THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNFIT 69 



This mammal was of no great size, nor was it very 

 muscular. Physically it was by no means the finest of 

 the denizens of the earth. It, however, turned into a 

 weapon an organ which hitherto ;had not been held 

 of much account the brain. By using this wonderful 

 organ it learned to defeat strength by craft ; it further 

 learned that it was possible to adapt its environment to 

 itself, instead of adapting itself to the environment, as 

 all other animals were compelled to do. 



But, for a long while the contest hung in the balance. 

 In spite of his large brain, in spite of the fact that he 

 was able to make implements of stone with which he 

 could sometimes kill the great carnivora, these latter 

 would often seize and devour man, so that he was forced 

 to take shelter in caves. But, as time wore on, his 

 brain enlarged ; he grew more skilful in the manufac- 

 ture of weapons, and soon asserted his supremacy. He 

 has not spared his mighty adversaries. One by one he 

 has swept them off the face of the earth, or forced them 

 to take refuge far from him in swampy places and 

 impenetrable jungles. 



The big herbivorous animals he had to destroy, for 

 they required too much food. The elephant and the 

 camel he has allowed to remain because they have 

 consented to act as his slaves. But every great and 

 powerful animal, which refused to recognize his ascen- 

 dancy, has been swept off the face of the earth, or is 

 being hunted to extinction, so that our present fauna is 

 but a pigmy remnant. All that which is noblest has 

 disappeared. 



Were I a poet I would write an ode to the gigantic 



