Note 89 — Chapter XXIV · LAWS OF VARIATION—USE AND DISUSE, ETC.

I suggested in ‘Nature’ (vol. 8 pp. 432, 505) that with organisms subjected to unfavourable conditions all the parts would tend towards reduction, and that under such circumstances any part which was not kept up to its standard size by natural selection would, owing to intercrossing, slowly but steadily decrease. In three subsequent communications to ‘Nature’ (March 12, April 9, and July 2, 1874), Mr. Romanes gives his improved view.