casional decrement would profit the conclusion would still remain indefen organism. The economy in weight to a creature having nearly the same specific gravity as its medium, would be infinitesimal. The economy in nutrition of a rudimentary organ, consisting of passive tissues, would also be but nominal. The only appreciable economy would be in the original building up of the creature's structures; and the hypothesis of Weismann implies that the economy of this thousandth part of its weight, by decrease of the eyes, would so benefit the rest of the creature's organization as to give it an appreciably greater chance of survival, and an appreciably greater multiplication of descendants. Does any one accept this inference? Of course the quantifications of data above set down can be only approximate; but I think no reasonable changes of them can alter the general result. If, instead of supposing the eyes to have disappeared wholly, we recognize them as being in fact rudimentary, the case is made worse. If, instead of two thousand generations, we assume ten thousand generations, which, considering the probably great age of the caverns, would be a far more reasonable assumption than the other, the case is made still worse. And if we assume larger variations—say decreases of one-fourth — to occur only at intervals of many hundreds or thousands of generations, which is not a very reasonable assumption, the implied that in the nearest ally there represented, the caducibranchiate axolotl, the diameter of the eye, less than half that of the smelt, bears a much smaller ratio to the length of the body; the proportion in the smelt being one-twenty-sixth of the length, and in the axolotl about one-fifty-sixth (the body being also more bulky than that of the smelt). If, then, we take the linear ratio of the eye to body in this amphibian as one-half the ratio which the fish presents, it results that the ratio of the mass of the eye to the mass of the body will be but one-eighth. So that the weight of the eye of the amphibian will be but one-sixteen-hundredth of that of the body. It is a liberal estimate, therefore, to suppose that its original weight in the Proteus was one thousandth of that of the body. I may add that any one who glances at the representation of the axolotl, will see that, were the eye to disappear entirely by a single variation, the economy achieved could not have any appreciable physiological effect on the organism. sible. For an economy of th part of the creature's weight could not appreciably affect its survival and the increase of its posterity. Is it not then, as said above, that the use of the expression, natural selection" has had seriously perverting effects? Must we not infer that there has been produced in the minds of naturalists, the tacit assumption that it can do what artificial selection does can pick out and select any small advantageous trait; while it can, in fact, pick out no traits, but can only further the development of traits which, in marked ways, increase the general fitness for the conditions of existence? And is it not inferable that, failing to bear in mind the limiting condition, that to become established an advantageous varıation must be such as will, other things remaining equal, add to the prosperity of the stirp, many naturalists have been unawares led to espouse an untenable hypothesis? From Blackwood's Magazine. A DEFEATED TRANSCENDENTALIST. I. WHEN Evelyn Markham alighted in the evening at the little station of A- on the Highland Railway, she found that the snowstorm which had been raging all day had increased in violence; and the low, sullen, overcharged sky appeared to threaten its continuance. She had a drive of six or seven miles before her ere she reached Glenfoyle House, the residence of her friend Lady Nisbet, with whom she was going to spend a fortnight. She found a closed carriage drawn by a pair of handsome greys standing just outside the station; and she recognized Alistair Macalpine, Lady Nisbet's coachman, who was seated on the box with his habitual air of monumental dignity. A porter conveyed her luggage to the carriage, and she stood for a moment to exchange a few words with Alistair. After a friendly greeting and inquiries about Lady Nisbet's health, she asked | or rocks on either side. She peered what was the condition of the roads. out, but could discern nothing in the "It will be very bad, matam-oh, impenetrable mass of gloom. All at very bad indeed; and I'll no' be so once the carriage stopped abruptly, and sure that we'll win through. There is Alistair's voice could be heard raised wreaths and wreaths here and there; in seemingly anxious and