New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-02

docs not account for the origin OF animal insunc'S'
nor give special characteristic to any fpe-
Ccs or individual, Ii simply preserves the
animal by means of some characteristic when
he already possesses. Natural Selection for instance
does not give the animal the faculty TO hibernate
but at the utmost can only preserve those animals
which already have this power in the greatest perfec
ton In the conditions of Information, there s an eiab
crate machinery for the preservation OF animal hfe
varying much with the different species. Instinct Is
only one link in this chain of agencies. alternating
animals of the higher rank feed upon the food that Is
abundant in the Autumn. They then have vora-
cious appetite, and accumulate fat TO an unwonted
degree. Thus far Instinct does nothing but procure
food. But it now takes the chief direction, grld-
ing the animal in preparing retreat for his winters
sleep. When this isdone, function resumesits work,
lessons the rate of breathing, and lowers the whole
vital activity SO that the animal lives for months
without eating and yet comes out in good condition
upon the return of Spring
Now if it be alleged that the habits OF these
alternating animals are due TO Natural Selection.
which has been acting from age to age until only
those are left that structure function, and instinct
combined have adapted TO the northern regions, the
question still recurs, How were the species pre-
served until these changes i'll action were all
brought into harmony with each other ana
with the external world Another peril
nent question suggests itself, How did inc
changes which have resulted in these complex
adaptations commenced Not by series OF for
tunate accidents i'll the right direction. We might
as well suppose that the words OF book were
formed by throwing types at random from a poS'
But if we refer their nice adjustment to tine COM
prehensou of animals in the first instance, we nus'
recognize in the ancestors of the present races
| power of comprehension which these races do not
| hot
species for no man could more skillfully ADJUST the
activities of the animal with the forces Of the in
| organic world than they are actually adjusted at
present.
| In order 10 explain these results through the
| agency of Natural Selection must show how 1T
could produce the manifold differences OF Instinct
| by the accumulation of changes working out
| specific result, and the differences OF form
| and structure by similar accumulated changes.
| But this is not enough. We must also
| show how it secure all of these Mt
| the same time. rs TO produce the specific
forms and specific instincts in their compoXity. and
! yet bring structure, and function and instinct to
harmonic in each individual of species with the
relations of the world in which it lives. Before we
can accept Natural Selection, moreover rs the chief
agency in the production of species it must be eX-
planned how all the species were kept in existence
during the production of the changes which now
give them character, and upon which their existence
seems to depend
But if the special adaptations Of instincts and in
J struments can be accounted for by the agency of
| Natural Selection, we must concode an Instrument
and an instinct for lis effective - the beginning
| An instrument without the corresponding instinct
would he damage to the animal rather than an adj
vantage. If we find special structures with cOrre-
| spending instincts. we must admit tho combined
action of both before Natural Selection could pre-
serve either of them in the species, the species
themselves through action. The structure and func
ton of organs are supplemented by Instinct in
higher planes Of action than tho mere securing of
food.
An Illustration Of this may he found in the
structure Of the ratte-snake. First, there is the
perforated fang, with the point ,sharpened like a
chisel. This instrument is folded away when not In
USE but unsheathed and in position the moment it
is needed. All the straps and springs essential to
the effective use of the tooth grew at the same time
with it. gland seCTeting deadly poison grows
| at its base The opening Of the gland is through
| the hollow tooth. When the tooth makes its
wound, the motion that drives it home,
iniects the poison. The machinery Is perfect.
! Structure and function are in the most com
plete harmony. But now comes in the element OF
Instinct guiding the voluntary action Of the snake
! and without which the tooth and the poison would
have no terror The rattle of this reptile is another
peculiar cOntrvance related to its Instinct The
rattle gives note of warning to animals. 1t is of no
apparent to the snake, it ought to be on the
theory of Natural Selection. On the contrary, it is
likely to bring death to its possessor by informing
its enemies of its presence.
| Mr. Darwins application Of the doctrine Of Nat
ura Selection to the cells of the honey does not
escape the animadversOns Of the author. The per-
lection of the cell is thus accounted for by Mr.. OAR
win. great deal of honey is essential to the
making of wax. 1t would accordingly como to pass
that the swar1Ds of bees which build with the least
wax would have most honey left for Winter, and so
be most likely to live In this way the best builders
would be presery we'd on the principle of the Survival
of the Fttest," while the poor builders would in
time die off, But the theory, Professor ChadbOurne
maintains, does not go back far enough to account
for the whole case 1t simply offers an explanation
oil the survival of those made up of the best
builders But the inevitable question arises How
did the bee become q builder at all 1t must also be
remembered that it is the neuter bees which
secrete The wax ana build the cells. Since
this class OF bees is sterile. they cannot
transmit the characteristics which they possess nor
the skill they acquire. All the bees that build cells
and gather honey have descended from parents that
never did anything of the kind. Mr. Darwin would
probably call this of correlation. That is to
say the powers of the neuter bees so correlated
10 the needs of the community that the whole species
become good builders by Natural Selection because
those swarms alone survive whose neuters use little
wax, and consequently occasion little loss Of honey
His explanation of the existence of the Instinct
which constructs hexagonal cells turns entirely on
the fact that the bees must live over the
winter. The author expressly admits that there
can be no dispute about the important influence
of Natural Selection. But he contends that it is
inadequate to the explanation of such facts of
animal life az are seen in the complex societies of