82 CHAPTERS ON EVOLUTION. 



as being represented in the animal or plant of to-day as a legitimate 

 heritage derived from its ancestor. It is, in short, a family feature, 

 to which the living being is the " rightful heir," but which has fallen, 

 through the operation of natural laws and conditions, into disuse, 

 and has accordingly suffered in the career of living nature " down 

 the ringing grooves of change." Necessarily, this second and 

 rational explanation of the rudimentary appendages of animals and 

 plants is founded on the supposition that Nature and Nature's 

 creatures are continually undergoing alterations, and that they have 

 been modified in the past, as they will be in all time to come. 

 The explanation thus afforded of the nature and origin of these 

 disused parts is endorsed by the fuller knowledge of their history ; 

 whilst, from a study apparently of insignificant interest, may be shown 

 how certain of our living neighbours, along with ourselves, have, from 

 lower states, and from the dawning epochs of the world, literally 

 taken their place " in the foremost files of time." 



As most persons who have attentively looked at any common 

 plant can tell, four parts are included in a perfect flower. These parts 



FIQ. 23. STRUCTURE OF WALLFLOWER, 



or sets of organs, as seen in the wallflower, consist (Fig. 23), firstly, of an 

 outer covering coloured green, and named the " calyx " (ca). Then 

 comes the blossom or flower itself, forming the "corolla" (co). Inside 

 the corolla we find certain stalked organs, each bearing a little head or 

 " anther," filled with a yellow dust, the " pollen." These organs are 

 the " stamens " (st). Lastly, in the centre of the flower we note the 

 " pistil" (^), or organ devoted to the production of "ovules." The 

 latter, when duly fertilised by being brought into contact with the 

 "pollen" of the stamens, become " seeds," and are capable of growing 

 up, when planted, into new plants. 



Now, the botanist will inform us that it is a matter of common 

 experience to find some individual plants of a species with well- 

 developed petals or blossoms, and other individuals of the same 

 species with petals in a rudimentary condition ; thus proving that 

 the production of imperfect parts in flowers occurs as an ordinary 



