*3 8 DARWINISM TO-DAY. 



observation or logical reasoning, or that if it exists its whole 

 influence is directly inimical to changes and evolution rather 

 than of a nature to produce and foster them. The most 

 comprehensive, fairest, and most effective recent attempt 

 to gather together and meet seriatim the objections and 

 criticisms of Darwinism is (as already stated in the chapter 

 on "Darwinism Attacked") that of Ludwig Plate, 5 and I 

 have therefore given considerable space in this chapter to 

 direct quotations from the answers and discussions of this 

 modern Darwinian champion. 



The objection made that natural selection can make no use 

 at all of the small fluctuating Darwinian variations is really 

 Answer to the a w ^ er application of the really valid objection 

 objection that that such variations cannot, or can only rarely, 

 offer material for the production by selection of 



slight to be of new organs and that for many adaptations 



selective value, A , ^. i r 



they are too slight to be of use and hence 

 cannot serve as handles for selection. As a matter of 

 fact, however, many adaptive modifications are purely quan- 

 titative, not necessarily involving any qualitative change 

 at all. Increase in general size, or in any one dimension 

 of an organ or part, meaning often an increase of strength 

 on the part of the animal, in the capacity for aggres- 

 sion or defence, in swiftness, in flight, running or swim- 

 ming, in reaching or digging or climbing or leaping 

 such an adaptive modification might well be brought about 

 by selection of even very inconsiderable enlargements or 

 strengthenings of one or more organs or parts. Wherever 

 the modification is in a directly linear path, and an advantage 

 is possible through even slight advances or regressions along 

 this line, natural selection will find in the Darwinian varia- 

 tions a means of fostering and perfecting this modification. 

 There are just two requirements necessary for the Darwin- 

 ian variations to meet in order to serve as handles for 

 natural selection : they must be variations actually suffi- 



