214 PUBLICATION OF THE 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES.' [1859. 



nascent organs will rarely have been handed down by certain 

 members of a class from a remote period to the present day, 

 for beings with any important organ but little developed, will 

 generally have been supplanted by their descendants with the 

 organ well developed. The mammary glands in Ornitho- 

 rhynchus may, perhaps, be considered as nascent compared 

 with the udders of a cow Ovigerous frena, in certain cirripedes, 

 are nascent branchiae in [illegible] the swim bladder is almost 

 rudimentary for this purpose, and is nascent as a lung. The 

 small wing of penguin, used only as a fin, might be nascent 

 as a wing ; not that I think so ; for the whole structure of the 

 bird is adapted for flight, and a penguin so closely resembles 

 other birds, that we may infer that its wings have probably 

 been modified, and reduced by natural selection, in accordance 

 with its sub-aquatic habits. Analogy thus often serves as a 

 guide in distinguishing whether an organ is rudimentary or 

 nascent. I believe the Os coccyx gives attachment to certain 

 muscles, but I cannot doubt that it is a rudimentary tail. 

 The bastard wing of birds is a rudimentary digit ; and I 

 believe that if fossil birds are found very low down in the 

 series, they will be seen to have a double or bifurcated wing. 

 Here is a bold prophecy ! 



To admit prophetic germs, is tantamount to rejecting the 

 theory of Natural Selection. 



I am very glad you think it worth while to run through my 

 book again, as much, or more, for the subject's sake as for my 

 own sake. But I look at your keeping the subject for some 

 little time before your mind raising your own difficulties 

 and solving them as far more important than reading my 

 book. If you think enough, I expect you will be perverted, 

 and if you ever are, I shall know that the theory of Natural 

 Selection is, in the main, safe ; that it includes, as now put 

 forth, many errors, is almost certain, though I cannot see 

 them. Do not, of course, think of answering this; but if you have 

 other occasion to write again, just say whether I have, in ever 



