Mr. Grant Aliens Botanical Fables 17 



outermost become more deeply oxidized than the other 

 parts, and acquire a russet-red hue. The belted appear- 

 ance which thus results is really as accidental, if I may 

 use that unphilosophical expression, as the belted ap- 

 pearance of an old umbrella. The flower happened to be 

 folded so and got coloured, or discoloured, accordingly. 

 . . . Four or five petals radially arranged in them- 

 selves produce that kind of symmetry which man, with 

 his intellectual love for order and definite patterns, always 

 finds beautiful. But the symmetry in the flower simply 

 results from the fact that a single whorl of leaves has 

 grown into this particular shape^ while other whorls have 

 grown into other shapes, and every such whorl always 

 and necessarily presents us with an example of the kind 

 of symmetry which we so much admire. . . . Thus 

 the whole loveliness of flowers is in the last resort 

 dependent upon all kinds of accidental causes causes, 

 that is to say, into which the deliberate design of the 

 production of beautiful effects does not enter." 



Here is surely a key to many difficulties, and an 

 antidote to much misplaced admiration. Let the reader 

 remember next time he may chance to visit a print- 

 works that the figures impressed on the calico are but a 

 necessary result of the machinery : given that the rollers 

 rotate, and that the stuff passes under them, the distri- 

 bution of reds and blacks and yellows in the forms we 

 see, follows as a matter of course. It is moreover to be 

 remarked that the Bindweed is frequently destitute of 

 these dark bands, though in bud it has been folded as 

 described. 



There are many tempting themes to which Mr. Allen 

 invites us, and not least when he decides concerning the 

 Butterfly that it is "mainly an animated puppet," but 

 yet "a puppet which, after its vague little fashion, thinks 

 and feels very much as we do." 1 Into these themes, 

 however, I cannot now follow him, but before parting 

 company I would try a specimen of his method on my 

 own account, and, going out into the fields, look to see 

 1 Evolutionist ', p. 160. Italics mine. 



