74 THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES OF 



ignorance of natural principles in the Author 

 of nature, or a singular absence of thought 

 in applying His knowledge. But, on the 

 other hand, if all the structures and instincts 

 are supposed to be due to natural selection 

 (whether alone or in conjunction with other 

 natural causes), we have no need to feel 

 staggered at flagrant cases of imperfection ; 

 we have only to wonder at the number of 

 cases in which perfection, more or less complete, 

 has been attained. 



3. Lastly, there is still another general con- 

 sideration, and one which appeals to my mind as 

 of immense weight. The question, it will be re- 

 membered, lies between beneficent design and 

 natural selection, and I think that the considera- 

 tion about to be adduced is in itself alone 

 sufficient to decide the question. 



This consideration is that amid all the millions 

 of mechanisms and instincts in the animal king;- 



