Masterpieces of Science 



will of the organisms (especially in the case of 

 plants) could account . for the innumerable 

 cases in which organisms of every kind are 

 beautifully adapted to their habits of life — for 

 instance, a woodpecker or a tree-frog to climb 

 trees, or a seed for dispersal by hooks or plumes. 

 I had always been much struck by such adapta- 

 tions, and until these could be explained it 

 seemed to me almost useless to endeavour to 

 prove by indirect evidence that species have 

 been modified. 



After my return to England it appeared to 

 me that by following the example of Lyell in 

 geology.* and by collecting all facts that bore 

 in any way on the variation of animals and 

 plants under domestication and nature, some 

 light might perhaps be thrown on the whole 

 subject. My first note-book was opened in 

 July, 1837. I worked on true Baconian prin- 

 ciples, and without any theory collected facts 

 on a wholesale scale, more especially with 

 respect to domesticated productions, by printed 

 enquiries, by conversation with skilful breeders 

 and gardeners and by extensive reading. When 

 I see the list of books of all kinds which I read 

 and abstracted, including whole series of 

 journals and translations, I am surprised at 

 my industry. I soon perceived that selection 

 was the keystone of man's success in making 

 useful races of animals and plants. But how 



• * See Masterpieces of Science, Vo). I, " Earth and Sky," 

 Sir Charles Lyell on Uniformity in geological change. 

 36 



