THE PHANTOMS BEHIND US 



stances the results are rapid. Thus sheep lose their 

 wool in tropical climates and a northern fur-bear- 

 ing animal its fur. The well-being of the animal de- 

 mands this change, and demands it quickly. Fish 

 lose their sense of sight in underground streams; 

 this loss is not so vital and it comes about much 

 more slowly. A tropical climate sets its stamp upon 

 the complexion and character of man, but this 

 again is a slow process, as the same stress of neces- 

 sity does not exist. 



In the tendency to variation — in form, size, dis- 

 position, power, fertility — man differs from all 

 other animals. In the same race, in the same fam- 

 ily, we find infinitely varied types. Among the wild 

 creatures all the individuals of a species are prac- 

 tically alike. We can hardly tell one fox, or one 

 marmot, or one chipmunk, or one crow, or one 

 hawk, or one black duck from another of the same 

 species. Of course there are slight individual differ- 

 ences, but they are hardly distinguishable. Among 

 the insects, one bee, one beetle, one ant, one butter- 

 fly seems the exact copy of every other individual 

 of its kind. The law of variation seems practically 

 annulled in the insect world. 



It is the wide and free range of this law in the 

 human species that has undoubtedly led to the 

 great progress of the race. There has been no dead 

 level — no democracy of talent — no equality of 

 gifts, but only equality of opportunity. Men differ 



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