THE WEAK SIDES OP NATURAL SELECTION. 71 



they do not see any reason why an acquired peculiarity should not 

 be inherited just as much as one that is accidental. Now if we 

 could suppose that acquired faculties are inherited, it would 

 throw a very different light on the theory of development. For 

 example, in the development of the wings of birds ; a bird that 

 was very active in its habits would strengthen its own wings, 

 and one might suppose that in the pi'ocess of reproduction it 

 would be likely that the nourishment should be specially directed 

 towards that part which in the parent bird had been developed 

 by practice, and that the wings of the young should be not only 

 stronger, but also a little bigger. If anything of that kind could 

 be maintained you would get something like a moral law brougnt 

 into the theory of development — that when the parent exerts itself, 

 and does its best, there might be some improvement in its off- 

 spring; and that seems to me to remove a good deal of the 

 objection which is sometimes felt to Evolution as a theory 

 which excludes moral government from the world, showing, 

 perhaps, that it rather lays some sort of foundation for it. 



The Author. — I was glad to hear what Professor Hull said in 

 regard to the peculiar position of the shark's mouth. I have 

 frequently heard it asserted that it was a providential provision to 

 restrain its ravages, but to such assertions I have simply given 

 Darwin's declaration : — -" If one instance can be found that any 

 property or peculiarity of an animal is not for its own advantage but 

 for the advantage of its species, I throw my theory up entirely." 



A remark was made by Mr, Cherrill which agrees very much 

 with a point that was raised by Professor Fleeming Jenkin, I 

 think it was in the North British Quarterly. The article made a 

 considerable sensation and rather staggered Darwin himself. The 

 point was to this effect : — ■" Suppose a male bird of any species 

 possesses a rather better power of flight than the average of its 

 contemporaries, the probability is that unless it mate with a 

 female bird which always possesses some exceptional advantage, 

 the advantage of the male will, in the coui^se of a conple of 

 generations, be bred out." We must have at least two individuals 

 possessing a variation in some favourable direction, if we are to 

 have a new and improved breed. Permit me in conclusion to 

 express my thanks for the kind manner in which my paper has 

 been received. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



G 



