240 Evolution and Adaptation 
satisfactory basis, as we shall try to show; and Darwin’s 
attempt at an explanation, in his chapter on pangenesis, does 
not put the matter in a much more satisfactory condition. 
THE NeEo-LAMARCKIAN SCHOOL 
Let us now turn our attention to a school that has grown 
up in modern times, the members of which call themselves 
Neo-Lamarckians. Let us see if they have supplied the 
essential evidence that is required to establish the Lamarck- 
ian view, namely, that characters acquired by the individual . 
are transmitted to the offspring. 
Lamarck’s views were adopted by Herbert Spencer, and 
play an important réle in his ‘‘ Principles of Biology ” (1866— 
1871), and even a more conspicuous part in his later writings. 
In the former he cites, amongst other cases, that of “a puppy 
taken from its mother at six weeks old who, although never 
taught ‘to beg’ (an accomplishment his mother had been 
taught), spontaneously took to begging for everything he 
wanted when about seven or eight months old.” If tricks 
like this are inheritable is it not surprising that more puppies 
do not stand on their hind-legs? 
The larger hands of the laboring classes in England are 
supposed to be inherited by their children, and the smaller 
hands of the leisure classes are supposed to be the result of 
the disuse of the hands by their ancestors ; but even if these 
statements in regard to size are true, there are many other 
conceivable causes that may have led to this result. 
Short-sightedness appears more often, it is said, in those 
classes of society that make most use of their eyes in reading 
and in writing; but if we ask for experimental evidence to 
show that this is due to inheritance, and not due to the chil- 
dren spoiling their eyes at school, there is none forthcoming. 
The problem is by no means so simple as the uninitiated may 
be led to believe. 
