NATURAL HISTORY OF CREATION. 149 



In tlie paddles of the wliale and other animals of its 

 order, we see the same bones as in the more highly 

 developed extremities of the land mammifers ; and even 

 the serpent tiibes, which present no external appearance 

 of such extremities, possess them in reality, but in an 

 undeveloped or rudimental state. 



The same law of development presides over the 

 vegetable kingdom. Amongst phanerogamous plants, a 

 certain number of organs appear to be always present, 

 either in a developed or rudimentary state ; and those 

 which are rudimentary can be developed by cultivation. 

 The flowers which bear stamens on one stalk and 

 pistils on another, can be caused to produce both, or 

 to become perfect flowers, by having a sufliciency of 

 nourishment supplied to them. So, also, where a special 

 function is required for particular circumstances, nature 

 has provided for it, not by a new organ, but by a modifi- 

 cation of a common one, which she has eftected in 

 development. Thus, for instance, some jilants destined to 

 live in arid situations, require to have a store of water 

 which they may slowly absorb. The need is arranged 

 for by a cup-like expansion round the stalk, in which 

 water remains after a shower. ISTow the iiitcher, as this 

 is called, is not a new organ, but simply the metamor- 

 phosis of a leaf. 



These facts clearly show how all the various organic 

 forms of our world are bound up in one — how a funda- 

 mental unity pervades and embraces them all, collecting 

 them, from the humblest lichen up to the highest mam- 

 mifer, in one system, the whole creation of which must 

 have depended upon one law or decree of the Almighty, 

 though it did not all come forth at one time. After 

 what we have seen the idea of a separate exertion for 

 each must appear totally inadmissible. The single fact 



