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tional output of life attracts enemies from afar, or in some 
way acts prejudicially to the species to such an extent 
as to threaten it with extinction. With Mr. Spencer’s 
dual definition of “ the fittest,” I do not think that conflict 
with enemies, or competition between individuals of the 
same species would present a favourable opportunity for 
the action of Natural Selection. 
The assumption that certain organisms are more or less 
passive to external influence might seem to be more 
favourable to Natural Selection than to the principle of 
the inherited effect of use and disuse ; but organisms 
might be, and often are, equally passive whether sub 
mitted to transforming or selective influences. 
Mr. Spencer proceeds to argue that gradually, with 
increased activity and increased complexity of life, the 
inheritance of modifications of structure caused by 
modifications of function would come into play and be 
come an important factor. 
“ And I think there is reason to conclude that in the case of the 
highest of creatures, civilised men, among whom the kinds of 
variation which affect survival are too multitudinous to permit easy 
selection of any one, and among whom survival of the fittest is greatly 
interfered with, it has become the chief factor ; such aid as survival 
of the fittest gives being usually limited to the preservation of those 
in whom the totality of the faculties- has been most favourably 
moulded by functional changes.”—(p. 74.) 
If it be granted that increased activity leads to the 
increased modifications of structure caused by modifica 
tions of functions, it does not hence follow that the direct 
action of the medium will not still continue to exist. 
Indeed, Mr. Spencer over and over again asserts that it 
does continue throughout all stages. Eut if this were 
not so, it would not at all follow, as Mr. Spencer contends, 
that “ such aid as survival of the fittest gives ” would be 
usually limited to the preservation of those in whom the