2IO LUCK, OR CUNNING? 



my theory. Many of them are very grave, but I think 

 that in the discussion light has been thrown on several 

 facts which, on the theory of independent acts of creation, 

 are utterly obscure" (p. 203). 



Here we have, on the one hand, " my theory," 

 on the other, "independent acts of creation." The 

 natural antithesis to independent acts of creation is 

 descent, and we assumed with reason that Mr. Darwin 

 was claiming this when he spoke of " my theory." 

 " My theory " became " the theory " in 1 869. 



Again : — 



" On the theory of natural selection we can clearly 

 understand the full meaning of that old canon in 

 natural history, ' Natura nonfacit saltum.' This canon, 

 if we look only to the present inhabitants of the world, 

 is not strictly correct, but if we include aU those of 

 past times, it must hy my theory be strictly true " 

 (p. 206). 



Here the natural interpretation of "by my theoiy " 

 is " by the theory of descent with modification ; " the 

 words " on the theory of natural selection ; " with which 

 the sentence opens, lead us to suppose that Mr. Darwin 

 regarded natural selection and descent as convertible 

 terms. " My theory " was altered to " this theory " in 

 1872. Six lines lower down we read, " On my theory 

 unity of type is explained by unity of descent." The 

 " my " here has been allowed to stand. 



Again : — 



" Again, as in the case of corporeal structure, 

 and conformably with my theory, the instinct of each 

 spscies is good for itself, but has never," &c. (p. 2 1 o). 



