et Imbecillitate Darwiniana. 3 5 



originated in modern times by Lamarck. 

 The weak point of Lamarck's theory was, 

 that he could not give a satisfactory ex- 

 planation of the modus mutandi : show how 

 the metamorphosis was effected, how one 

 animal became another, how a new organ 

 could actually arise. 



Now this how is just what Darwin claimed 

 to solve, by his theory of ' Natural Selection. 1 

 He himself thought that he had discovered 

 the solution, and for a while the world was 

 persuaded to think so too. Hence his dei- 

 fication. But it was a mere delusion on both 

 sides. 



When Darwin published his Origin of 

 Species, as the book itself, as well as his 

 letter to Lyell, apropos of being 'anticipated' 

 by his ' co-discoverer', Wallace 1 , shows, he 



1 Who has recently cast a strong light on the scientific 

 quality of his own mind by some astronomical vagaries that 

 have staggered his admirers. The ravings of an old woman 



