PROGRESS IN ORGANIZATION. 287 



most wonderful instinct, changes might be expected more rapid 

 in consequence of the very limited period of individual exist- 

 ence of each insect, and of the recurrence of animal trans- 

 formations. 



In the historical development both of the animal and vegetable 

 kingdoms in the present work an onward march is evident, 

 setting off with simple living organisms and moving on to highly 

 organized forms. This progressive advance does not agree with 

 the theory of selection ; for, according to that hypothesis, cha- 

 racters most favourable to existence would prevail in the struggle 

 for life. Professor Nsegeli has convincingly shown that the 

 principles of utility which form the living centre of the Darwinian 

 theory are not connected with progress in organization. It would 

 be difficult to understand how in this manner, and without any 

 determinate direction in the way of progress, the unicellular 

 plants and animals which are regarded as the parent stocks, 

 could have developed into highly organized forms. The same 

 difficulties arise in connexion with the question why, both in 

 the vegetable and animal kingdoms, Nature has not been con- 

 tented merely to endow these beings with what is strictly neces- 

 sary for the preservation of life, instead of ornamenting them 

 in such a varied manner *. 



able that the species in England should exhibit the same mode of lifo as in 

 Switzerland, and that the species in both places should have been developed 

 in precisely the same manner during so long a period of time, when we see 

 that a few centuries have sufficed to convert Englishmen into a people pecu- 

 liar in speech, manners, domestic architecture, &c., notwithstanding their 

 uninterrupted intercourse with other populations. What a gap separates 

 the Englishman of the present day from the first inhabitants of that island 

 with their stone implements ; whilst the ants, which immigrated even at an 

 earlier period, still move in the same groove ! This applies also to the insects 

 of Sweden. All that the admirable De Geer tells us of the economy of the 

 Swedish insects applies also to Swiss insects. 



* A simple uniform and green calyx would have been a sufficient protec- 

 tion for the fecundation and formation of the seeds of plants; but instead of 

 this, Prof. Heer observes in flowers a marvellous diversity in the corolla, in 

 form, colour, and size. Darwin has endeavoured to explain this fact by the 

 supposition that the colour and size of flowers attract insects which favour 

 fertilization by the transportation of pollen. Plants with brilliant colours 

 would thus produce more seed, and would, consequently, by degrees supplant 



