CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Chapter II. Atrophy of institutions . . . . 281 



1. Atrophy from lack of use ... 282 



1. Functional inutility : (1) Offices of the port of 



Bruges. (2) The forest-courts of England . 282 



2. Transference of function : (1) Republican institu- 



tions under the Roman Empire. (2) Special 

 jurisdiction in Eagland . . . . 284 



2. Atrophy from lack of resource , . . 287 



1. Local administration at the close of the Roman 



Empire. 2. Degeneration of societies in general 287 



PART II. Causes of the persistence of organs or institutions 



without function ...... 292 



Chapter I. Survival of organs ..... 292 



1. Unfunctional organs that are not rudimentary ' . 292 



Absence of variation (flowers of Ficaria ranuncu- 

 loldes, Lysimachia Nummularia, Elodeacanadensis, 

 stratiotes aloides, cleistogamous flowers, eyes in 

 the male Machaerites .... 292 



2. Unfunctional organs which persist as rudiments . 295 



1. Absence of variation. Insignificance of the rudi- 

 mentary organ (stipules of Tropaeolum majus, 

 accessory rudiments of enamel organs in the 

 development of teeth .... 295 



Chapter II. Survival of institutions .... 298 



1. Integral persistence of an institution . . . 299 



(1) Maintenance by compulsion (rotten boroughs in 

 England ; the States of Normandy and the 

 Dauphiny in France). (2) Indirect usefulness 

 (English monarchy). (3) Respect for tradition 

 (royal prerogatives exercised by the praetor; 

 institution of sheriffs in England) . . 299 



2. Survival of institutions in a reduced condition . 306 



1. Insignificance of the institution (jurisdiction at 

 da Martinique ; summons quo warranto ; Diocese 

 of Cambrai ; marsh-land in Artois ; tribute paid 

 to Spain by France). Respect for traditions 

 (survival of the old regime in England ; instances 

 of survival in law and religion . . . 307 



PART III. Summary and conclusions .... 317 



General conclusions ...... 320 



