THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNFIT 69 
This mammal was of no great size, nor was it very 
muscular. Physically it was by no means the finest of 
the denizens of the earth. It, however, turned into a 
weapon an organ which hitherto ;had not been held 
of much account—the brain. By using this wonderful 
organ it learned to defeat strength by craft; it further 
learned that it was possible to adapt its environment to 
itself, instead of adapting itself to the environment, as 
all other animals were compelled to do. 
But, for a long while the contest hung in the balance. 
In spite of his large brain, in spite of the fact that he 
was able to make implements of stone with which he 
could sometimes kill the great carnivora, these latter 
would often seize and devour man, so that he was forced 
to take shelter in caves. But, as time wore on, his 
brain enlarged; he grew more skilful in the manufac- 
ture of weapons, and soon asserted his supremacy. He 
has not spared his mighty adversaries. One by one he 
has swept them off the face of the earth, or forced them 
to take refuge far from him in swampy places and 
impenetrable jungles. 
The big herbivorous animals he had to destroy, for 
they required too much food. The elephant and the 
camel he has allowed to remain because they have 
consented to act as his slaves. But every great and 
powerful animal, which refused to recognize his ascen- 
dancy, has been swept off the face of the earth, or is 
being hunted to extinction, so that our present fauna is 
but a pigmy remnant. All that which is noblest has 
disappeared, 
Were I a poet I would write an ode to the gigantic 
