98 THE DESCENT OF MAN. [Part I. 



There is not tlie least inherent improbability, as it seems 

 to me, in virtuous tendencies being more or less strongly- 

 inherited ; for, not to mention tlie various dispositions and 

 habits transmitted by many of our domestic animals, I 

 have heard of cases in wliich a desire to steal and a ten- 

 dency to lie appeared to run in families of the upper 

 ranks ; and as stealing is so rare a crime in the wealthy 

 classes, we can hardly account by accidental coincidence 

 for the tendency occurring in two or three members of the 

 same family. If bad tendencies are transmitted, it is 

 probable that good ones are likewise transmitted. Ex- 

 cepting through the principle of the transmission of moral 

 tendencies, we cannot understand the differences believed 

 to exist in this respect between the various races of man- 

 kind. We have, however, as yet, hardly sufficient evi- 

 dence on this head. 



Even the partial transmission of virtuous tendencies 

 would .be an immense assistance to the primary impulse 

 derived directly from the social instincts, and indirectly 

 from the approbation of our fellow-men. Admitting for 

 the moment tliat virtuous tendencies are inherited, it ap- 

 pears probable, at least in such cases as chastity, temper- 

 ance, humanity to animals, etc., that they become jfirst im- 

 pressed on the mental organization througli habit, instruc- 

 tion, and example, continued during several generations 

 in the same family, and in a quite subordinate degree, or 

 not at all, by the individuals possessing such virtues, 

 having succeeded best in the struggle for life. My chief 

 source of doubt with respect to any such inheritance, is 

 that senseless customs, superstitions, and tastes, such as 

 the horror ©f a Hindoo for unclean food, ought on the 

 same principle to be transmitted. Although tliis in itself 

 is perhaps not less probable than that animals should 

 acquire inherited tastes for certain kinds of food or fear ol 

 certain foes, I have not met with any evidence in support 



