230 LUCK, OR CUNNING? 



Again : — 



" As 071 the theory of natural selection an inter- 

 minable number of intermediate forms must have 

 existed," &c. 



" On " has become " according to " — which is cer- 

 tainly longer, but does not appear to possess any other 

 advantage over "on." It is not easy to understand 

 why Mr. Darwin should have strained at such a gnat 

 as " on," though feeling no discomfort in such an 

 expression as "an interminable number." 



Again : — 



" This is the most forcible of the many objections 

 which may be urged against my theory. . . . For 

 certainly, on my theory," &c. (p. 463). 



"The "my" in each case became "the" in 1869. 



Again : — 



" Such is the sum of the several chief objections 

 and difficulties which may be justly urged against my 

 theory" (p. 465). 



"My" became "the" in 1869. 



Again : — 



" Grave as these several difficulties are, in my judg- 

 ment they do not overthrow the theory of descent with 

 modification" (p. 466). 



This now stands, " Serious as these several objec- 

 tions are, in my judgment they are by no means 

 sufficient to overthrow the theory of descent with sub- 

 sequent modification ; " which, again, is longer, and 

 shows at what little little gnats Mr. Darwin could 

 strain, but is no material amendment on the orgiual 

 passage. 



