ii THE SKILL OF BREEDERS 81 



agent out of some pre-existing things. 

 The skilful breeders of doves and dogs 

 and horses were, in this phrase, taken 

 as the type of Nature in her production 

 and in her guidance of varieties in 

 organic structure. Darwin did not 

 consciously choose this phrase because 

 of these tacit implications of Mind and 

 Will. He was in all ways simple and 

 sincere, and he no more meant to 

 impose upon others than on himself 

 when he likened the operations of 

 Nature in producing new species to the 

 foreseeing skill of the breeder in pro- 

 ducing new and more excellent varieties 

 in domestic animals. Nevertheless, as 

 a fact, this implication is indelible in 

 the phrase, and has always lent to it 

 more than half its strength, and all its 

 plausibility. Darwin was led to it by 

 an intellectual instinct which is insuper- 

 able viz. the instinct which sees the 

 G 



