42 jsiAJN : 



tions of existing parts rather than the creation of new 

 ones. Take, for example, the mammalian neck, which 

 in all the orders consists of seven vertebral pieces. 

 If this has to he lengthened for functional purposes, 

 as in the camel and giraffe, the result is accomplished 

 not by the insertion of additional vertebrae, but 

 pimply by a lengthening of each of the normal seven. 

 If, on the other hand, it has to be shortened, as in the 

 case of man, this is done not by the abstraction of 

 one or more pieces, but simply by the compression of 

 each of the normal number. Or take the mammalian 

 fore-limb, with its shoulder-blade, arm-bone, forearm- 

 bones, wrist-bones, and fingers. In this organ, whether 

 it be the hand of man to manipulate, the claws of 

 the tiger to tear, the foot of the antelope to spring, 

 the hoof of the horse to run, the paddle of the whale 

 to swim, or the wing of the bat to fly, it is clear that 

 aU are but modifications of the same primal parts — 

 alterations for functional purposes, and not the creation 

 of new and different members. As with the fore- 

 limb, so with other organs. The plaiijppn which 

 the mammalian type has been diversified, so as to 

 produce its numerous orders, genera, and species, has 

 been the modification of component parts, and not 

 the creation of essentially new ones. And as with 

 the mammalian, so with the other types that constitute 

 the great scheme of life. In each, the respective 



