CONCLUSIONS. 



A 



USE-INHERITANCE DISCREDITED AS UNNECES- 

 SARY, UNPROVEN, AND IMPROBABLE. 



GENERAL experience teaches that acquired 

 characters are not usually inherited ; and in- 

 vestigation shows that the apparent exceptions to 

 this *great rule are probably fallacious. Even the 

 alleged instances of use-inheritance culled by such 

 great and judicious selectors as Darwin and 

 Spencer break down upon examination ; for they 

 can be better explained without use-inheritance 

 than with it. On the other hand, the adverse 

 facts and considerations are almost strong enough 

 to prove the actual non-existence of such a law or 



