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produced. . . . Now Mr. Darwin’s great achievement has been to
show that a similar process of selection is going on in the organic
world.”—(Fiske. Cosmic Philosophy, vol. ii., pp. Q-io.)
Mr. Romanes says :—
“Here (in artificial selection) just as in Natural Selection, the
materials on which the selective action operates are * such new forms
as may be born into the world.’”—(Contemporary Review, vol. liii.,
A 845')
In the following passage Mr. Wallace seems to attribute
too little influence to other causes of modification apart
from artificial selection :—
“ It is a very common, but mistaken idea, that this improvement is
due to crossing and feeding in the case of animals, and to improved
cultivation in the case of plants. Crossing is occasionally used in
order to obtain a combination of qualities found in two distinct
breeds, and also because it is found to increase the constitutional
vigour ; but every breed possessing any exceptional quality is the
result of the selection of variations occurring year after year, and
accumulated in the manner just described. Purity of breed, with
repeated selection of the best varieties of that breed, is the foundation
of all improvement in our domestic animals and cultivated plants.”—
(.Darwinism. p. 85.)
But it is obvious that, in training, the animal is exer
cised, and that the selection is made with reference to
excellence thus exhibited.
“ The English race-horse and greyhound could not have been
improved up to their present high standard of excellence, without
constant training.”—(The Variation, vol. ii., p. 234.)
“ Man can improve the breed of his game cocks by the selection
of those birds which are victorious in the cockpit.”—(.Descent of Man.
2nd ed., p. 2 1 1.)
The arguments by which it is attempted to substitute
Natural Selection for the inherited effect of use and
disuse, have now been considered. I do not think that the
case which they seek to establish is a strong one. And I
see no reason for relinquishing the argument with which I
