ACTS UPON BIOPLASM. 287 



the subsequent structural differences resulting from changes 

 in the living matter can be otherwise adequately accounted 

 for. The structural peculiarities of every living form result 

 from vital peculiarities of the bioplasm which has taken part 

 in its evolution, and it seems to me that evolutionists have 

 not sufficiently considered the early changes of which struc- 

 ture is but a consequence. " Natural selection " operates 

 not upon actually formed tissue not upon organs already 

 formed but upon bioplasm which precedes structure, and 

 from which alone every form of tissue is developed. The 

 "individual differences of a favourable nature" which "occa- 

 sionally arise in a few species, and are then preserved," 

 originate in the bioplasm, and are due to the phenomena 

 occurring in bioplasm only. These remarks will, I fear if 

 noticed at all, call forth hostile criticism ; but I hope those 

 who correct me will not be satisfied by objecting in general 

 terms to what I have said, but will be so good as to point 

 out exactly the points in which they consider I am in error. 

 For it has already been too frequently remarked by enthu- 

 siastic supporters of natural selection, that it is very sur- 

 prising how much Mr. Darwin's views are misunderstood, 

 notwithstanding the efforts that have been made to make 

 them intelligible. 



It has been recently observed that Mr. Browning's 



line 



"That mass man sprang from was a^elly lump," &c.* 



is incorrect. Sir J. Lubbock says, Mr. Danvin would re- 

 pudiate such a theory, " which is utterly inconsistent with 

 his views." " Whether fish or insect, reptile, bird, and 

 beast are derived from one stock, they are certainly not 



* "Prince Hohenstiel Schwangau," p. 68. 



