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£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡is¡¡now¡¡going¡¡on¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡determined£»¡¡since¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡in¡¡advance¡¡what¡¡biological¡¡value¡¡the¡¡marking¡¡might¡¡have¡¡for¡¡these¡¡two¡¡species¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡conceivable¡¡that¡¡the¡¡spots¡¡may¡¡have¡¡no¡¡selection¡¡¡value¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡these¡¡species¡¡are¡¡concerned£»¡¡and¡¡may¡¡therefore¡¡disappear¡¡again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡phylogeny£»¡¡or£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡be¡¡changed¡¡in¡¡another¡¡direction£»¡¡for¡¡instance¡¡towards¡¡imitation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rust¡¡¡red¡¡fungoid¡¡patches¡¡on¡¡poplar¡¡and¡¡willow¡¡leaves¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡any¡¡case¡¡we¡¡may¡¡regard¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡spots¡¡as¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡stages¡¡of¡¡variation£»¡¡the¡¡larger¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cumulative¡¡summation¡¡of¡¡these¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore¡¡either¡¡these¡¡initial¡¡stages¡¡must¡¡already¡¡possess¡¡selection¡value£»¡¡or£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡said¡¡before£º¡¡¡¡THERE¡¡MUST¡¡BE¡¡SOME¡¡OTHER¡¡REASON¡¡FOR¡¡THEIR¡¡CUMULATIVE¡¡SUMMATION¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡give¡¡one¡¡more¡¡example£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡we¡¡can¡¡infer£»¡¡though¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡directly¡¡observe£»¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡stages¡£
All¡¡the¡¡Holothurians¡¡or¡¡sea¡cucumbers¡¡have¡¡in¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡calcareous¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡different¡¡forms£»¡¡usually¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡irregular£»¡¡which¡¡make¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡tough¡¡and¡¡resistant¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡small¡¡group¡¡of¡¡themthe¡¡species¡¡of¡¡Synaptathe¡¡calcareous¡¡bodies¡¡occur¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡delicate¡¡anchors¡¡of¡¡microscopic¡¡size¡£¡¡¡¡Up¡¡till¡¡1897¡¡these¡¡anchors£»¡¡like¡¡many¡¡other¡¡delicate¡¡microscopic¡¡structures£»¡¡were¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡curiosities£»¡¡as¡¡natural¡¡marvels¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡a¡¡Swedish¡¡observer£»¡¡Oestergren£»¡¡has¡¡recently¡¡shown¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have¡¡a¡¡biological¡¡significance£º¡¡¡¡they¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡footless¡¡Synapta¡¡as¡¡auxiliary¡¡organs¡¡of¡¡locomotion£»¡¡since£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡body¡¡swells¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of¡¡creeping£»¡¡they¡¡press¡¡firmly¡¡with¡¡their¡¡tips£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡embedded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡skin£»¡¡against¡¡the¡¡substratum¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡creeps£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡prevent¡¡slipping¡¡backwards¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡other¡¡Holothurians¡¡this¡¡slipping¡¡is¡¡made¡¡impossible¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fixing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tube¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡anchors¡¡act¡¡automatically£»¡¡sinking¡¡their¡¡tips¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡when¡¡the¡¡corresponding¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body¡¡thickens£»¡¡and¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡original¡¡position¡¡at¡¡an¡¡angle¡¡of¡¡45¡¡degrees¡¡to¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡surface¡¡when¡¡the¡¡part¡¡becomes¡¡thin¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor¡¡do¡¡not¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡plane¡¡as¡¡the¡¡shaft£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡the¡¡curve¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡forms¡¡the¡¡outermost¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor£»¡¡and¡¡offers¡¡no¡¡further¡¡resistance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gliding¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animal¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡detail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor£»¡¡the¡¡curved¡¡portion£»¡¡the¡¡little¡¡teeth¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡arms£»¡¡etc¡££»¡¡can¡¡be¡¡interpreted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡way£»¡¡above¡¡all¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor¡¡itself£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡two¡¡arms¡¡prevent¡¡it¡¡from¡¡swaying¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡position¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchors£»¡¡too£»¡¡is¡¡definite¡¡and¡¡significant£»¡¡they¡¡lie¡¡obliquely¡¡to¡¡the¡¡longitudinal¡¡axis¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animal£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡they¡¡act¡¡alike¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡is¡¡creeping¡¡backwards¡¡or¡¡forwards¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡the¡¡tips¡¡would¡¡pierce¡¡through¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡if¡¡the¡¡anchors¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡longitudinal¡¡direction¡£¡¡¡¡Synapta¡¡burrows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand£»¡¡it¡¡first¡¡pushes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡anterior¡¡end£»¡¡and¡¡thickens¡¡this¡¡again£»¡¡thus¡¡enlarging¡¡the¡¡hole£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡anterior¡¡tentacles¡¡displace¡¡more¡¡sand£»¡¡the¡¡body¡¡is¡¡worked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡farther£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡process¡¡begins¡¡anew¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡act¡¡the¡¡anchors¡¡are¡¡passive£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡take¡¡an¡¡active¡¡share¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forward¡¡movement¡¡when¡¡the¡¡body¡¡is¡¡contracted¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Frequently¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡retains¡¡only¡¡the¡¡posterior¡¡end¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡anchors¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡in¡¡position£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡rapid¡¡withdrawal¡¡possible¡£
Thus¡¡we¡¡have¡¡in¡¡these¡¡apparently¡¡random¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡calcareous¡¡bodies£»¡¡complex¡¡adaptations¡¡in¡¡which¡¡every¡¡little¡¡detail¡¡as¡¡to¡¡direction£»¡¡curve£»¡¡and¡¡pointing¡¡is¡¡exactly¡¡determined¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡they¡¡have¡¡selection¡value¡¡in¡¡their¡¡present¡¡perfected¡¡form¡¡is¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡doubt£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡are¡¡enabled¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡them¡¡to¡¡bore¡¡rapidly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡so¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡enemies¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡the¡¡initial¡¡stages¡¡were£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡improvements£»¡¡which¡¡occurred¡¡as¡¡variations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡originally¡¡simple¡¡slimy¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holothurians£»¡¡were¡¡preserved¡¡because¡¡they¡¡already¡¡possessed¡¡selection¡value¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Synaptidae¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡such¡¡minute¡¡microscopic¡¡structures¡¡whose¡¡form¡¡is¡¡so¡¡delicately¡¡adapted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡role¡¡they¡¡have¡¡to¡¡play¡¡in¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animal£»¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡arisen¡¡suddenly¡¡and¡¡as¡¡a¡¡whole£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡new¡¡variation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡development¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡curving¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shaft¡¡which¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡tips¡¡from¡¡projecting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡time£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡every¡¡little¡¡adaptation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡modelling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor¡¡must¡¡have¡¡possessed¡¡selection¡value¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡that¡¡such¡¡minute¡¡changes¡¡of¡¡form¡¡fall¡¡within¡¡the¡¡sphere¡¡of¡¡fluctuating¡¡variations£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡THAT¡¡THEY¡¡OCCUR¡¡is¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡doubt¡£
In¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Synaptidae¡¡the¡¡anchors¡¡are¡¡replaced¡¡by¡¡calcareous¡¡rods¡¡bent¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡an¡¡S£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡said¡¡to¡¡act¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡Others£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡genus¡¡Ankyroderma£»¡¡have¡¡anchors¡¡which¡¡project¡¡considerably¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡skin£»¡¡and£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡Oestergren£»¡¡serve¡¡¡¨to¡¡catch¡¡plant¡¡¡particles¡¡and¡¡other¡¡substances¡¨¡¡and¡¡so¡¡mask¡¡the¡¡animal¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡we¡¡see¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Synaptidae¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡irregular¡¡calcareous¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holothurians¡¡have¡¡been¡¡modified¡¡and¡¡transformed¡¡in¡¡various¡¡ways¡¡in¡¡adaptation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡footlessness¡¡of¡¡these¡¡animals£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡peculiar¡¡conditions¡¡of¡¡their¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡must¡¡conclude¡¡that¡¡the¡¡earlier¡¡stages¡¡of¡¡these¡¡changes¡¡presented¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡the¡¡processes¡¡of¡¡selection¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡microscopic¡¡variations¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡as¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡any¡¡origin¡¡other¡¡than¡¡through¡¡selection¡¡in¡¡this¡¡case¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡toughness£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡¨drip¡tips¡¨¡¡of¡¡tropical¡¡leaves¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡these¡¡last¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡produced¡¡directly