22 DARWIN'S THEORY. 



i 



objection which was possible to be made to his theory 

 of development. His success in obviating this objec- 

 tion, constitutes his chief claim to the wide reputation 

 he now enjoys. 



It was apparent, that, under nature, and even under 

 domestication, variability might be frequently displayed; 

 yet, if the varying individuals were not, in some way, 

 especially favored ; if there were no process or care 

 employed to fix, and preserve these slight appreciable 

 variations, as they arose, and render them permanent ; 

 the variations would appear, perhaps, in individuals ; 

 but, if those individuals had not a better chance, than 

 others, of leaving offspring ; or, if they intercrossed 

 with others displaying different modifications, or none ; 

 the variations most probably would not be transmitted, 

 nor would any increase in such modification, or any 

 divergence of character, result. Under domestication, 

 such a process, and such a care, is well known to 

 obtain. This process is Selection by Man. To this 

 we are greatly indebted, for the great amount of im- 

 provement, observable in our domestic animals and 

 plants. By this, the favorable modifications which 

 arise (genenally in very small increments of growth), 

 are preserved and accumulated ; and, by this means, is 

 the great divergence of character effected, in the 

 varieties of many different species. The modifications, 

 under domestication, are carefully looked for; and, 

 when they arise, are distributed to the different varie- 

 ties of the given species. Those varieties, which pre- 

 sent such marked divergence of character, within cer- 

 tain species, result from man's careful selection of those 



