178 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES 1881- 



mind of the writer than a theory which would have 

 rendered his whole argument superfluous, and I can 

 scarcely believe that if the theory of physiological 

 selection had ever occurred to him, he would not have 

 mentioned it, if only to state his objections to it, as 

 he has done with regard to so many ideas of a much 

 less feasible character. 



I write at length because I value your judgment 

 more than that of almost anybody else upon a subject 

 of this kind, and therefore I should like it to be given 

 with your eyes open Prejudice at first there must 

 be, but there need not be misunderstanding; and 

 private correspondence shows me that the theory has 

 already struck root in some of the best minds who 

 do understand it. Any explanation, therefore, will be 

 gladly given you by 



Yours very truly, 



Geo. J. Eomanes. 



To F. Darwin, Esq. 



Geanies : November 5, 1886. 



Dear Darwin, — I am much interested by the en- 

 closed, and therefore much obliged to you for letting 

 me see it. But it would have been made a better 

 ' answer ' if it had gone on to say something about 

 the relation of such an experiment (supposing it suc- 

 cessful) to the question of originating a species. 

 Some weeks ago I was planning with a friend a 

 closely analogous experiment, but designed to pro- 

 duce a ' family ' which would be sterile towards the 

 majority of the parent form, or not only towards one 

 other ' family.' Arid it seemed to me that if this 

 could be done it would amount to the artificial 



