425
It is argued that in some cases transmutation does not
take place at all, or only after many generations.
“ We have good grounds for believing that the influence of changed
conditions accumulates, so that no effect is produced on a species
until it has been exposed during several generations to continued
cultivation or domestication.”—(The Variation, vol. ii., ft. 261.)
“It is certainly a remarkable fact that changed conditions should
at first produce, so far as we can see, absolutely no effect, but that
they should subsequently cause the character of all species to vary.”
—(The Variation, vol. ii., ft. 263.)
It is difficult to understand how Mr. Darwin can make
such assertions, apparently as universal law, in face of the
facts which have been adduced. But if this were true of
all organisms, it would not affect our present argument in
the least; inasmuch as it shows that neither transforming
influence nor Natural Selection has been at work at all.
The point which is vital, is whether the change which
takes place, takes place in connection with all submitted
to a given influence. If it does, then there may be—and
probably is—transmutation without any kind of selection.
In the next place, it is asserted that in many cases we are
too ignorant to arrive at any satisfactory opinion on the
subject.
“No doubt each slight variation must have its efficient cause ; but
it is as hopeless an attempt to discover the cause of each as to say
why a chill or a poison affects one man differently from another.
Even with modifications resulting from the definite action of the
conditions of life, when all, or nearly all, the individuals which have
been similarly exposed are similarly affected, we can rarely see the
precise relation between cause and effect.”—{The Variation, vol. ii
ft. 292.)
“ Such considerations as these incline me to lay less weight on the
direct action of the surrounding conditions, than on a tendency to
vary, due to causes of which we are quite ignorant.”—(Origin of
Sftecies. ft. 107.)
