446
Selection works by life and death, and in this case the isola
tion for breeding purposes takes place in consequence of the
animals peaceably separating from one another. To say
that this is an instance of Natural Selection is very much
like saying that a pacific agreement to divide a given region
between two forces is a species of internecine strife. I do
not think that the explanation would bear investigation on
the principles of Pure Darwinism ; but if we grant that
the process was that described by Dr. Lankester, it would
be a selection in nature which was emphatically not
Natural Selection.
Another way of modifying the meaning of the phrase,
is to treat Natural Selection as though it secured the sur
vival of the fittest, quite irrespective of the way in which
the variations were produced, and even as securing the
survival of the best of those variants, which had been
produced by transforming influences. But in this case the
transmutation might take place apart from any principle
of selection, and an unnecessary amount of risk to the
survival of the race would result from the introduction of
selection by life and death. Such modifications of the
meaning of the phrase either testify to the existence of
spheres in nature, in which the principle of Natural
Selection properly .so called does not exist, or must be
understood to mean that the Natural Selection of the
world of nature is not the Natural Selection which is
expounded so eloquently and so definitely in the descrip
tions of the theory.
“ Natural Selection,” says Dr. Weismann, “ does not
deal with qualitative but quantitative changes in the
individual, and the latter are always present.”* If
this means that Natural Selection does not produce
* Essays, vol. i., 1st ed., p. ioi.