SOUNDNESS OF OWEN's ARGUMENT. 6l 



classification, ought evidently to correspond as 

 nearly as possible with the value assigned to 

 those peculiarities in the system of nature. 

 The significance of any anatomical feature 

 hinges on the number and variety of other 

 peculiarities to which it stands related. Pro- 

 fessor Owen's argument is therefore clearly 

 sound in principle,— that the "consequences" 

 of any such peculiarity must be considered in 

 estimating its systematic value. Take the 

 case of the differences, anatomically small, 

 which distinguish the arms of Man from the 

 arms of a monkey " The consequences/* 

 says Professor Owen, "of the liberation of one 

 pair of limbs from all service in station and 

 progression, due to the extreme modification 

 of the other pair for the exclusive discharge 



