250 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. X. 



growth and transformation of the most minute and the 

 simplest organisms, which themselves, by all reason and 

 analogy, owe their existence to immediate transformation 

 from the inorganic world. 



On the whole, then, we seem justified in asserting 

 that there are grave difficulties in the way of the re- 

 ception of the hypothesis of Pangenesis, which moreover, 

 if established, would leave the evolution of individual 

 organisms, when thoroughly analysed, little if at all less 

 mysterious or really explicable than it is at present. 



As was said at the beginning of this chapter, " Pan- 

 genesis " and " Natural Selection " are quite separable and 

 distinct hypotheses. The fall of one of these by no means 

 necessarily includes that of the other. Nevertheless, Mr. 

 Darwin has associated them closely together, and, there- 

 fore, the refutation of Pangenesis may render it advisable 

 for those who have hitherto accepted " Natural Selection " 

 to reconsider their acceptance of that theory. 



