Abstract
THIS is a well-intended, but scarcely adequate, endeavour to reconcile the Darwinian with the Lamarckian conception of evolution. While admitting the principle of natural selection as an important factor in organic development, the author seeks to explain the origin of species mainly on a Lamarckian basis. It may be doubted whether his suggested compromise will commend itself to either party. We are of opinion, pace M. Le Dantec, that Darwin's estimate of Lamarck was perfectly just; and that if Lamarckian views are to prevail, it must be by dint of facts and arguments other than those adduced by Lamarck himself. The present volume contains nothing approaching a demonstration of the inheritance of acquired characters; and until this is forthcoming, the Lamarckian fabric must be held to lack foundation. It is curious that the author, who has undoubtedly grasped the principle of natural selection, should not see how groundless is his hesitation in applying it. A reason for this failure is doubtless to be found in his tendency to deal with cases of adaptation as if they were ready made; he has apparently not taken into account the evidence of gradual approximation to the completely adapted condition. How, he asks, can chance have produced the aspect of Kallima? A study of allied forms might have shown him that his question was wide of the mark. On the crucial subject of mimicry and protective resemblance, this strange reluctance to carry an admitted principle to its legitimate end produces especially unfortunate results. M. Le Dantec is constramed, not only to suppose that the white of Arctic animals may be a direct result of the colour of their surroundings “as in Poulton's experiments on caterpillars,” but to assume the conscious adoption of appropriate habits on the part of protected organisms. It would seem that not much is here gained by the abandonment of the Darwinian standpoint. In the last few chapters of the book the author expounds his “biochemical” theory of heredity, but without throwing any new light on the familiar difficulties of the subject. It is open to any one to proclaim his faith in the essentially chemical character of all kinds of protoplasmic activity, but the fact remains that among these phenomena there is a residuum which does not easily relate itself with what is known of the properties of other kinds of matter. This is where the problem was found by M. Le Dantec, and this is where he has left it.
Lamarckiens et Darwiniens; Discussion de quelqites Théories sur la Formation des Espèces.
Félix Le Dantec, Chargé du Cours d'Embryologie générale à la Sorbonne. Pp. 191. (Paris: Félix Alcan, 1899.)
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D., F. Lamarckiens et Darwiniens; Discussion de quelqites Théories sur la Formation des Espèces . Nature 62, 388 (1900). https://doi.org/10.1038/062388a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/062388a0