NATURAL SELECTION. 53 



Everywhere apparently perfect adaptation ; never 

 wholly perfect, because still more perfect may come. 

 Change of habitat of animals or plants. Every ani- 

 mal and every plant is trying to extend its range in 

 all directions. Each species would cover the world 

 were it not that barriers prevent. These barriers may 

 be mountains, rivers, or seas ; barriers of nature ; cold, 

 heat, dryness, or storms ; barriers of climate; opposi- 

 tion of other species already occupying the ground ; 

 barriers of the struggle for existence. 



Natural selection perpetually going on. Perpetual 

 better adaptation to conditions. Conditions change 

 and change adaptations. 



Relation of natural selection to progress. No "in- 

 nate tendency toward progression." No progress where 

 adaptation is perfect. Arises from organic dissatisfac- 

 tion. Where no reason for change, no progress. 

 Withdrawal from the struggle for existence means 

 degradation. The bulk of living forms makes but 

 slight advance. 



" Whatever is desirable becomes necessary as soon 

 as it is possible." Whatever becomes useless disap- 

 pears by degrees. 



Subliminal Consciousness. Its possibility. The pres- 

 ent range of consciousness even in the finest man is 

 small. All things we know are relative. We recog- 

 nize a certain range in sound, color, size, force. Every- 

 thing comparative and lying between two infinities. 

 The universe and the ahnenplasma. " Every meanest 

 day the conflux of two eternities." " Time as long as 

 space is wide." " To look before and after " in some 

 slight degree, a result of human specialization. Even 



