The Making of Species 
made in the speculative process as indisputable 
facts.” 
The result of this is that men have ceased to 
regard the Neo- Darwinian ! theories of protective 
colouration, mimicry, and recognition markings 
as mere hypotheses which seem to throw light on 
certain phenomena in the organic world. These 
theories have assumed the rank of laws of nature. 
To dispute them would seem to be as futile as 
to assert that the earth is flat. To take exception 
to them would appear to be as ridiculous as to 
object to Mont Blanc. To dare to criticise them 
is heresy of the worst type. 
Be this as it may, scientific dogma or no 
scientific dogma, scientific opinion or no scientific 
opinion, we have dared to weigh these theories 
in the balance of observation and reason, and have 
found them wanting. We have examined these 
mighty images of gold, and silver, and brass, and 
iron, and found that there is much clay in the 
feet. 
We shall devote this chapter to lifting the 
hem of the garment of sanctity that envelopes 
each of these images, and so expose to view the 
clay that lies concealed. 
We propose, first, to set forth in outline what 
1 In this chapter we use the word Neo-Darwinism in its usually- 
accepted sense, ze. as a name for that which should be called 
Wallaceism, for the doctrine of the all-sufficiency of natural 
selection. 
172 
