xvii STAGES OF CORRELATION 397 



past experiences of the race. The points to be summarily 

 noted here as to this method of adaptation are : 



1 . Such correlation is not achieved within the experience 



of any individual, but only through a succession 

 of individuals, resting upon the destruction of most 

 of them. 



2. The "welfare" subserved by the adaptation is simply 



the survival of the race under the existing conditions 

 of its environment. 



3. Adaptation is limited by stimulus ; that is to say, if 



the normal stimulus fails or is greatly modified, the 

 power of carrying out the " ends " which the 

 adaptation subserves is small, and often altogether 

 absent. 



4. The growth of adaptation (i.e., the evolution of a 



Reflex or any structurally determined response) 

 is limited by the condition that each stage of 

 change must be directly more beneficial than 

 that which it supersedes (i.e., without regard to 

 the question whether a further development on 

 similar lines would be still more beneficial or 

 not). 



It follows that (as compared with correlation effected 

 within the experience of the individual) the rate of change 

 is indefinitely slow, and there is no necessary tendency to 

 a higher type, but merely to one which will under existing 

 circumstances maintain itself more efficiently. 



II. Correlation by Coexistent Conditions. 



We could not carry our study of behaviour far in any 

 direction without coming on a factor clearly distinct from 

 the operation of a hereditary mechanism, and indeed in 

 appearance from any mechanism whatever. The dis- 

 tinction was that mechanical process is unaffected by its 

 consequences. The new factor, which we called generic- 

 ally conation, is conditioned by its relation to the results 

 arising from it. We found traces of this factor in very 

 low stages of the animal world, and it is probably co- 

 extensive with animal if not with all life. It expresses 

 itself in action in the uniqueness and originality with 



