﻿326 Darwin, and after Darwin. 



an insect's wing is folded, whether the skin be covered by 

 hair or feathers — if it prevail throughout many and different 

 species, especially those having very different habits of life, 

 it assumes high value [i.e. for purposes of classification]; for 

 we can account for its presence in so many forms with such 

 different habits, only by inheritance from a common parent. 

 We may err in this respect in regard to single points of structure, 

 but when several characters, let them be ever so trifling, concur 

 throughout a large group of beings having different habits, we 

 may feel almost sure, on the theory of descent, that these 

 characters have been inherited from a common ancestor ; and 

 we know that such aggregated characters have especial value 

 in classification 1 ." 



Now it is evident that this argument for the general 

 theory of evolution would be destroyed, if Wallace's as- 

 sumption of utility of specific characters as universal were 

 to be entertained. And the fact of apparently "trifling' 1 ' 

 characters occurring throughout a large group of beings 

 " having different habits " is proof that they are really trifling, 

 or without utilitarian significance. 



It is needless to multiply these quotations, for it appears 

 to me that the above are amply sufficient to establish 

 the only point with which we are here concerned, namely, 

 that Darwin's opinion on the subject of utility in relation 

 to specific characters was substantially identical with my 

 own. And this is established, not merely by the literal 

 meaning of the sundry passages here gathered together 

 from different parts of his writings ; but likewise, and per- 

 haps still more, from the tone of thought which pervades 

 these writings as a whole. It requires no words of mine 

 to show that the literal meaning of the above quotations 

 is entirely opposed to Mr. Wallace's view touching the 

 necessary utility of all specific characters; but upon the 

 other point — or the general tone of Mr. Darwin's thought 

 regarding such topics — it may be well to add two remarks, 

 1 Origin of Species, pp. 37 2 "373- 



