will (so far as this hybrid is concerned) forever end. There is a definite and absolute failure of issue, with the hybrid; unlike the failure of issue, in the case of an individual of a pure species, whose sterility is caused solely by its reproductive element being modified by the forces of an inadequate number of the characters of its species. As Darwin has noted, from observations made, the sterility of this individual is not absolute: As Darwin, however, has failed to note, the reason its sterility may be remedied, is because it needs only to mate with another individual of the same species, which has the complement of characters required for the purposes of reproduction, or which (failing to possess such complement) can contribute other characters which the former lacks, the addition whereof to the number it already possesses, may make up the number which is necessary to restore fertility.

CHAPTER XIII.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

To recapitulate, the controversy stands thus:

I. Darwin says, that variations or improvements arise among animals and plants, under domestication. This has been conceded.

2. Darwin's next proposition, is, Descent with Modification: That is, that when a modification is acquired by an individual, the law of Inheritance generally transmits the acquired character to the offspring.

This, also, has been conceded.

3. Another proposition of Darwin, is, That many organs, or characters, after having been in a state of full development, have been so wrought upon by the adverse conditions of Nature, as to become, viz., some of them, slightly reduced; others of them, greatly reduced, having the character of rudiments merely; and others of them, completely suppressed, leaving not a vestige of their past development.

This proposition, also, has been fully conceded.

4. A proposition, which Darwin formulates respecting these reduced and suppressed organs and characters is, viz., That, given, favorable conditions these reduced and these suppressed characters are competent to reappear, and on many occasions have reap(429)

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peared, even after having lain latent for millions of generations.

This, too, has been conceded.

5. Darwin's next point, is, viz., That it is competent and allowable to take the amount of variation or improvement, positively known to take place during (say) the last hundred years, or during the historical period, and therefrom to estimate the amount of variation or improvement possible to occur within a million of years, or other long interval of time. This proposition has been demurred to, because such a proposition necessarily involves

6. The further proposition, viz., That variations, or improvements may proceed without any limit to them, or multiply to an indefinite extent.

This assumption, of his, of No Limit, has been shown to be, both intrinsically erroneous, and conclusively negatived by Darwin's most important factor.

It is intrinsically erroneous, because it is both gratuitous and illegitimate.

First: It is gratuitous, because no evidence whatever is adduced by Darwin, showing that the variations, or improvements, are without a limit, or that they may proceed to an indefinite extent. In fact, the most curious feature in Darwin's theory, and in every theory of Evolution which has been propounded, is that this assumption of No Limit remains a tacit assumption throughout all of his works, and throughout all works on the subject; notwithstanding that it is an indispensable point in such theories, without which they could not be constructed.

Second: This assumption of No Limit, is illegitimate, because the sole, possible warrant which might have been urged to sustain it,-viz., the presumption that, as variations are now seen to go on multiplying, they may still go on multiplying forever, or indefinitely, or may have, in the past, gone on multiplying indefinitely,—is invalidated by reason of Darwin's precedent (alleged) failure to resolve the law or the cause of variations, which law or cause, if discovered, would, presumably, have determined whether there was or was not a limit.

Third: This assumption of No Limit is, on the other hand, negatived by the fact, that the law of Variations is actually resolved by Darwin, and that law, namely, Reversion, or the principle of the regain or re-development of characters which were previously lost or reduced,—imposes a definite limit to the Variations; no more characters may be regained than were originally lost by the respective, varying species.

7. Darwin's next proposition is, that it is possible, upon principles of analogy, that Variations now arise, under Nature, and that they may, in the past, have there arisen, in much the same manner that Variations arise under domestication; and that those Variations may have frequently given their owners such an advantage, in their competition with their fellows, as to secure to them a prolonged existence, and the opportunity of leaving offspring in whom the said variations would be continued.

No exception has been taken to this proposition,

save this, viz., that he has not resolved the law or cause of such possible variations, and thereby ascertained whether the variations are amenable or not to any limit; and that he has illegitimately referred them to an "innate tendency" which he has the grace to confess, is but a name for his ignorance.

8. Darwin's next proposition is, that there is, and has ever been, a fearful Struggle for Existence waging almost incessantly under Nature, among the different animals and plants.

No exception has been taken to this proposition.

9. His next proposition is, that the effect of this Struggle for Existence, is the Natural Selection of "the strongest and most vigorous" individuals, and the extinction of the weakest and least fitted to live; and he implies that, by this Selection of "the strongest and most vigorous," slight increments of development are secured, in each generation.

Exception has been taken to this proposition, because there is a fallacy resident in the terms “strongest and most vigorous." Viewed with reference to the hard conditions of the Struggle for Existence which he pictures, to which even these elect are subjected, the terms to be used, should have been, the least weak and the least degenerate. When these terms are used, no implication of any advance in development arises, as it does, when the terms, "strongest and most vigorous," are used. The implication of advance in development, from the Selection of the best of any one generation, may arise only where exist, both, Selection, and favorable conditions. Under domestication,