function, which is sometimes plainly apparent. A nascent organ, though
little developed, as it has to be developed must be useful in every stage
of development. As we cannot prophesy, we cannot tell what organs are now
nascent; and 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 Ornithorhynchus 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 can not 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