Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. The absurdity of abortive organs being created for system is felt. CUL-DAR205.1.17-18. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Kees Rookmaaker, edited by John van Wyhe 09.2014. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.1 contains notes on rudimentary organs.

[17]

The absurdity of abortive organs being created for system, is felt strongly when applied to fossils with abortive organs. -

[17v]

These, perhaps, are organs, not abortive yet not of use or rather not of necessity. - So tail of woodpecker on plains.

[18]

One might almost as well say, nails of stump of fingers; or horns on skin of Humble Cow had no relation to the former existence, as that teeth in whale-jaw, in Rhinoceros. - nails in flippers, teeth in parrots bill had no relation to some previous structure. ???

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)