CONCLUDING REMARKS. 443 



Variations, and thus formed the species: Such objec- 

 tion, however, is -obviously absurd; as that point— viz., 

 that species were formed by the mere accumulation of 

 Variations — is the very conclusion which he is striving 

 how to attain, by means of those very Variations which 

 he admits are most probably the mere regain of what 

 was previously lost. If the mere regain of what was 

 lost, they manifestly stop when all that was lost is re- 

 gained ; and therefore, having a limit, they cannot have 

 formed the several species. 



Fourth: Warrant for the assumption that all positive 

 Variations are but the mere regain of what was lost, is 

 found in the fact that Reversion is a well-known, well- 

 established, scientific factor. 



Fifth: Warrant is found in the fact that Reversion 

 is, confessedly, the sole explanation of which positive 

 variations are susceptible. 



Sixth : Warrant is found in the fact that there are 

 no phenomena which militate against such explana- 

 tion. 



Seventh: Warrant is found in the fact that the sole 

 alternative of the explanation of Reversion, is an " in- 

 nate tendency," or other metaphysical entities which 

 Darwin admits are but synonyms of ignorance. 



Now to the proofs of the foregoing propositions. 



A proposition of Darwin, is, That self-fertilization, or 

 in-and-in breeding is injurious, and productive of ste- 

 rility, of lessened fertility, loss of constitutional vigor 

 and loss of size. 



An analysis of the facts upon which he professes to 

 found this proposition, discloses : 