angry ejaculabut we'll chust trust in Providence. tions. Evelyn pulled down the sash Now, matam, if you please, we'll be behind the driver's seat, and asked going as fast as ever we can." what was the matter. "It will be a snow-wreath stand still, ye swine! and the beasts is up to their girths, and a trace is broke." "Oh, what shall we do, Alistair ?" The road was fairly clear in the neighborhood of the station, for the wind swept across it and kept the snow from accumulating to any considerable extent; but as they pursued their cried Evelyn, in a quavering voice. journey, the difficulty of progression "There's a bit hoosie here, by the became aggravated. It was also ex-side of the road,—a queer body lives ceedingly cold, and Evelyn huddled herself into a corner of the vehicle, tucking her mantle more closely round her. The dusk deepened rapidly, and soon she could only see the white snow scurrying past. Once or twice they encountered wreaths which were only surmounted with difficulty, and with much floundering and plunging of the horses, whose panting and snorting testified their excitement and the violence of their exertions. Alistair's guttural exclamations and objurgations in Gaelic also were not reassuring, for he was usually a very undemonstrative driver, and rarely compromised his dignity by intemperate language. To be sure, he seemed perfectly sober when they started, thought Evelyn; but it was very cold, and who knows whether he had not fortified himself with an occasional dram from some private receptacle ? Then might he not in the darkness stray from the road, which was possibly almost obliterated by the snow, and precipitate her over a bank or over a ravine ? She sat and shivered, partly with cold and partly with apprehension. At times, when one side of the carriage was tilted up at an angle perilously near forty-five degrees, Evelyn had to brace her feet against the opposite seat, expecting every moment to find the vehicle capsized. When, as she judged, about half the journey had been accomplished, she perceived that the road began to descend, and the added gloom appeared to indicate that there were high banks in't, no' that wise, I'm thinking; and if the beasts would stand still, I would get down, and see if he would help us. Hi, there! Mr. Casanove !" Just then a light appeared flickering about, and Evelyn heard a man's voice in refined accents exchanging some remarks with the driver. She looked out and saw a tall man with a stable lantern in his hand, standing by the side of the road; but the carriage-lamps seemed only to make the darkness visible, and she could not distinguish his features. Finally, he came crunching through the snow to the door of the carriage. แ 'Young lady, further progress is impossible," he said. "There is a deep wreath in front of my cottage, and it appears that one of the traces is broken. I think your driver should unyoke the horses, get on to the back of one of them, and try to reach Lady Nisbet's. If she has a sledge, it is just conceivable that it might reach you here; but in the mean time I would beg of you to accept my hospitality, such as it is." "I suppose there is no alternative," remarked Evelyn ruefully. "None whatever, madam, I am sorry to say.' So saying, he opened the door of the carriage. She rose from her seat, and he lowered the step, on which she stood for a moment, surveying with a bewildered look the wreath in which he stood up to the knees. "Allow me," he said coolly, and before she could realize the situation, she felt herself lifted bodily by a pair of powerful arms and carried to the door was tolerably roomy, and seemed to be of the cottage, where she was gently a kind of compromise between kitchen deposited, Though at heart vexed and and sitting-room. The floor was hard irritated by the unceremonious though and firm and composed of some cementfriendly act, she suppressed her annoy-like substance, while one or two rugs ance, and thanked him with only a shade of cold irony in her tone. and deer-skins supplied the place of a carpet, and gave to the apartment a comfortable look. A dresser stood opposite the fireplace; and a framework of plain, wooden shelves filled with books occupied a corner. A deal tablé was placed in the middle of the floor, and the stranger had evidently been writing, for a brass-mounted mahogany desk was lying open upon it. The roof was low, and, like the walls, was whitewashed. A couple of chairs, one of them an armchair, flanked the fireplace, in which a peat fire was smouldering, She stood in the doorway and watched the proceedings. The horses were detached from the carriage and extricated from the snow-wreath; one