60 VARIATIONS, DUE TO REVERSION. 



shows that, in the past, there have been, in each spe- 

 cies, many transitions from a previously higher form 

 to the lower, degenerate form now extant, under na- 

 ture ; and, that the improvements, which he adduces to 

 prove the transition of a species to higher forms," are 

 but the steps which the organism takes to retrieve its 

 lost ground, to regain its lost characters, to recover its 

 lost integrity. 



In the consideration of the problem, the reader must 

 bear in mind, that, even according to Darwin's own 

 showing, any advance, or improvement, under nature, 

 is at the best problematical : Darwin urges only, that 

 it is not improbable that a variation such as those which 

 occur under domestication, should occur under nature, 

 " once in a thousand generations ;" whereas, on the 

 other hand, degeneration, in the past, under nature, is 

 well attested, unquestionable, and wide-spread, cover- 

 ing every species of animal and plant. So far from 

 there having been such advance, in development, as is 

 competent to the evolution of the different species, 

 there have riot been, upon Darwin's own showing, 

 sufficient improvements or variations, to retrieve a 

 tithe of the deterioration which many species are 

 positively known to have suffered ! 



The above remarks, and quotations, refer princi- 

 pally to lost characters which have left some traces of 

 their past existence. There are, however, many more 

 characters or organs, belonging to the different species, 

 which have been so entirely suppressed, that not a ves- 

 tige of them is discernible, before they commence to 

 reappear. The prototype of each species, was an 



