66 Luck, or Cunning ? 
principle of operation rather than a process of selection. 
It has been objected to Mr. Romanes’ theory that it is the 
re-statement of a fact. This objection is less important 
than the lack of facts in support of the theory.” The Times, 
however, implies it as its opinion that the required facts 
will be forthcoming by and by, and that when they have 
been found Mr. Romanes’ suggestion will constitute “ the 
most important addition to the theory of evolution since 
the publication of the ‘ Origin of Species.’ ’’ Considering 
that the Times has just implied the main thesis of the 
“Origin of Species’’ to be one which does not stand 
examination, this is rather a doubtful compliment. 
Neither Mr. Romanes nor the writer in the Times appears 
to perceive that the results which may or may not be 
supposed to ensue on choice depend upon what it is that 
is supposed to be chosen from ; they do not appear to see 
‘that though the expression natural selection must be always 
more or less objectionable, as too highly charged with 
metaphor for purposes of science, there is nevertheless a 
natural selection which is open to no other objection than 
this, and which, when its metaphorical character is borne 
well in mind, may be used without serious risk of error, 
whereas natural selection from variations that are mainly 
fortuitous is chimerical as well as metaphorical. Both 
writers speak of natural selection as though there could not 
possibly be any selection in the course of nature, or natural 
survival, of any but accidental variations. Thus Mr. 
Romanes says:* ‘‘ The swamping effect of free inter- 
crossing upon an individual variation constitutes perhaps 
the most formidable difficulty with which the theory of 
natural selection is beset.” And the writer of the article 
in the Times above referred to says: ‘‘ In truth the theory 
of natural selection presents many facts and results which 
increase rather than diminish the difficulty of accounting 
for the existence of species.”” The assertion made in each 
* “Nature,” August 5, 1886, 
