952 The American Naturalist. [November, 
pamphlet, he sums up his June paper in these words: “ It seems proper,. 
therefore, to call the influence of Organic Selection “a new factor; 
he ontogenetic adaptations are really new, not performed ; 
a hee are really reproduced in succeeding generations, although not 
physically inherited.” Here the author correctly, though in flat con- 
tradiction to his Note, declares in so many words his factor to be Organic 
Selection, and “ontogenetic adaptations” is for it but another 
name,” Of this fact the words which he italicized leave no doubt. 
Naturally, to find out most accurately what Prof. Baldwin means by 
Organic Selection, we go to that part of his writing which most pro- 
fessedly expounds it. This is done in Part IV, p. 541, under the cap- 
tion : “ The Process of Organic Selection.” After preliminary remarks, 
which I shall speak of later, Prof. Baldwin’s exposition is in the follow- 
ing words: 
‘t There is a fact of physiology which, taken together with the facts of 
psychology, serves to indicate the method adapt ations or accommoda- 
tions of the individual organism. The ral “i s that the organism 
concentrates its energies upon the ialis pope apri for the continua- 
tion of the conditions, movements, stimulations, which are vitally benefi- 
ion. 
is form of concentration of energ . . is called the « circular 
reaction.” It is the selective property Fah h Romanes pointed out as char- 
acterizing and differentia ating life. It characterizes the responses of the 
anism, however low in the scale, to all ns gt en Tg those of a 
i ical na 
have the further question : How do ee ale rement SA come to 
be produced when and where they are needed ? 
Having reduced his problem of “ the selection of fit movements,” i. €., 
of Organic Selection, to this pointed inquiry, Prof. Baldwin then pro- 
ceeds to state his still more explicit exposition of his selective “ factor” 
in full, as follows : 
“ But, as soon as we inquire more or into the actual working of 
e find a 
pleasure pet pain reactions, we answer sugge: [an answer to 
the last above quoted question]. The pleasure or pain produced by a 
pm —and by a movement also, for the utility of a movement is always 
that it secures stimulation of this sort or that—does not lead to diffused, 
oati. and characterless movements, as Spencer and Bain suppose ; 