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡beating¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡rain¡drops¡¡upon¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡calcareous¡¡anchors¡¡of¡¡Synapta¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡been¡¡produced¡¡directly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡friction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡and¡¡mud¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡and£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡are¡¡parts¡¡whose¡¡function¡¡is¡¡PASSIVE¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡factor¡¡of¡¡use¡¡and¡¡disuse¡¡does¡¡not¡¡come¡¡into¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡conclusion¡¡is¡¡unavoidable£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡microscopically¡¡small¡¡variations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡calcareous¡¡bodies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ancestral¡¡forms¡¡have¡¡been¡¡intensified¡¡and¡¡accumulated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡particular¡¡direction£»¡¡till¡¡they¡¡have¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡anchor¡£¡¡¡¡Whether¡¡this¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡by¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡natural¡¡selection¡¡alone£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡variation¡¡and¡¡the¡¡intimate¡¡processes¡¡within¡¡the¡¡germ¡plasm¡¡have¡¡cooperated¡¡will¡¡become¡¡clear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡of¡¡germinal¡¡selection¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡whole¡¡process¡¡of¡¡adaptation¡¡has¡¡obviously¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡within¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡has¡¡elapsed¡¡since¡¡this¡¡group¡¡of¡¡sea¡cucumbers¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡tube¡feet£»¡¡those¡¡characteristic¡¡organs¡¡of¡¡locomotion¡¡which¡¡occur¡¡in¡¡no¡¡group¡¡except¡¡the¡¡Echinoderms£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡have¡¡totally¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Synaptidae¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡after¡¡all¡¡what¡¡would¡¡animals¡¡that¡¡live¡¡in¡¡sand¡¡and¡¡mud¡¡do¡¡with¡¡tube¡feet£¿
£¨c£©¡¡¡¡COADAPTATION¡£
Darwin¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡essential¡¡differences¡¡between¡¡artificial¡¡and¡¡natural¡¡selection¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡former¡¡can¡¡modify¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡characters£»¡¡usually¡¡only¡¡one¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡while¡¡Nature¡¡preserves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡for¡¡existence¡¡all¡¡the¡¡variations¡¡of¡¡a¡¡species£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡purely¡¡mechanical¡¡way£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡possess¡¡selection¡value¡£
Herbert¡¡Spencer£»¡¡though¡¡himself¡¡an¡¡adherent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡theory¡¡of¡¡selection£»¡¡declared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nineties¡¡that¡¡in¡¡his¡¡opinion¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡this¡¡principle¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡over¡estimated£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡great¡¡changes¡¡which¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡so¡¡many¡¡organisms¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡ages¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡interpreted¡¡as¡¡due¡¡to¡¡this¡¡process¡¡of¡¡selection¡¡alone£»¡¡since¡¡no¡¡transformation¡¡of¡¡any¡¡importance¡¡can¡¡be¡¡evolved¡¡by¡¡itself£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡always¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡host¡¡of¡¡secondary¡¡changes¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡gives¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡example¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Giant¡¡Stag¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Irish¡¡peat£»¡¡the¡¡enormous¡¡antlers¡¡of¡¡which¡¡required¡¡not¡¡only¡¡a¡¡much¡¡stronger¡¡skull¡¡cap£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡greater¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sinews£»¡¡muscles£»¡¡nerves¡¡and¡¡bones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡anterior¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animal£»¡¡if¡¡their¡¡mass¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡weigh¡¡down¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡altogether¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡inconceivable£»¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡that¡¡so¡¡many¡¡processes¡¡of¡¡selection¡¡should¡¡take¡¡place¡¡SIMULTANEOUSLY£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡are¡¡therefore¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡factor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡use¡¡and¡¡disuse¡¡of¡¡functional¡¡parts¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡how£»¡¡he¡¡asks£»¡¡could¡¡natural¡¡selection¡¡follow¡¡two¡¡opposite¡¡directions¡¡of¡¡evolution¡¡in¡¡different¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡as¡¡for¡¡instance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kangaroo£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡forelegs¡¡must¡¡have¡¡become¡¡shorter£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡hind¡¡legs¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tail¡¡were¡¡becoming¡¡longer¡¡and¡¡stronger£¿
