DARWINISM AND THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTION 



Animal-life in the forest, the field, and the pond. Variations of 

 animals in different regions. Connection of animals in the same 

 region. Over-production in nature. The relation of increase to 

 the danger of destruction. The struggle for life. Artificial 

 selection. Natural selection. Transformation of species. 

 Different animals of former days as the parents of actual organ- 

 isms. The theory of evolution. Its predictions. Variation and 

 heredity. Useful and harmful animals. Modification of our 

 animal-world through civilisation. 



Who has not visited the forest on a morning in Spring ! 



The tall stems of the trees stand out ruddily in the 

 green dawn. The blue vault of heaven breaks through 

 the tree - tops above. The dew - drops glisten like 

 diamonds on the tender moss and the grass - blades ; 

 and iridescent prisms flash from the leaves of the 

 shrubs. A mist lies on the glade, and covers with its 

 veil the flowered-starred ground, while the tips of the 

 young firs rise mysteriously from its depths. 



Then the morning wind stirs the tops of the trees. 



A faint rustle passes through the wood. Here and 



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