80 CHARLES DARWIN. 



conspicuously from the type of the species, and 

 which may exist singly or in considerable numbers 

 side by side with the parent form. 



Professor Osborn's actual words are as follows : — 



"Darwin dwells upon variations in single characters, as 

 taken hold of by Selection ; Wallace mentions variations, but 

 dwells upon full-formed varieties, as favourably or unfavour- 

 ably adapted. It is perfectly clear that with Darwin the 

 struggle is so intense that the chance of survival of each 

 individual turns upon a single and even slight variation. 

 With Wallace, varieties are already presupposed by causes 

 which he does not discuss, a change in the environment occurs, 

 and those varieties which happen to be adapted to it survive. 

 There is really a wide gap between these two statements and 

 applications of the theory." 



Further consideration tends to obliterate this 

 supposed distinction. Although Wallace used the 

 term "variety" as contrasted with "species," the 

 whole context proves that he, equally with Darwin, 

 recognised the importance of individual variations 

 and of variations in single characters. This becomes 

 clear when we remember his argument about the 

 neck of the giraffe, the changes of colour and hairi- 

 ness, the shorter legs of the antelope, and the less 

 powerful wings of the passenger pigeon. Wallace 

 has kindly written to me (May 12th, 1896) stating 

 the case as I have given it, and he further explains — 



" I used the term * varieties ' because ' varieties ' were alone 

 recognised at that time, individ^ variability being ignored 

 or thought of no importance. My 'varieties' therefore in- 

 cluded ' individual variations' " 



