special contrivances, 73 



to be unexpected, as the oil gland in the fowl ; or 

 if the obvious relation is between two objects hav- 

 ing no organic relationship, as the reciprocal effect 

 of animals and plants upon the atmosphere for the 

 mutual benefit of each, or the peculiar structure of 

 many flowers in their relation to the structure of 

 the bee that is to fertilize them. What contrivance 

 of Instinct or Wisdom ever impressed one more 

 than the structure and function of so many Orchid 

 flowers as shown by Darwin, by which the parts are 

 as accurately fitted to the head of the bee as are 

 the parts of a complicated lock to its key ? Or who 

 would expect that a plant should have a structure 

 or function, or both combined, for destroying in- 

 sects? We find these two elements combined in 

 different ways, but each method of operation is as 

 complete for the purpose as any work of Instinct. 

 We are more impressed perhaps, by these specific 

 arrangements for some purpose that has no obvious 

 relation to the good of the being in which it is 

 found. We are not only impressed with the idea 

 of contrivance, but of servitude when we see plants 

 making special provision for their insect foes, pro- 

 viding them at their own expense, with food and 

 shelter. 



We cannot help remarking, in passing, that such 

 provisions are an injury to the species in which they 

 occur ; and therefore so far as these provisions are 

 concerned, such species exist not through Natural 

 Selection, but in spite of it. 



When treating of plants In the last lecture, we 

 spoke of the instinct-like provisions in them as man- 

 4 