of them was relieved of part of its harness, a rug was thrown over its loins, and Alistair clambered upon its back. "Maybe you will be having a drop of with the pungent odor of which the whiskey," he said insinuatingly. "The exercise will warm you, my friend," was the cool reply. "You will need all your sober wits to reach Lady Nisbet's, and every moment is precious." atmosphere was impregnated. A cav alry sabre was suspended over the bookcase, on the top of which lay a flute and a bundle of music. The stranger drew the armchair nearer to the fire and invited Evelyn to Alistair grunted something in Gaelic, seat herself, which she did after divestpresumably of an uncomplimentary ing herself of her heavy, fur-lined character, for the stranger replied mantle. sternly in the same language, where- "Had you not better remove your upon Alistair muttered a deprecatory | hat?" he suggested. "You will feel reply in a comically discomfited tone, more comfortable." and rode off without further parley. The stranger now returned to his cottage door, and invited Evelyn to enter with an air of deferential courtesy. A huge Newfoundland dog rose from the fireside as she stepped into the cottage, and advanced to meet her with dignified scrutiny. "What a magnificent dog!" she exclaimed, patting his noble head. The stately animal slowly waved its tail once or twice in token of amity, and then returned to its resting-place. "Cæsar evidently approves of you," remarked the stranger, with a smile; "but Cæsar, Cæsar, you forget the door!" Whereupon the Newfoundland rose again with a curiously abashed and conscious look, and advancing to the door, slammed it to with its powerful paws, to Evelyn's amusement. The apartment which she had entered She silently acquiesced, though she inwardly resented somewhat his aggressive hospitality, as she considered it. Then she hastily and almost pettishly pulled off her gloves, and held out her hands towards the fire; and where he stood he could see the sullen glow gleaming through the pink flesh on each side of her outspread fingers. Beautiful hands they were; and the rings she wore one of them an engagement ring flashed and shimmered prettily in the light of the fire. The tall and handsome bronze lamp standing on the table behind her irradiated her shapely head ; and her host, contemplating her for a brief instant, thought that a very charming genre picture might be made of such materials and such a scene. She for her part was both embarrassed and perplexed. The heteroclite character of the furniture and domestic arrangements, with their blending of the com mon and the refined, puzzled her "But I bethink me," he added greatly, and uneasy speculations began thoughtfully, "you ladies like tea. to course through her brain. Was he wonder if there is any tea in the house. quite sane? Was there nobody else in Permit me to explain that I don't take the cottage? tea." As if he had divined the current of her ideas, he said quietly, "My housekeeper (I use the word in a very elastic sense) is just now milking the cow, I think, but she will be in presently. She is a Highland woman, and speaks fluently only Gaelic, but she is intelligent and kindly, so it will not be difficult to make her understand your requirements." 66 "Nor coffee?" "May I ask why ?” "It is a dangerous thing to begin to catechize a doctrinaire. Well, because I do not believe in any nerve-stimulants except fresh air and exercise." "Then you don't take alcoholic beverages, I presume?" "No; though not to take whiskey in the Highlands is to be a kind of tree "I venture to assume also that you don't smoke." "I see you have an inductive turn of mind, Miss Markham. Well, you are right. I don't." "Nor snuff?" "Nor snuff. Nor chew." "Thank you very much, but I require nothing," replied Evelyn, consid-frog or flying-fish.' erably relieved. And I hope I shall not trespass unduly on your kindness." He shook his head slightly, but made no comment. She shot a swift and comprehensive glance at him. He was a tall and handsome man, rather lean, but evidently robust and vigorous. His face had little regularity of feature, but wore a highbred and intelligent look; his keen grey eyes peered out from beneath bushy eyebrows running in a straight line along a prominent frontal ridge. The forehead was full and broad, and the chin slightly projecting. His hands were long and sinewy, and a white scar ran obliquely across the back of the right hand. "I suppose," said he, smiling, "I had better introduce myself as Mr. Austin Casanove. May I beg the favor 66 But why don't you believe in nervestimulants? Why, the juice of butchermeat is one; and doctors say