Conclusion 183 



generation, and then transmitted by inheritance to suc- 

 ceeding generations," ^ and he still comprehensively con- 

 demns the " well-known doctrine of inherited habit, as 

 advanced by Lamarck." - 



As for the statement in the passage quoted from Mr. 

 Wallace, to the effect that Lamarck's hypothesis " has 

 been repeatedly and easily refuted by all writers on the 

 subject of varieties and species," it is a very surprising 

 one. I have searched Evolution literature in vain for 

 any refutation of the Erasmus Darwinian system (for this 

 is what Lamarck's hypothesis really is) which need make 

 the defenders of that system at all uneasy. The best 

 attempt at an answer to Erasmus Darwin that has yet 

 been made is " Paley's Natural Theology," which was 

 throughout obviously written to meet Buffon and the 

 " Zoonomia." It is the manner of theologians to say that 

 such and such an objection " has been refuted over and 

 over again," without at the same time telling us when 

 and where ; it is to be regretted that Mr. Wallace has 

 here taken a leaf out of the theologians' book. His state- 

 ment is one which will not pass muster with those whom 

 public opinion is sure in the end to follow. 



Did Mr. Herbert Spencer, for example, " repeatedly and 

 easily refute " Lamarck's hypothesis in his brilliant article 

 in the Leader, March 20, 1852 ? On the contrary, that 

 article is expressly directed against those " who cavalierly 

 reject the hypothesis of Lamarck and his followers." 

 This article was written six years before the words last 

 quoted from Mr. Wallace ; how absolutely, however, does 

 the word " cavalierly " apply to them ! 



Does Isidore Geoffroy, again, bear Mr. Wallace's asser- 

 tion out better ? In 1859 — that is to say, but a short 



1 Origin of Species, 6th ed., p. 206. I ought in fairness to Mr. 

 Darwin to say that he does not hold the error to be quite as serious as 

 he once did. It is now " a serious error " only ; in 1859 it was " the 

 most serious error." — Origin of Species, ist ed., p. 209. 



2 Origin of Species, ist ed., p. 242 ; 6th ed., p. 233. 



