Preface 



It has been our aim to produce a book of this 

 description. 



We have endeavoured to demonstrate that 

 neither pure Lamarckism nor pure Wallaceism 

 affords a satisfactory explanation of the various 

 phenomena of the organic world. We have 

 further, while recognising the very great value of 

 the work of De Vries, tried to show that that 

 eminent botanist has allowed his enthusiasm to 

 carry him a little too far into the realm of specu- 

 lation. We have followed up the exposure of 

 the weak points of the theories, which at present 

 occupy the field, with certain suggestions, which, 

 we believe, throw new light on many biological 

 problems. 



Our aim in writing this book has been twofold. 

 In the first place we have attempted to place 

 before the general public in simple language a 

 true statement of the present position of biologi- 

 cal science. In the second place, we have 

 endeavoured to furnish the scientific men of the 

 day with food for reflection. 



Even as the British nation seems to be slowly 

 but surely losing, through its conservatism, the 

 commercial supremacy it had the good fortune to 

 gain last century, so is it losing, through the un- 

 willingness of many of our scientific men to keep 

 abreast of the times, that scientific supremacy 

 which we gained in the middle of last century 

 by the labours of Charles Darwin and Alfred 

 b vii 



