82 Their Indefinite Character. 



fact, takes account of no other in liis theory of 

 the origin of species. lie seems to conceive of 

 the organization as absolutely plastic, in unsta 

 ble equilibrium, and only apparently at rest at 

 a point radiating infinite directions for further 

 movement. The variations, being altogether in 

 definite, offer themselves to natural selection for 

 any line of development, but not for any partic 

 ular line. And Darwin was accordingly supposed 

 to have substituted chance for design, a fortui 

 tous evolution for a purposive creation. It turns 

 out, however, that his assertion of indefinite va 

 riability was premature, and that in any case it 

 has no necessary connection with natural selec 

 tion, which, according to the latest statement of 

 Professor Huxley, would operate equally well 

 &quot; if variability is definite, and is determined in 

 certain directions rather than in others, by con 

 ditions inherent in that which varies.&quot; And the 

 advance in doctrine is still more strikingly illus 

 trated when Professor Huxley goes on to say, &quot; it 

 is quite conceivable that every species tends to 

 produce varieties of a limited number and kind, 

 and that the effect of natural selection is to favor 

 the development of some of these, while it op 

 poses the development of others along their pre 

 determined line of modification.&quot; This limita- 



