278 LIFE AND HABIT. 



insignificant beginnings can ever build up a sufficiently 

 appreciable resemblance to a leaf, bamboo, or other 

 object for " natural selection," to seize upon and per- 

 petuate. This difficulty is augmented when we consider 

 a point to be dwelt upon hereafter how necessary it 

 is that many individuals should be similarly modified 

 simultaneously. This has been insisted on in an able 

 article in the 'North British Review' for June 1867, 

 p. 286, and the consideration of the article has occa- 

 sioned Mr. Darwin " (" Origin of Species," 5th ed., p. 

 104) "to make an important modification in his views" 

 (" Genesis of Species," p. 38). 



To this Mr. Darwin rejoins : 



" But in all the foregoing cases the insects in their 

 original state, no doubt, presented some rude and acci- 

 dental resemblance to an object commonly found in the 

 stations frequented by them. Nor is this improbable, 

 considering the almost infinite number of surrounding 

 objects, and the diversity of form and colour of the host 

 of insects that exist" ("Natural Selection," p. 182, ed. 

 1876). 



Mr. Mivart has just said : " It is difficult to see how 

 such indefinite modifications of insignificant beginnings 

 can ever build up a sufficiently appreciable resemblance to 

 a leaf, bamboo, or oilier object, for ' natural selection ' to 

 work upon." 



The answer is, that " natural selection " did not begin 

 to work until, from unknown causes, an appreciable re- 

 semblance had nevertheless been presented. I think the 

 reader will agree with me that the development of the 

 lowest life into a creature which bears even " a rude 



