1877 EUDIMENTAEY OEGANS 55 



June 16. 



I have deferred answering your letter until having 

 had a talk with Mr. Galton about rudimentary organs. 

 He thinks with me that if the normal size of a useful 

 organ is maintained in a species, when natural 

 selection is removed, the average size will tend to 

 become progressively reduced by inter-crossing, and 

 this down to whatever extent economy of growth 

 remains operative in placing a premium on variations 

 below the average at any given stage in the history 

 of reduction. 



I think I thoroughly well know your views aboui 

 natural selection. In writing the manuscript note, 

 so far as I remember, I had in view the possibility 

 which Huxley somewhere advocates, that nature may 

 sometimes make a considerable leap by selecting 

 from single variations. But it was not because of 

 this point that I sent you the note ; it was with 

 reference to the possibility of natural selection acting 

 on organic types as distinguished from individuals — a 

 possibility which you once told me did not seem at 

 all clear, although Wallace maintained it in conver- 

 sation. 



I do not myself think that Allen ^ made out his 

 points, although I do think that he has made an 

 effort in the right direction. It seems to me that 

 his fundamental principle has probably much truth 

 in it, viz. that aesthetic pleasure in its last analysis is 

 an effect of normal or not excessive stimulation. 

 Very sincerely and most respectfully yours, 



Geo. J. EoMANES. 



1 Mr. Grant Allen. 



