48 Some Wayside Problems 



possible the operations of bat-fowling and "burning the 

 water"? Might not May-flies and Spinners have dis- 

 covered a method of depositing their eggs in water 

 without the preliminary evolutions on its surface which 

 are so convenient for the Trout ? Have Wheatears 

 been proved to be any the better for their propensity to 

 drop into the first hollow they come across, a propensity 

 on which the shepherds of the southern downs trade so 

 largely? Have Wild Ducks any substantial advantage 

 to show for that readiness of theirs to follow a red dog 

 which leads them in hundreds into the decoys of the 

 fens? or have Sheep improved their position in the 

 world by the practice of huddling together at the sight 

 of a dog and impotently stamping ? When a Blackbird 

 flies screaming out of a bush, does he do himself any 

 particular good to compensate the advertisement of 

 himself which he gives to those who do not wish him 

 well ? Though it may probably be a valuable assistance 

 to the hen Nightingale that her mate should sing to her 

 when sitting on her eggs in spring, does the same 

 explanation equally apply to the autumn song of the 

 Robin? Is it so very certain that the Strawberry has 

 been signally aided in the struggle for life by its edible 

 fruit, seeing that its cousins the Potentillas have thriven 

 even better without one ? How has the Little Celandine 

 found a return for the cost lavished on its blossom, 

 which scarcely ever performs the proper work of a 

 blossom by producing seeds. 



These are a few specimens, taken at random, from 

 among the multitude which thrust themselves upon the 

 notice of any one who gives any attention to the facts 

 of nature. And any explanation of the methods of 

 nature which claims to be accepted as final must easily 

 fit itself to such. All I am at present concerned to 

 argue is that as yet we are not in possession of any 

 account so obviously satisfactory as to justify us in 

 dogmatizing or in pluming ourselves on having attained 

 the felicity promised to him qui potuit rerum cognoscere 

 causas. 



