January 21, 19 15] 



NATURE 



579 



leading' role among the conditions to which the living 

 world owes its existing configuration. Since his time 

 the aspect of the problem has widely changed. We 

 must rule out the question of the origin of neutral or 

 useless traits. We must not confuse the evolution of 

 adaptations with the origin of species. W'e must bear 

 in mind the fact that Darwin often failed to distin- 

 guish between non-heritable fluctuations and here- 

 ditary mutations of small degree. We are now aware 

 that many apparently new variations may be no more 

 than recombination-products of pre-existing elements, 

 We should, no doubt, make a larger allowance for 

 the role of single " lucky accidents " in evolution than 

 did many of the earlier evolutionists. And yet, so far 

 as the essence of the principle is concerned, I am 

 bound to make confession of my doubts whether any 

 existing discussion of this problem affords more food 

 for reflection, even to-day, than that contained in the 

 sixth and seventh chapters of the " Origin of Species " 

 and elsewhere in the works of Darwin, 



Undeniably there is a large measure of truth in 

 the contention that natural selection still belongs 

 rather to the philosophy than to the science of biology. 

 In spite of many important experimental and critical 

 studies on the subject Darwin's conception still 

 remains to-day in the main what it was in his own 

 time, a theory, a logical construction, based, it is 

 true, on a multitude of facts, yet "still awaiting 

 adequate experimental test. Simple though the prin- 

 ciple is, its actual eff^ect in nature is determined by 

 conditions that are too intricate and operate through 

 periods too great to be duplicated in the experimental 

 laboratory. Hence it is that even after more than 

 fifty years of Darwinism the time has not yet come 

 for a true estimate of Darwin's proposed solution of 

 the great problem. 



But there is still another word to be said. Too 

 often in the past the facile formulas of natural selec- 

 tion have been made use of to carry us lightly over 

 the surface of unsuspected depths that would richlv 

 have repaid serious exploration. In a healthy reaction 

 from this purblind course we have made it the mode 

 to minimise Darwin's theory; and no doubt a great 

 service has been rendered to our study of this problem 

 by the critical and sceptical spirit of modern experi- 

 mental science. But there is a homely German say- 

 ing that impresses upon us the need of caution as we 

 empty out the bath lest we pour out the child too. 

 This suggests that we should take heed how we 

 under-estimate the one really simple and intelligible 

 explanation of organic adaptations that has thus far 

 been placed in our hands. And in some minds — if I 

 include my own among them let it be set down to 

 that indiscretion at which I have hinted— the impres- 

 sion grows that our preoccupation with the problem 

 as it appears at short focus may in some measure have 

 dimmed our vision of larger outlines that must be 

 viewed at longer range ; that we may have emphasised 

 minor difficulties at the cost of a larger truth. To 

 such minds it will seem that the principle of natural 

 selection, while it may not provide a master kev to 

 all the riddles of evolution, still looms up as one of 

 the great contributions of modern science to our 

 understanding of nature. 



I have taken but a passing glance at a vast and 

 many-sided subject. I have tried to suggest that the 

 tide of speculation in our science has far receded ; 

 that experimental methods have taken their rightful 

 place of importance ; that we have attained to a truer 

 perspective of past and present in our study of the 

 problems of animal life. The destructive phase 

 through which we have passed has thoroughly cleared 

 the ground for the new constructive era on which we 

 now have entered. All the signs of the times indicate 



NO. 2360, VOL. Q4I 



that this era will long endure. And this is of good 

 augury for a future of productive effort, guided by 

 the methods of physico-chemical science, impatient of 

 merely a priori constructions, of academic discussions, 

 i of hypotheses that cannot be brought to the test of 

 i experimental verification. The work ahead will make 

 exacting technical demands upon us. The pioneer 

 days of zoology are past. The naturalist of the future 

 must be thoroughly trained in the methods and results 

 of chemistry and physics. He must prepare himself 

 for a life of intensive research, of high specialisation ; 

 but in the future even more than in the past he will 

 wander in vain amid the dry sands of special detail 

 if the larger problems and general aims of his science 

 be not held steadfastly in view. For these are the 

 outstanding beacon lights of progress; and while 

 science viewed at close range seems always to grow 

 more complex, a wider vision shows that her signal 

 discoveries are often singularly simple. This perhaps 

 may help us to keep alive the spirit of the pioneers 

 who led the advances of a simpler age; and it is full 

 of hope for the future. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Birmingham. — The Huxley Lecture will be delivered 

 on January 21 by M. Emile Verhaeren (the national 

 poet of Belgiurri), who has chosen as his subject 

 •' L'Esprit Beige." 



London. — Among the opening lectures in the Lent 

 Term at the Bedford College for Women are several 

 which are open free to the public without ticket. In 

 the department of geology a series of four lectures on 

 minerals used as gem stones will be given on Thurs- 

 davs at 5.15 p.m., beginning on January 28, by Dr. 

 A. ^Hutchinson and Dr. H. H. Thomas. In the botany 

 department Mr. W. Neilson Jones will lecture on 

 Mondays at 5 p.m., beginning on January 18, on 

 phenornena of heredity. There will also be lectures on 

 hygiene, mathematics, physiology, and chemistry. 



A COURSE of lectures to the University of London 

 Officers Training Corps on military subjects is being 

 given by the members of the staff of Birkbeck College, 

 London', on Tuesdays, at 8 p.m. The first lecture, on 

 the economics of war, was given on January 19 by 

 the principal of the college. Dr. G. Armitage-Smith. 

 Forthcoming lectures on succeeding Tuesdays are as 

 follows : — " Bacteria." Dr. H. C. I. G\^Tnne-Vaughan ; 

 " Some Past Fights for Freedom," Mr. L. Ricci ; 

 "Trench Making," Dr. J. W. Evans; 'Report Writ- 

 ing," Mr. J. H. Lobban ; " International Law of War 

 on Land," Mr. G. C. Rankin ; " Map Making and 

 Map Reading," Dr. J. F. Unstead; "Range Finding," 

 Dr. A. Griffiths; "Explosives," Dr. G. Senter; "War 

 Clouds of Modern Europe," Mr. A. Jones; "An 

 Ancient Drill Book," Mr. F. A. Wright. The lectures 

 are intended primarily for cadets of the Officers 

 Training Corps, but are open to all persons interested, 

 without fee. 



A COPY of the " General Information Number " of 

 the Bulletin of the Armour Institute of Technology has 

 been received from Chicago. Full particulars are 

 given of the courses offered in mechanical, electrical, 

 civil, chemical, and fire protection engineering, as 

 well as those in architecture and the industrial arts. 

 Each of these four-year courses represents a carefully 

 balanced group system of studies, combining a 

 thorough and broad scientific training with the 

 elements of liberal culture, and all lead to the degree 

 of bachelor of science. 



