25 



IV. CHARLES DARWIN. 

 1. "THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES" NATURAL SELECTION. 



With the appearance of 'The Origin of Species' in 1859, we 

 have the introduction to a new view of things in the great 

 problem of descent. 



In the first place, we have the general theory of descent 

 which had been developing through so many centuries. Taking 

 the whole of the animal world, from the smallest insect up to 

 man, there is nothing, either in the material composition or 

 the framework of their bodies which would prevent us from 

 assuming a gradual development from the lowest to the 

 highest forms. 1 "Hereafter," says Darwin, "we shall be 

 compelled to acknowledge that the only distinction between 

 species and well-marked varieties is that the latter are known, 

 or believed to be connected at the present day by intermediate 

 gradations, whereas species were formerly thus connected." 2 



In the second place, Darwin supplies us with a new factor 

 in this descent theory, the factor which explains how it is that 

 the higher forms evolve from the lower, namely, Natural 

 Selection. The fundamental fact of Darwin's theory is the 

 tendency of all living beings to vary. Such variations may 

 be transmitted from one generation to another. Among 

 domestic animals, man, of course, does not produce variations. 

 Nature does this for him. But what man can do, and does, is 

 to select the variations given him by Nature, and thus accumu- 

 late them in any desired manner. 3 "This process of selection 

 has been the great agency in the formation of the most distinct 

 and useful domestic breeds." 4 And, "there is no reason why 

 the principles which have acted so efficiently under domesti- 

 cation should not have acted under Nature". 5 But how does 

 selection under Nature, or Natural Selection, operate? "The 

 struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high geo- 

 metrical ratio of increase which is common to all organic 

 beings." "More individuals are born than can possibly 

 survive, " 6 in view of the aforementioned struggle for existence. 

 The consequent modifications which are constantly appearing 

 in organic beings in a state of nature produced by slight and 

 very gradual steps are preserved and accumulated when 



Charles Darwin, "The Origin of Species", John Murray, 1897, Vol. II, 

 pp. 291, 299. 



2 O.C. pp. 300-301. 



'O.C. p. 277. 



4 Ibid. 



6 O.C. pp. 277-278. 



6 Ibid. 



