Chapter XII 
Why Darwin’s Variations were Accidental 
OME may perhaps deny that Mr. Darwin did this, 
and say he laid so much stress on use and disuse as 
virtually to make function his main factor of evolution. 
If, indeed, we confine ourselves to isolated passages, we 
shall find little difficulty in making out a strong case to this 
effect. Certainly most people believe this to be Mr. Darwin’s 
doctrine, and considering how long and fully he had the 
ear of the public, it is not likely they would think thus if 
Mr. Darwin had willed otherwise, nor could he have induced 
them to think as they do if he had not said a good deal that 
was capable of the construction so commonly put upon it ; 
but it is hardly necessary, when addressing biologists, to 
insist on the fact that Mr. Darwin’s distinctive doctrine 
is the denial of the comparative importance of function, 
or use and disuse, as a purveyor of variations,—with some, 
but not very considerable, exceptions, chiefly in the cases of 
domesticated animals. 
He did not, however, make his distinctive feature as 
distinct as he should have done. Sometimes he said one 
thing, and sometimes the directly opposite. Sometimes, 
for example, the conditions of existence “‘ included natural 
selection’ or the fact that the best adapted to their 
surroundings live longest and leave most offspring ;* 
sometimes “the principle of natural selection” “ fully 
embraced ”’ “‘ the expression of conditions of existence.” f 
It would not be easy to find more unsatisfactory writing 
* “ Origin of Species,” ed. vi., p. 107. ¢ Ibid., ed. vi., p. 166. 
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