40 THE FUNCTIONS OF LIFE. 



have multiplied, where the arts of civilization have 

 enlarged his dominion, and where science has 

 armed him with still more extensive power. 



In every department of nature it cannot fail to 

 strike us that boundless variety is a characteristic 

 and predominant feature of her productions. It is 

 only when the object to be attained is dependent 

 upon certain detinite conditions, excluding the pos- 

 sibility of modification, that these conditions are 

 uniformly and strictly adhered to. But wherever 

 that absolute necessity does not exist, and there is 

 afforded scope for deviation, there we are certain 

 to find introduced all those modifications which 

 the occasion admits of. Not only is this tendency 

 to variety exemplified in the general appearance 

 and form of the body, but it also prevails in each 

 individual organ, however minute and insignificant 

 that organ may seem. Even when the purpose to 

 be answered is identical, the means which are 

 employed are infinitely diversified in different in- 

 stances, as if a design had existed of displaying to 

 the astonished eyes of mortals the unbounded re- 

 sources of creative power. While the elements of 

 structure are the same, there is presented to us in 

 succession every possible combination of organs, as 

 if it had been the object to exhaust all the admis- 

 sible permutations in the order of their union. 



Some wise purpose, though dimly perceptible to 

 our imperfect understandings, is no doubt answered 

 by this great law of organic formation, the Imv 

 of variety. That it is not blindly or indiscriminately 

 followed, is apparent from its being circumscribed 

 within certain limits, and controlled by another 

 law, which we have next to consider — that of con- 

 formity to a definite type. 



