310 THE INDUCTIONS OF BIOLOGY. 



And then, when it turns out that this possession of seven 

 cervical vertebrae is not an absolutely-universal characteristic 

 of mammals, shall we conclude that while, in a host of cases, 

 there is a needless adherence to a plan for the sake of 

 consistency, there is yet, in some cases, an inconsistent 

 abandonment of the plan ? I think we may properly refuse 

 to draw any such conclusion. 



What, then, is the meaning of these peculiar relations of 

 organic forms ? The answer to this question must be post- 

 poned. Having here contemplated the problem as presented 

 in these wide inductions which naturalists have reached ; and 

 having seen what proposed solutions of it are inadmissible ; 

 we shall see, in the next division of this work, what is the 

 only possible solution. 



