Continuity 29 



discontinuity represented by body -bound- 

 aries and cell-walls; but now, in its laws 

 of heredity as studied by Mendel, number 

 and discontinuity are strikingly apparent 

 among the reproductive cells, and the 

 varieties of offspring admit of numerical 

 specification and prediction to a surpris- 

 ing extent; while modification by con- 

 tinuous variation, which seemed to be of 

 the essence of Darwinism, gives place to, 

 or at least is accompanied by, mutation, 

 with finite and considerable and in ap- 

 pearance discontinuous change. So far 

 from Nature not making jumps, it be- 

 comes doubtful if she does anything else. 

 Her hitherto placid course, more closely 

 examined, is beginning to look like a kind 

 of steeplechase. 



Yet undoubtedly Continuity is the 

 backbone of evolution, as taught by all 

 biologists no artificial boundaries or de- 

 marcations between species a continuous 

 chain of heredity from far below the 

 amoeba up to man. Actual continuity 

 of undying germ-plasm, running through 

 all generations, is taught likewise; though 



