Anti Darwin / by the author of "Ceylon, ancient and modern".

  • Suckling, Horatio John
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anti Darwin / by the author of "Ceylon, ancient and modern". Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    descended from some one primal source: but how far the present condition of beings is due to natural selection ?—How far its action has been modified and checked by other natural laws? The unalterability of types,by atavism &c. How many types came originally into being and whether they arose simultaneously, or succesi- vely? These and many other similar questions remain unsolved, even admitting the theory of natural selection, all of which has been pointed out by Darwin himself.” [On Insects p. 83.] Mr. Darwin’s theory is based on four axioms. 1— That no two animals or plants are identical in all respects. 2— Offspring tend to inherit the peculiarities of their parents. 3— Of those who come into existence only a small number reach maturitv. j 4— Those who are on the whole, best fitted for their mode of life, are most likely to have descendants.” The first and second axioms are doubtful in many cases: but the last two are self evident, if the fourth refers to individuals—but not if it
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