THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMALS. 395 



variation that arises, no matter what its source. Further- 

 more, it may use variations of small amount, or the more 

 striking variations known as mutations. In so far as it 

 acts, its result is to guide evolution into suitable adapta- 

 tion to the conditions that are able in any degree to in- 

 fluence life. 



393. Evolution and Man. Many people are deterred 

 from accepting the general theory of evolution because 

 of unwillingness to believe that man and his high mental 

 and moral qualities could have come about in this fashion. 

 It is of course impossible absolutely to prove that man 

 or any other animals have thus evolved from the lower 

 orders. All that can ever be done is to make it the most 

 reasonable explanation. In reality it cannot make any 

 material difference, one way or the other, whether man 

 developed or was created outright. Just as much divin- 

 ity is necessary in the evolution of man as in outright 

 creation, and no quality of man is any less valuable or 

 dignified under the assumption that it has grown than 

 under the assumption that it was made outright. Man's 

 moral place in the universe, like his place in American 

 society, is properly determined by what he really is and 

 not by the mere incident of the method of becoming. 



394. Topics for Themes in Zoology and English. i. Find defini- 

 tions of evolution. Write one of your own. 



2. What are some of the arguments that have been offered to 

 support the view that "acquired" bodily characters are transmissible? 



3. State some arguments that have been advanced against the 

 view? 



4. State briefly Mendel's laws of heredity. Illustrate. 



5. What does the gradual development of the physical, mental, 

 and moral nature of the human individual suggest ? 



6. State DeVries' doctrine of "mutation" in a brief way. 



