24 CN THE LAW WHICH HAS REGULATED 



Do they not teach us something of the system of 

 Nature ? If each species has been created inde- 

 pendently, and without any necessary relations with 

 pre-existing species, what do these rudiments, these 

 apparent imperfections mean ? There must be a 

 cause for them ; they must be the necessary results 

 of some great natural law. Now, if, as it has been 

 endeavoured to be shown, the great law which has 

 regulated the peopling of the earth with animal and 

 vegetable life is, that every change shall be gradual; 

 that no new creature shall be formed widely differing 

 from anything before existing; that in this, as in 

 everything else in Nature, there shall be gradation 

 and harmony, then these rudimentary organs are 

 necessary, and are an essential part of the system of 

 Nature. Ere the higher Vertebrata were formed, for 

 instance, many steps were required, and many organs 

 had to undergo modifications from the rudimental 

 condition in which only they had as yet existed. 

 We still see remaining an antitypal sketch of a wing 

 adapted for flight in the scaly flapper of the penguin, 

 and limbs first concealed beneath the skin, and then 

 weakly protruding from it, were the necessary gra- 

 dations before others should be formed fully adapted 

 for locomotion.* Many more of these modifica- 

 tions should we behold, and more complete series 



* The theory of Natural Selection lias now taught us that 

 these are not the steps by which limbs have been formed ; and 

 that most rudimentary organs have been produced by abortion* 

 owing to disease, as explained by Mr. Darwin. 



