Origin of Species Variorum

→ or more necessary, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

or, in order fully to understand the relations of the parts, more useful 1872

→ than the use and 1859 1860 1861 1866

in order fully to understand the relations of the parts, than the 1869

than the 1872

→ leg of the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

→ relatively to the adjoining parts in the embryo, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

in the embryo relatively to the adjoining parts, 1872

↑ 2 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866; present in 1869 1872

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?

→ sufficient to say that because planets 1859 1860 1861 1866

of an astronomer, who maintained that the satellites 1869

of an astronomer who maintained that the satellites 1872

→ the sun, satellites follow 1859 1860 1861 1866

their planets "for 1869 1872

→ course round 1859 1860 1861 1866

of symmetry," because 1869 1872

→ for the sake of symmetry, and to complete the scheme of nature? 1859 1860 1861 1866

thus revolve round the sun? 1869 1872

the same

class, nothing is more common, →or more necessary, →than the use and discovery of rudiments. This is well shown in the drawings given by Owen of the

leg-bones

bones

of the →leg of the horse, ox, and rhinoceros.

It is an important fact that rudimentary organs, such as teeth in the upper jaws of whales and ruminants, can often be detected in the embryo, but afterwards wholly disappear. It is also, I believe, a universal rule, that a rudimentary part

~~or organ~~

or organ

is of greater size →relatively to the adjoining parts in the embryo, than in the adult; so that the organ at this early age is less rudimentary, or even cannot be said to be in any degree rudimentary.

Hence

Hence,

~~also, a~~

also, a

rudimentary

organs

organ

in the

adult,

adult

are

often said to have retained

their

its

embryonic condition.

I have now given the leading facts with respect to rudimentary organs. In reflecting on them, every one must be struck with

astonishment;

astonishment:

for the same reasoning power which tells us

~~plainly~~

plainly

that most parts and organs are exquisitely adapted for certain purposes, tells us with equal plainness that these rudimentary or atrophied

organs,

organs

are imperfect and useless. In works on natural

history,

history

rudimentary organs are generally said to have been created "for the sake of symmetry," or in order "to complete the scheme of

nature."

~~but~~

~~this~~

~~seems~~

~~explanation,~~

~~merely~~

~~an imposing~~

restatement

~~re-statement~~

re-statement

~~the~~

the

~~fact.~~

fact.

↑

What would

Would it

be thought →sufficient to say that because planets revolve in elliptic courses round →the sun, satellites follow the

sake

same

→course round

the

their

planets

planets,

→for the sake of symmetry, and to complete the scheme of nature? An eminent physiologist accounts for the presence of rudimentary organs, by supposing that they serve to excrete matter in excess, or

matter injurious

injurious

to the system; but can

suppose that the