Spencer's¡¡main¡¡object¡¡was¡¡to¡¡substantiate¡¡the¡¡validity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡principle£»¡¡the¡¡cooperation¡¡of¡¡which¡¡with¡¡selection¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doubted¡¡by¡¡many¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡does¡¡seem¡¡as¡¡though¡¡this¡¡principle£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡operates¡¡in¡¡nature¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡offers¡¡a¡¡ready¡¡and¡¡simple¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡all¡¡such¡¡secondary¡¡variations¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡only¡¡muscles£»¡¡but¡¡nerves£»¡¡bones£»¡¡sinews£»¡¡in¡¡short¡¡all¡¡tissues¡¡which¡¡function¡¡actively£»¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡strength¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡used£»¡¡and¡¡conversely¡¡they¡¡decrease¡¡when¡¡the¡¡claims¡¡on¡¡them¡¡diminish¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡parts£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡which¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡that¡¡varied¡¡first£»¡¡as¡¡for¡¡instance¡¡the¡¡enlarged¡¡antlers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Irish¡¡Elk£»¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡increased¡¡or¡¡decreased¡¡in¡¡strength£»¡¡in¡¡exact¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡claims¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡them£»just¡¡as¡¡is¡¡actually¡¡the¡¡case¡£
But¡¡beautiful¡¡as¡¡this¡¡explanation¡¡would¡¡be£»¡¡I¡¡regard¡¡it¡¡as¡¡untenable£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡assumes¡¡the¡¡TRANSMISSIBILITY¡¡OF¡¡FUNCTIONAL¡¡MODIFICATIONS¡¡£¨so¡¡¡called¡¡¡¨acquired¡¨¡¡characters£©£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡not¡¡only¡¡undemonstrable£»¡¡but¡¡is¡¡scarcely¡¡theoretically¡¡conceivable£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡secondary¡¡variations¡¡which¡¡accompany¡¡or¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡first¡¡as¡¡correlative¡¡variations£»¡¡occur¡¡also¡¡in¡¡cases¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡concerned¡¡are¡¡sterile¡¡and¡¡THEREFORE¡¡CANNOT¡¡TRANSMIT¡¡ANYTHING¡¡TO¡¡THEIR¡¡DESCENDANTS¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡true¡¡of¡¡WORKER¡¡BEES£»¡¡and¡¡particularly¡¡of¡¡ANTS£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡here¡¡give¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡survey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡problem¡¡as¡¡it¡¡appears¡¡to¡¡me¡£
Much¡¡has¡¡been¡¡written¡¡on¡¡both¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡this¡¡question¡¡since¡¡the¡¡published¡¡controversy¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nineties¡¡between¡¡Herbert¡¡Spencer¡¡and¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡in¡¡detail£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡space¡¡at¡¡my¡¡disposal¡¡permitted£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡arguments¡¡I¡¡advanced¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡are¡¡equally¡¡cogent¡¡to¡day£»¡¡notwithstanding¡¡all¡¡the¡¡objections¡¡that¡¡have¡¡since¡¡been¡¡urged¡¡against¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡is¡¡by¡¡no¡¡means¡¡one¡¡of¡¡subordinate¡¡interest£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡very¡¡kernel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡question¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reality¡¡and¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principle¡¡of¡¡selection¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡if¡¡selection¡¡alone¡¡does¡¡not¡¡suffice¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡¡¨HARMONIOUS¡¡ADAPTATION¡¨¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡called¡¡Spencer's¡¡COADAPTATION£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡we¡¡require¡¡to¡¡call¡¡in¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡factor¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡questionable¡¡whether¡¡selection¡¡could¡¡explain¡¡any¡¡adaptations¡¡whatever¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡caseof¡¡worker¡¡bees¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡factor¡¡may¡¡be¡¡excluded¡¡altogether£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡can¡¡be¡¡demonstrated¡¡that¡¡here¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡use¡¡and¡¡disuse¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡transmitted¡£
But¡¡if¡¡it¡¡be¡¡asked¡¡why¡¡we¡¡are¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡the¡¡cooperation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Darwinian¡¡factor¡¡of¡¡selection¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡factor£»¡¡since¡¡this¡¡would¡¡afford¡¡us¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡and¡¡satisfactory¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡phenomena£»¡¡I¡¡answer£º¡¡¡¡BECAUSE¡¡THE¡¡LAMARCKIAN¡¡PRINCIPLE¡¡IS¡¡FALLACIOUS£»¡¡AND¡¡BECAUSE¡¡BY¡¡ACCEPTING¡¡IT¡¡WE¡¡CLOSE¡¡THE¡¡WAY¡¡TOWARDS¡¡DEEPER¡¡INSIGHT¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡combativeness¡¡or¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡for¡¡self¡vindication¡¡that¡¡induces¡¡me¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡field¡¡once¡¡more¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Lamarckian¡¡principle£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡conviction¡¡that¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡our¡¡knowledge¡¡is¡¡being¡¡obstructed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡acceptance¡¡of¡¡this¡¡fallac