terror or allure them from curiosity,' etc. Has 

 Mr. Wright then never observed the tail of a cat when the 

 animal is watching a mouse ? 



A somewhat singular exhibition of the use of the imagina- 

 tion occurs where Mr. Wright tells us it may be that ' the 

 rattle will serve all the purposes that drums, trumpets, and 

 gongs do in human warfare. The swaying body and vibrat- 

 ing tongue of most snakes, and the expanding neck, and the 

 hood of the cobra, may serve as banners.' I must submit to 

 be blamed for my 'poverty of resources' by one whose 



