Origin of Species Variorum

Comparison with 1872

Text in this page (from paragraph 5900, sentence 700, word 20 to paragraph 5910, sentence 700, word 56) is not present in 1872

Finally, as rudimentary organs, by whatever steps they may have been degraded into their present useless condition, are the record of a former state of things, and have been retained solely through the power of inheritance,— we can understand, on the genealogical view of classification, how it is that systematists, in placing organisms in their proper places in the natural system, have often found rudimentary parts as useful as, or even sometimes more useful than, parts of high physiological importance. Rudimentary organs may be compared with the letters in a word, still retained in the spelling, but become useless in the pronunciation, but which serve as a clue in seeking for its derivation. On the view of descent with modification, we may conclude that the existence of organs in a rudimentary, imperfect, and useless condition, or quite aborted, far from presenting a strange difficulty, as they assuredly do on the old doctrine of creation, might even have been anticipated, and can be accounted for by the laws of inheritance.

Summary .—

In this chapter I have attempted to show, that the subordination of group to group in all organisms throughout all time; in groups under groups— that the nature of the relationships by which all living and extinct beings are united by complex, radiating, and circuitous lines of affinities into a few grand classes,— the rules followed and the difficulties encountered by naturalists in their classifications; the value set upon characters, if constant and prevalent, whether of high or of the most trifling importance, or, as in rudimentary organs, of no importance; the wide opposition in value between analogical or adaptive characters, and characters of true affinity; and other

if not useful to the possessor, will be saved as far as is possible, may often have come into play, and aided in the entire obliteration of a rudimentary organ. ↑

As the presence of rudimentary organs is thus due to the tendency in every part of the organisation, which has long existed, to be inherited— we can understand, on the genealogical view of classification, how it is that systematists have found rudimentary parts as useful as, or even sometimes more useful than, parts of high physiological importance. Rudimentary organs may be compared with the letters in a word, still retained in the spelling, but become useless in the pronunciation, but which serve as a clue .. for its derivation. On the view of descent with, modification, we may conclude that the existence of organs in a rudimentary, imperfect, and useless condition, or quite aborted, far from presenting a strange difficulty, as they assuredly do on the ordinary doctrine of creation, might even have been anticipated in accordance with the views here explained.

Summary .

In this chapter I have attempted to show, that the arrangement of all organic beings throughout all time in group under group— that the nature of the relationship, by which all living and extinct organisms are united by complex, radiating, and circuitous lines of affinities in a few grand classes,— the rules followed and the difficulties encountered by naturalists in their classifications,— the value set upon characters, if constant and prevalent, whether of high or the most trifling importance, or, as with rudimentary organs, of no importance,— the wide opposition in value between analogical or adaptive characters, and characters of true affinity; and other