CREATION BY LAW., 287 
Duke of Argyll sets forth his idea of Creation as a 
“Creation by birth,” but maintains that each birth 
of a new form from parents differing from itself, has 
been produced by a special interference of the Creator, 
in order to direct the process of development into 
certain channels; that each new species is in fact a 
“special creation,” although brought into existence 
through the ordinary laws of reproduction. He main- 
tains therefore, that the laws of multiplication and 
variation cannot furnish the right kinds of materials 
at the right times for natural selection to work on. 
I believe, on the contrary, that it can be logically 
proved from the six axiomatic laws before laid down, 
that such materials would be furnished; but I prefer 
to show there are abundance of facts which demon- 
strate that they are furnished. 
The experience of all cultivators of plants and 
breeders of animals shows, that when a sufficient 
number of individuals are examined, variations of 
any required kind can always be met with. On 
this depends the possibility of obtaining breeds, races, 
and fixed varieties of animals and plants; and it is 
found, that any one form of variation may be accu- 
mulated by selection, without materially affecting the 
other characters of the species; each seems to vary 
in the one required direction only. For example, in 
turnips, radishes, potatoes, and carrots, the root or 
tuber varies in size, colour, form, and flavour, while 
the foliage and flowers seem to remain almost sta- 
tionary ; in the cabbage and lettuce, on the contrary, 
