The Making of Species 
inorganic environments fall together into a 
natural arrangement and receive a common 
explanation ” (p. 228). 
To reasoning of this description there is an 
obvious reply. Even if it be granted that the 
alternatives to the theory of natural selection 
as set forth by Professor Poulton are untenable, 
it does not follow that natural selection affords 
an adequate explanation. If A, B, C and D are 
charged with theft and the prosecutor proves 
that neither A nor B nor C committed the theft, 
this will not suffice to secure the conviction of 
D. It is quite possible that a fifth person, E, may 
be the culprit. 
Much of the popularity of the theory of natural 
selection is due to the fact that biologists have 
not yet been able to discover a substitute for it. 
It seems to us that the proper method of 
making progress in science is not to bolster up 
natural selection by ingenious speculations, but to 
look around for other hitherto undiscovered 
causes. 
OBJECTIONS TO THE THEORY THAT THE SO- 
CALLED Cases OF MIMICRY OWE THEIR 
Origin TO Natura SELECTION | 
It is obvious that for one creature to resemble 
another can be of little or no benefit to either 
until the resemblance is tolerably close. It is, 
232 
