114 A NEW THEORY OF EVOLUTION. 



an inclined plane, and not by distinct steps 

 or stages. 



In this view successive types in the chain 

 of evolution would be so much alike, that 

 only the closest scrutiny could determine 

 the differences between them or the order 

 of their succession, and the geological 

 record should show a continuous gradual 

 development in specialisation. Further, the 

 struggle for existence should, according to 

 Darwin, have wholly eliminated the lowest 

 types, as well as those intermediate between 

 them and the highest. 



Darwin himself admits the force of these 

 conclusions. " Geology," he says, " assuredly 

 does not reveal any such finely graduated 

 change " as his theory involves ; and again, 

 " One [objection] namely, distinctness of 

 specific forms, and their not being blended 

 together by innumerable transitional links 

 is a very obvious difficulty." 1 



Another difficulty he admits is the sudden 

 manner in which several kinds of species have 

 appeared in European formations. 



These difficulties Darwin seeks to meet by 

 supposing, that new varieties continually 

 supplant and take the place of their parent 

 type, which thus disappears, and by the ac- 



1 Origin of Species, Ed. vi,, p. 264- 



