THE BACKGROUND OF DARWINISM— ADAPTATIONS 205 



general adaptiveness involved in the idea of " the web of life/' are part 

 of the background of Darwinism and were in the mind of Darwin when 

 he thought out the great generalization called "natural selection." 

 The "web of Hfe" idea has been admirably presented by Professor 

 Thomson, Scotland's most skilful and prolific biological writer. The 

 present writer feels that no student of evolution should miss the oppor- 

 tunity of getting into the spirit of Darwinism with this distinguished 

 author, and to make this desideratum easily attainable, the chapter 

 is quoted unchanged as part of the general text and immediately 

 follows this discussion. 



