MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE THEORY. 147 



edition. In it he tells us that some writers have " even 

 imagined that natural selection induces variability," 

 instead of merely preserving it ; others that natural 

 selection " implies conscious choice in the animals 

 which become modified " ; others that it is set up 

 " as an active power or Deity." In writing (December) 

 to Murray about a new edition of the " Origin," he 

 alludes to the "many corrections, or rather additions, 

 which I have made in hopes of making my many 

 rather stupid reviewers at least understand what 

 is meant." 



He seems to have retained a very vivid recol- 

 lection of the difficulty with which his theory was 

 understood at first; thus he tells us in his 

 " Autobiography " : 



" I tried once or twice to explain to able men what I meant 

 by Natural Selection, but signally failed." 



Why the term " natural selection " was chosen by 

 Darwin is very clearly shown in the three following 

 quotations from letters to distinguished scientific men, 

 which were probably written in answer to attacks or 

 criticisms on this very point. 



He writes to Lyell in 1859, "Why I like the 

 term is that it is constantly used in all works on 

 breeding." 



Writing to H. G. Bronn in 1860, he explains his 

 motives with great clearness and force : 



"Several scientific men have thought the term 'Natural 

 Selection ' good, because its meaning is not obvious, and each 



