TRANSMUTABLE. 107 



penetrated far far into the interior, usually about 

 a couple of miles. Another instance may be drawn 

 from our own coasts. We have a small beetle, 

 which lives here between high and low water 

 mark, Aepus fulvescens, between the leaves of 

 shale. A closely allied form, but quite distinct, 

 Thalasobius testaceous, is found in like circum- 

 stances on the coast of Chili. Here again like 

 physical condition, like product. Take another 

 instance; of late years ants' nests have been found 

 to contain a considerable number of species of 

 beetles, which live with the ants, are often ex- 

 cessively like them, and sometimes are unprovided 

 with eyes. The same peculiarity prevails here 

 allied species and nothing but allied species in 

 tints' nests, wherever they are." "Further, it were 

 easy to draw abundance of proof of the fact, that 

 congenerous species are at all events always found 

 in similar physical conditions of life.' 11 



But does Mr. Darwin suppose that the Creator, 

 who placed these creatures in the spot destined 

 for their home, was likely to give them organs 

 which they were never to use? In the case of 

 moles, there are times when for their personal 

 safety a certain degree of sight is necessary, and 

 therefore it is given to them. But if disuse will 

 deprive an animal of its wings, why do they not 

 disappear in our ducks, geese, and poultry? 



Certain female insects have no wings, or only 

 rudimentary ones. The object of their existence 

 is to deposit their eggs, and then they die; and 

 this is observed in some species of moths of all 



