240 THE GENESIS OF SPECIES. [CHAP. 



win's theory with regard to the higher psychical phenomena 

 of man (especially the evolution of moral conceptions), and 

 with regard to the evolution of individual organisms by 

 the action of Pangenesis. And it was implied that if Mr. 

 Darwin's latter hypothesis can be shown to be untenable, 

 an antecedent doubt is thus thrown upon his other concep- 

 tion, namely, the theory of "Natural Selection." 



A cumulative argument thus arises against the preva- 

 lent action of " Natural Selection," which, to the mind of 

 the author, is conclusive. As before observed, he was not 

 originally disposed to reject Mr. Darwin's fascinating theory. 

 Reiterated endeavors to solve its difficulties have, however, 

 had the effect of convincing him that that theory as the one 

 or as the leading explanation of the successive evolution 

 and manifestation of specific forms is untenable. At the 

 same time he admits fully that " Natural Selection " acts 

 and must act, and that it plays in the organic world a cer- 

 tain though a secondary and subordinate part. 



The one modus operandi yet suggested having been 

 found insufficient, the question arises, Can another be substi- 

 tuted in its place ? If not, can any thing that is positive, 

 and if any thing, what, be said as to the question of specific 

 origination ? 



Now, in the first place, it is of course axiomatic that the 

 laws which conditioned the evolution of extinct and of ex- 

 isting species are of as much efficacy at this moment as at 

 any preceding period, that they tend to the manifestation 

 of new forms as much now as ever before. It by no means 

 necessarily follows, however, that this tendency is actually 

 being carried into effect, and that new species of the higher 

 animals and plants are actually now produced. They may 

 be so or they may not, according as existing circumstances 

 favor, or conflict with, the action of those laws. It is 

 possible that lowly-organized creatures may be contin- 

 ually evolved at the present day, the requisite conditions 



