12 ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION. 



the whole ground ; for we can conceive that the natural 

 action of objects upon each other should result in a final 

 fitness of the universe, and thus produce an harmonious 

 whole. Nor does the argument derived from the con- 

 nection of organs and functions seem to me more satis- 

 factory ; for, beyond certain limits, it is not even true. 

 We find organs without functions, as, for instance, the 

 teeth of the whale, which never cut through the gum, and 

 the breast in all males of the class of mammalia. These 

 and similar organs are preserved in obedience to a certain 

 uniformity of fundamental structure, true to the original 

 formula of that division of animal life, even when not 

 essential to its mode of existence. The organ remains, 

 not for the performance of a function, but with reference 

 to a plan, 1 and might almost remind us of what we often 

 see in human structures, when, for instance, in architec- 

 ture the same external combinations are retained for the 

 sake of symmetry and harmony of proportion, even when 

 they have no practical object. 



I disclaim every intention of introducing into this work 

 any evidence irrelevant to my subject, or of supporting any 

 conclusions not immediately flowing from it; but I can- 

 not overlook or disregard here the close connection which 



don, 1834, 2 vols. 8vo. BUCKLAKD logie de la Nature; Paris, 1852, 3 

 (WiLL.), Geology and Mineralogy vols., 8vo. MILLER (HUGH), Foot- 

 considered with Reference to Natural prints of the Creator ; Edinburgh, 

 Theology; London, 1836, 2 vols. 8vo., 1849, 1 vol. 12mo. BABBAGE (C.), 

 2nd edit., 1837. KIRBY (WiLL.), The Ninth Bridgwater Treatise, a 

 The Power, Wisdom, and Goodness Fragment ; London, 1838, 1 vol. 8vo. ? 

 of God, as Manifested in the Creation 2nd edit. 



of Animals, and in their History, 1 The unity of structure of the 



Habits, and Instincts; London, 1835, limbs of club-footed or pinnated ani- 



2 vols. 8vo. PROUT (WiLL.), Chemis- inals, in which the fingers are never 



try, Meteorology, and the Function moved, with those which enjoy the 



of Digestion, considered with Refer- most perfect articulations and free- 



ence to Natural Theology; London, dom of motion, exhibits this reference 



1834, 1 vol. 8vo. Compare also : most fully. 

 STRAUSS-DDRKHEIM (HERC.), Theo- 



