260 RUDIMENTARY, ATROPHIED, [Chap. XIV. 



" to complete the scheme of nature." But this is not an 

 explanation, merely a re-statement of the fact. Nor 

 is it consistent with itself; thus the boa-constrictor has 

 rudiments of hind-limbs and of a pelvis, and if it be 

 said that these bones have been retained " to complete 

 the scheme of nature," why, as Professor Weismann 

 asks, have they not been retained by other snakes, which 

 do not possess even a vestige of these same bones? What 

 would be the thought of an astronomer who maintained 

 that the satellites revolve in elliptic courses round their 

 planets " for the sake of symmetry," because the planets 

 thus revolve round the sun? An eminent physiologist 

 accounts for the presence of rudimentary organs, by 

 supposing that they serve to excrete matter in excess, 

 or matter injurious to the system; but can we suppose 

 that the minute papilla, which often represents the 

 pistil in male flowers, and which is formed of mere 

 cellular tissue, can thus act? Can we suppose that 

 rudimentary teeth, which are subsequently absorbed, 

 are beneficial to the rapidly growing embryonic calf by 

 removing matter so precious as phosphate of lime? 

 When a man's fingers have been amputated, imperfect 

 nails have been known to appear on the stumps, and I 

 could as soon believe that these vestiges of nails are de- 

 veloped in order to excrete horny matter, as that the 

 rudimentary nails on the fin of the manatee have been 

 developed for this same purpose. 



On the view of descent with modification, the origin 

 of rudimentary organs is comparatively simple; and we 

 can understand to a large extent the laws governing 

 their imperfect development. We have plenty of cases 

 of rudimentary organs in our domestic productions, — as 

 the stump of a tail in tailless breeds, — the vestige of an 



