240 THE MEANING OF EVOLUTION 



that somehow there is an influence by which the 

 environment produces variation. How the influences 

 of the surrounding world can get down into the body 

 of the parent and affect the egg is unknown. This 

 is freely confessed by every biologist. All are agreed 

 tliat Weissman's work has made us cautious, and pre- 

 vented our lightly accepting a belief in the influence 

 of the environment. Yet it is felt by many that slowly 

 and gradually, in the long run, the germ is affected 

 in the same manner as is the body of the parent. In 

 other words, even those who are not followers of 

 Weissman, have accepted the idea that there is little 

 inheritance of acquired characters. Yet they return 

 to the belief that somehow, in some way as yet un- 

 explainable, the main cause for variation in animals 

 lies in the situation in which they live, and tends 

 toward better adaptation to that situation. 



Whether men with this conviction are merely re- 

 actionaries whose confidence is returning, or bold 

 thinkers whose views will ultimately prevail, time 

 alone can tell. 



A second strong objection was brought against the 

 theory of Natural Selection. Darwin declared that 

 small variations in favorable directions are selected 

 and become the starting point of new and better 

 things. It is soon seen, however, that the effect of 

 unaided Natural Selection would be but to mix new 



