utilations; 7, the fact that puberty indicates the approach of
maturity; 8, the phenomena of middle life and old age; 9, the
principle underlying longevity. These phenomena have no conceivable
bearing on one another until heredity and memory are regarded as
part of the same story. Identify these two things, and I know no
phenomenon of heredity that does not immediately become infinitely
more intelligible. Is it conceivable that a theory which harmonizes
so many facts hitherto regarded as without either connection or
explanation should not deserve at any rate consideration from those
who profess to take an interest in biology?

It is not as though the theory were unknown, or had been condemned
by our leading men of science. Professor Ray Lankester introduced
it to English readers in an appreciative notice of Professor
Hering's address, which appeared in Nature, July 13, 1876. He wrote
to the Athenaeum, March 24, 1884, and claimed credit for having done
so, but I do not believe he has ever said more in public about it
than what I have here referred to. Mr. Romanes did indeed try to
crush it in Nature, January 27,1881, but in 1883, in his Mental
Evolution in Animals, he adopted its main conclusion without
acknowledgment. The Athenaeum, to my unbounded surprise, called him
to task for this (March 1, 1884), and since that time he has given
the Heringian theory a sufficiently wide berth. Mr. Wallace showed
himself favourably enough disposed towards the view that heredity
and memory are part of the same story when he reviewed my book Life
and Habit in Nature, March 27, 1879, but he has never since betrayed
any sign of being aware that such a theory existed. Mr. Herbert
Spencer wrote to the Athenaeum (April 5, 1884), and claimed the
theory for himself, but, in spite of his doing this, he has never,
that I have seen, referred to the matter again. I have dealt
sufficiently with his claim in my book Luck or Cunning. Lastly,
Professor Hering himself has never that I know of touched his own
theory since the single short address read in 1870, and translated
by me in 1881. Everyone, even its originator, except myself, seems
afraid to open his mouth about it. Of course the inference suggests
itself that other people have more sense than I have. I readily
admit it; but why have so many of our leaders shown such a strong
hankering after the theory, if there is nothing in it?

The deadlock that I have pointed out as existi