100 THE VALUE OF COLOUR 



fluence of the great theologian. Thus Darwin, 

 speaking of his Undergraduate days, tells us in his 

 Autobiography that the logic of Paley's Evidences of 

 Christianity and Moral Philosophy gave him as much 

 delight as did Euclid. 



' The careful study of these works, without attempting to 

 learn any part by rote, was the only part of the academical 

 course which, as I then felt and as I still believe, was of the 

 least use to me in the education of my mind. I did not at 

 that time trouble myself about Paley's premises ; and taking 

 these on trust, I was charmed and convinced by the long 

 line of argumentation.' 1 



When Darwin came to write the Origin he 

 quoted in relation to Natural Selection one of 

 Paley's conclusions. ' No organ will be formed, 

 as Paley has remarked, for the purpose of causing 

 pain or for doing an injury to its possessor.' 2 



The study of adaptation always had for Darwin, 

 as it has for many, a peculiar charm. His words, 

 written Nov. 28, 1880, to Sir W. Thiselton-Dyer, 

 are by no means inappropriate at the present day, 

 nor is their application by any means to be 

 restricted to a single nation : * Many , of the 

 Germans are very contemptuous about making 

 out use of organs ; but they may sneer the souls 

 out of their bodies, and I for one shall think it 

 the most interesting part of natural history.' 3 



Mr. Francis Darwin truly says : 



' One of the greatest services rendered by my father to the 



1 Life and Letters, i. 47. 



2 Origin of Species (1st edit.), 1859, 201. 

 8 More Letters, ii. 428. 