persons in a certain state might get drunk on a beef-steak.' "I don't take butcher-meat." And he smiled at her look of discomfiture. "Nor fowls ?" "Nor fowls, nor game. Though I confess to a little aberration or inconsistency here, for I eat eggs. That involves a point of gastronomic casuistry." "You are in fact a vegetarian?" me." "And is Cæsar a vegetarian too?" "Cæsar does his best to imitate his master, but has lapses from virtue. You like a bone, don't you, Cæsar ? " The Newfoundland raised his head, and the corners of his large black chaps began to quiver with such evident imaginary enjoyment that Evelyn could not help laughing. After a sniff or two and a hollow moan he laid down his head again upon the rug, and blinked solemnly, perhaps reproachfully, at his master. But I beg your Meanwhile Casanove had risen and and are flourished. proceeded to make the porridge. Eve- pardon for talking politics. And it is lyn watched his operations—it was not usual with me; for, though a vegeevidently a familiar process with in- tarian, I observe the Pythagorean ward amusement, but with a grave and maxim to abstain from beans that is, attentive face. While he was thus from voting and all the rest of it.” engaged, chatting the while about the storm, Evelyn heard the sound of footsteps; presently a side door opened, and an elderly woman entered the apartment. She had a pleasing, homely countenance, and despite the prominence of her cheek-bones must have been a very comely person when she was young. Meanwhile Flora had by this time set the table for the evening meal. Evelyn got her cup of tea- very good it was - and took a little porridge and milk, in honor of her host. Flora had seated herself on a stool and proceeded to knit industriously. "I grant you," said Casanove, balOn seeing Evelyn she ancing his spoon meditatively on his smiled and curtseyed. Casanove ad- forefinger, "that this is not a concise dressed to her a few words in Gaelic; kind of feeding. It is, so to speak, and she nodded energetically, and hav-voluminous. But why should we be in ing disappeared for a few minutes re- a hurry? Nature isn't. And what a turned with a glazed earthenware teapot comfort to reflect that if you only give of a deep and matured color, which this preparation time, it is sure to be had evidently often stood by the fire in a brown study. She then proceeded to infuse tea. 66 "Flora likes both tea and toddy," remarked Casanove, smiling; and Flora gave a low laugh, and again nodded emphatically. Every doctrinaire, Miss Markham," he continued, as he slowly stirred the porridge, which was now beginning to throb and sputter lazily, "is apt to be a benevolent tyrant; and I have to guard against that. And therefore, as freedom is better even than temperance, I like to see Flora taking her tea. It is her è pur si muove, her protest against my infallibility. I conceive that society has most to fear from the twin forces of the Radicals and the Fadicals; for both of these classes are tyrants. But perhaps you are a Radical, Miss Markham; many ladies are such nowadays, I believe." 66 Well, I don't much believe in government by means of Policeman X." "And you would have questions in Parliament every time Colin Clout gets a blow from a baton-tant de bruit pour une pomme de terre." digested. With more artificial dishes, there is always a dread Perhaps that they won't be assimilated, as they call it, though I confess I don't see how a lobster salad or a pâté de foie gras can appeal to me. My system refuses to recognize them." Well, your food will do I suppose well enough for a student and a recluse," said Evelyn; "but I fear it would be insufficient for a man who undergoes severe physical exertion." "Pardon me, I roam about these hills all day long on the strength of bread and cheese and milk.” She was silent for a few moments, and then said bluntly, “Will you pardon me, if I ask what you really are, Mr. Casanove, for you are a perfect enigma to me.' "I am a kind of practical mineralogist," he replied, with a smile. “I wander over all this region in search of the various kinds of rock that are found here, and I sell the specimens to the people who make up geological collections and museums. It is rather an interesting occupation, for I make microscopical sections, test with the blow 66 Well, Colin Clout's cranium is of pipe and with chemical reactions, and great importance to him." "Let Colin keep his invaluable brains out of the range of batons; he knows very well where they flourish so forth. The remuneration is far from princely, but it helps, and then I have my little croft, and grow potatoes and other vegetables. In a word, I live . |