' ORGANIC E VOLUTION. 1 1 



So much, then, for the absurdly illogical position 

 that, granting the evidence in favour of natural 

 selection and supernatural design to be equal 

 and parallel, we should hesitate for one moment 

 in our choice. But, of course, if the evidence 

 is supposed not to be equal and parallel — i.e., 

 if it is supposed that the theory of natural relation 

 is not so competent a theory to explain the facts 

 of adaptation as is that of intelligent design 

 — then the objection is no longer the one that 

 we are considering. It is quite another objection, 

 and one which \s not prima facie absurd ; it requires 

 to be met by examining how far the theory of 

 natural selection is able to explain the facts. Let 

 us state the problem clearly. 



Innumerable cases of adaptation of organ- 

 isms to their environment are the observed 

 facts for which an explanation is required. 

 To supply this explanation two, and only 

 two, hypotheses are in the field. Of these 



