CHAPTER XV

DARWINISM

Though no essential part of our enquiry, Darwinism must be studied on account of importance ascribed to it--Baseless claims on its behalf--True character of the system--Natural Selection and its mode of action--Phenomena which seem to favour Darwinism--Difficulties on the other side--Limits of Variation--Specific stability--Adverse probabilities--Natural selection can produce nothing--Transitional developments useless or harmful--Artistic ornaments unexplained--Flaws in argument--Organic progress--Rudimentary Organs--Embryology--Scientific opinion as to Darwinism 149-203