REVERSION, NOT A LAW, SUI GENERIS. 123 



Darwin's remark, that that portion of the leg of the 

 salamander, which was cut off, " neither more nor less" 

 will be reproduced, is, mutatis mutandis, applicable to 

 the improvements, or variations, under domestica- 

 tion. Those characters only, no more (though possi- 

 bly less), will be regained, by a species, which were at 

 one. time lost by such species. The like remark, 

 which he makes, when he says, the deficient part, and 

 no more, was reproduced, is equally pertinent to the 

 variatipns which arise. Parts only which are deficient, 

 or absent, where they were once developed, can be ac- 

 quired, by Man's selection, or by Natural Selection. 



To illustrate the absurdity, of taking any of these 

 cases of Reversion, as the basis of an indefinitely-con- 

 tinued development, which is to produce higher ani- 

 mals from lower ones, we shall take the case of redin- 

 tegration, in the crystal. 



It is well known, that, if a crystal has had one of its 

 edges cut off, and the crystal is placed in a solution, 

 similar to that, in which it was first formed, it will re- 

 produce the lost edge, and thus repair its lost integrity. 

 When the edge was absent, there was an imperfect 

 equilibrium of the forces of the crystal. When the 

 coordinating power of the crystal, restored the lost 

 edge, the equilibrium, or coordination, was repaired. 

 The restoration of the part, before cut off, was effected, 

 by correlation with all the other parts, and with the 

 aggregate. The part reproduced, resumes its rela- 

 tions to the other parts, and to the aggregate; and 

 effects a return to the balance, which was impaired 

 by its absence. The reproduction of a part, by the 



