I.J INTRODUCTORY. 17 



be ignored, and some of which, I venture to think, are ab- 

 solutely insuperable. What Darwinism or " Natural Selec- 

 tion " is, will be shortly exjilained ; but, before doing so, I 

 think it well to slate the object of this book, and the view 

 taken up and defended in it. It is its object to maintain 

 the position that " Natural Selection " acts, and indeed 

 must act, but that still, in order that we may be able to 

 account for the production of known kinds of animals and 

 plants, it requires to be supplemented by the action of some 

 other natural law or laws as yet undiscovered.* Also, that 

 the consequences which have been drawn from Evolution, 

 whether exclusively Darwinian or not, to the prejudice of 

 religion, by no means follow from it, and are in fact illegiti- 

 mate. 



The Darwinian theory of " Natural Selection " may be 

 shortly stated thus : ' 



Every kind of animal and plant tends to increase in 

 numbers in a geometrical progression. 



Every kind of animal and plant transmits a general like- 

 ness, with individual diflferences, to its offspring. 



Every individual may present minute variations of any 

 kind and in any direction. 



Past time has been practically infinite. 



Every individual has to endure a very severe struggle 

 for existence, owing to the tendency to geometrical increase 

 of a,ll kinds of animals and plants, while the total animal 

 and vegetable population (man and his agency excepted) 

 remains almost stationary. 



* In the last edition of the "Origin of Species" (1869) Mr. Darwin 

 himself admits that "Natural Selection" has not been the exclusive 

 means of modification, though he still contends it has been the most im- 

 portant one. 



' Sec Mr. Wallace's recent work, entitled "Contributions to the The- 

 oty of Natural Selection," where, at p. 302, it is very well and shortly 

 stated. 



