18 DARWINISM STATED BY DARWIN HIMSELF. 



pletely barren, like hybrids from the union of two widely 

 distinct species. 



AST " IDEAL TYPE " OR INEVITABLE MODIFICATION ? 



Fertilization It is interesting to look at one of the mag- 

 by Insects nificent exotic species (orchids), or, indeed, at 

 page 245. one of our humblest forms, and observe how 

 profoundly it has been modified, as compared with all 

 ordinary flowers — with its great labellum, formed of one 

 petal and two petaloid stamens ; with its singular pollen- 

 masses, hereafter to be referred to ; with its column 

 formed of seven cohering organs, of which three alone 

 perform their proper function, namely, one anther and 

 two generally confluent stigmas ; with the third stigma 

 modified into the rostellum and incapable of being fer- 

 tilized ; and with three of the anthers no longer function- 

 ally active, but serving either to protect the pollen of the 

 fertile anther or to strengthen the column, or existing 

 as mere rudiments, or entirely suppressed. "What an 

 amount of modification, cohesion, abortion, and change 

 of function do we here see ! Yet hidden in that column, 

 with its surrounding petals and sepals, we know that 

 there are fifteen groups of vessels, arranged three within 

 three, in alternate order, which probably have been pre- 

 served to the present time from being developed at a very 

 early period of growth, before the shape or existence of 

 any part of the flower is of importance for the well-being 

 of the plant. 



Can we feel satisfied by saying that each orchid was 

 created, exactly as we now see it, on a certain " ideal 

 type " ; that the omnipotent Creator, having fixed on one 

 plan for the whole order, did not depart from this plan ; 

 that he, therefore, made the same organ to perform di- 



