Topical Selection and Mimicry

Abstract

MR. SYME now says: “The references to Darwin in my book are absolutely correct,” and—“In every reference to Darwin's views I gave the page and the edition from which the quotation was taken.” Assertions, however, are not proofs; but if Mr. Syme will point out where Darwin defines natural selection as “the struggle for existence,” and where Darwin “insists that variations are created by natural selection,” statements which occur at p. 8 and p. 15 of Mr. Syme's book, I will acknowledge that I have misrepresented him. Otherwise I see nothing that requires modification in my article. But as Mr. Syme claims to have taken “the utmost pains” to quote Darwin's exact words, I will refer to other cases. At p. 12 he says, “The second assumption is that favourably modified individuals should be few in number, ‘two or more’;” and for this he refers to “Plants and Animals under Domestication,” vol. ii. p. 7. The true reference is to vol. i. p. 7, where Darwin says: “Now, if we suppose a species to produce two or more varieties, and these in course of time to produce other varieties, &c.” Here we see that Mr. Syme puts “individuals” in the place of “varieties,” and thus makes Darwin appear to say the exact reverse of his main contention, which is, that ordinary variability occurring in large numbers of individuals, not single sports, are the effective agents in the modification of species.