FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. 255 



venture to say that this or that structure is useless ? " A 

 kindred point is expressed in a letter to Sir J. D. Hooker 

 (May 1 4th, 1862) : 



"When many parts of structure, as in the woodpecker, 

 show distinct adaptation to external bodies, it is preposterous 

 to attribute them to the effects of climate, &c., but when a 

 single point alone, as a hooked seed, it is conceivable it may 

 thus have arisen. I have found the study of Orchids emi- 

 nently useful in showing me how nearly all parts of the flower 

 are co-adapted for fertilisation by insects, and therefore the 

 results of natural selection, even the most trifling details of 

 structure." 



One of the greatest services rendered by my father to the 

 study of Natural History is the revival of Teleology. The 

 evolutionist studies the purpose or meaning of organs with 

 the zeal of the older Teleology, but with far wider and more 

 coherent purpose. He has the invigorating knowledge that 

 he is gaining not isolated conceptions of the economy of the 

 present, but a coherent view of both past and present. And 

 even where he fails to discover the use of any part, he may,, 

 by a knowledge of its structure, unravel the history of the 

 past vicissitudes in the life of the species. In this way a 

 vigour and unity is given to the study of the forms of 

 organised beings, which before it lacked. This point has 

 already been discussed in Mr. Huxley's chapter on the 

 ' Reception of the Origin of Species! and need not be 

 here considered. It does, however, concern us to recognize 

 that this "great service to natural science," as Dr. Gray 

 describes it, was effected almost as much by his special 

 botanical work as by the ' Origin of Species.' 



For a statement of the scope and influence of my father's, 

 botanical work, I may refer to Mr. Thiselton Dyer's article 

 in ' Charles Darwin,' one of the Nature Series. Mr. Dyer's 

 wide knowledge, his friendship with my father, and especially 

 his power of sympathising with the work of others, combine 



