32 
be placed on the accident of the resemblance, for it is 
only by a happy coincidence that any variations neces 
sarily associated with reproduction could resemble the 
colour of any given objects in a given locality. It is not 
the variations which are accidental in the sense of occur- 
ing without cause: it is the resemblance between the 
colour of certain objects and the colour of the variants 
necessary for the safety of the animal which is accidental 
or fortuitous. 
And now why do these favourable variations arise by 
the principle of a game of chance ? The answer is 
that the variations which are necessarily associated with 
reproduction are assumed to be indefinite in direction, 
diverging to all the points of the compass, and that the 
favourable variations must therefore occur through a happy 
coincidence. 
These explanations afford, it is to be hoped, a complete 
answer to those who say that there is no such thing as 
chance and that it is superstitious to believe in such a thing. 
However much we may argue as to the existence or non 
existence of chance, it is certain that games of chance 
exist ; and it is equally certain that the theory of 
Natural Selection is fittingly described as no other than 
a game of chance. But if this is so, how little likely it 
is that the transmutation of species should be effected by 
Natural Selection. 
It might be said, however, that Natural Selection is not 
only a law of nature but a method of the Divine 
Providence. But that fact would not influence the result 
so long as the method was not tampered with. The 
omniscient God might be conceived as knowing every 
detail of a game of chance, but that fore-knowledge 
would not affect the issue. The Divine Being could not 
overrule the principle of creation by the accidental occur-