o6 Darwinism and Deity. 



happen to be born somewhat resembling the bark of the 

 tree in appearance, it would have a chance of escaping 

 unobserved the birds that snap up its brighter-colored 

 kindred. Of the progeny of this one, such as inherited 

 this peculiarity would have the same chance of preserv- 

 ing life; and so, in the long course of time, would grow 

 of a species so closely resembling the bark of the tree 

 on which it lived, as to find its safety therein. 



In the same wav, if any individual should happen to 

 be born with increased facility for securing subsistence, 

 either greater efficiency in obtaining food, or greater 

 capacity for assimilating the food at hand, such indi- 

 vidual would have increased chance of surviving in the 

 struggle for life; and its progeny inheriting the same 

 peculiarity would, by having the same chance of sur- 

 viving, increase the tendency to propagate this peculiar- 

 ity of structure. 



The great changes which the earth's surface has under- 

 gone would give greater room for the display of this 

 struggle for life. Change of climate and soil would 

 change vegetation. And this change of the conditions 

 of life would impose new conditions upon the chances 

 of survivorship. It might intensify the chances of the 

 predominating varieties, or it might nullify their chances 

 and give increased chances to some new peculiarity. 



Besides the law of survivorship of the fittest, which is 

 called the law of Natural Selection, there is another ele- 

 ment, somewhat analogous, called Sexual Selection. 

 The males of certain animals have a contest for the 

 possession of the female. She remains an indifferent 

 spectator, and quietly goes off with the victor. Here 

 the strongest and most agile males have progeny, while 



