144 DARWINISM STATED BY DARWIN HIMSELF. 



the sake of symmetry," because the planets thus revolve 

 round the sun ? An eminent physiologist accounts for 

 the presence of rudimentary organs, by supposing that 

 they serve to excrete matter in excess, or matter injurious 

 to the system ; but can we suppose that the minute pa- 

 pilla, which often represents the pistil in male flowers, 

 and which is formed of mere cellular tissue, can thus act ? 

 Can we suppose that rudimentary teeth, which are subse- 

 quently absorbed, are beneficial to the rapidly growing 

 embryonic calf by removing matter so precious as phos- 

 phate of lime ? When a man's fingers have been ampu- 

 tated, imperfect nails have been known to appear on the 

 stumps, and I could as soon believe that these vestiges of 

 nails are developed in order to excrete horny matter, as 

 that the rudimentary nails on the fin of the manatee have 

 been developed for this same purpose. 



On the view of descent with modification, the origin 

 of rudimentary organs is comparatively simple ; and we 

 can understand to a large extent the laws governing their 

 imperfect development. 



THE HISTORY OF LIFE ON" THE THEORY OF DESCENT 

 WITH MODIFICATION. 



. . f Organs in a rudimentary condition plainly 



Species, show that an early progenitor had the organ 

 page 424. ^ n a fully-developed condition ; and this in 

 some cases implies an enormous amount of modification 

 in the descendants. Throughout whole classes various 

 structures are formed on the same pattern, and at a very 

 early age the embryos closely resemble each other. There- 

 fore I can not doubt that the theory of descent with modi- 

 fication embraces all the members of the same great class 

 or kingdom. I believe that animals are descended froi 



