I 3 6 THE GROWTH OF GROUPS 



has arrived. Until such a definition is laid down we shall 

 never actually know whether a species can grow from an 

 individual or not. I do not, of course, offer this as a serious 

 suggestion ; as such it is worthless, but it may serve to 

 illustrate the value of the conception embraced by the 

 word species. 



While some are surprised at Mr. Tower's conclusions 

 as to the inefficacy of sport, others agree with him. 

 Nothing is to be gained by declaring that those who do 

 not agree with us are mistaken. Those who come after 

 will settle the dispute, and in their turn hand on other 

 disputes for settlement. 



Many will think that I am belittling a great work in 

 pointing out that a quarter of a million is a small fraction 

 of the mass of a species which extends over a large part 

 of the United States. It seems to me, however, that it 

 is Mr. Tower himself who has belittled his own work. In 

 my opinion he has been the first to describe the origin of 

 a species of animals as he himself saw it. No such 

 description is to be found in the writings of Darwin, who 

 described what he conceived to be the method of origin. 



The species pallida became established. Every step 

 in the process leading to its establishment was observed. 

 It grew from a pair of mutants. It had to be exter- 

 minated. Tower regards this event almost as though it 

 had never occurred, since he himself had a hand in it. Is 

 the gust of wind that might bring two beetles together 

 something essentially different from the hands of the man 

 which caused the union ? is the first in nature and the 

 second outside nature ? Where is this limit between nature 

 and not nature ? It is enough to know that the event 

 occurred, and the manner of its occurrence. 



