Preface 
It has been our aim to produce a book of this 
description. 
We have endeavoured to demonstrate that 
neither pure Lamarckism nor pure Wallaceism 
affords a satisfactory explanation of the various 
phenomena of the organic world. We have 
further, while recognising the very great value of 
the work of De Vries, tried to show that that 
eminent botanist has allowed his enthusiasm to 
carry him a little too far into the realm of specu- 
lation. We have followed up the exposure of 
the weak points of the theories, which at present 
occupy the field, with certain suggestions, which, 
we believe, throw new light on many biological 
problems. 
Our aim in writing this book has been twofold. 
In the first place we have attempted to place 
before the general public in simple language a 
true statement of the present position of biologi- 
cal science. In the second place, we have 
endeavoured to furnish the scientific men of the 
day with food for reflection. 
Even as the British nation seems to be slowly 
but surely losing, through its conservatism, the 
commercial supremacy it had the good fortune to 
gain last century, so is it losing, through the un- 
willingness of many of our scientific men to keep 
abreast of the times, that scientific supremacy 
which we gained in the middle of last century 
by the labours of Charles Darwin and Alfred 
b vii 
