The Oueensland Naturalist. 
15 
lULY, 1915. 
Thus the records of palaeontology present many diffi- 
culties to those who favour teleological conceptions and for 
tlie supposed law of ortliogenesis. Palaeontology gives us 
largely the weeding out of certain forms. It chiefly demon- 
strates a process of relentless extermination and determination 
bv natural selections. The non-adaptable forms were 
inevitably lost, for many of these were apparently the over- 
specialised — the victims of hypertrophy. And so came about 
the marvellous fitness of certain things for their present 
environment. Thus were secured the wonderful inter- 
associations of plants and insects, parasites and hosts, or- 
ganisms and habitats. Darwin pointed out that the working 
of the laws of natural selection stultifies the old argument 
for pre-conceived design, and our fuller knowledge to-day 
does not give us material wherewith to criticise this view. 
But there is a new significance that some might call 
teleological, and this may be briefly outlined, though it may 
not satisfy those who prefer the old concepts. There may 
be seen a purpose in the omnipotence of life-power, in the 
apparently secure foundation of life itself — life which radiates 
out to the full gamut of potentiality ; life, the main stream 
of which goes ever onwards, always extending, even though 
mvriad off-shoots are lost in the struggle ; life that cannot 
always be measured in terms of progress, that moves 
downwards as well as upwards, that has developed venom 
of snakes as well as the milk of mammals, that has given 
birth to the tape-worm and to man ; life that is indifferent 
to ideals of goodness or evil, that is callous and cruel or 
benevolent and kind, that is fortuitous, and even at time 
stupid, and that also startles us with some of its ingenious 
adaptations ; life and nature, symbolised by the ])oet as half- 
devil and half-angel. 
In conclusion, let us remember the optimistic ideals 
of one of our greatest scientists, Sir Ray Lankester, of man's 
attitude towards this raw material of nature. Man is 
“ nature’s insurgent son.” He is the subduer, the reclaimer, 
the utilise]', the rectifier, the great world-worker. He has 
in front of him herculean labours. New knowledge has 
brought new obligations. There must be no sighing for a 
life of lotus-eating. Man has now come of age, and man has 
now to enter into his kingdom. These are stirring ideals 
and of high ethical import. And we of the rank and file of 
science may well be proud to echo them, and to endeavour 
in our own way to plav a small part in ” this business of 
mankind.” 
