The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

RELATIONS OF ORGANISMS. 181which has ever been recorded." * It is mostobviously true, as Sir John Lubbock has said,that " neither plants nor insects would bewhat they are, but for the influence whicheach has exercised on the other." Jf In viewof the facts here very briefly described it willgenerally be allowed that Mr. Darwin's expectationfrom the study of orchids will beverified, -" An examinatioii of their manybeautiful contrivances will exalt the wholevegetable kingdom in most persons' estima-tion."$ We have enough before us to enableus to appreciate our autb'or7s feeling whenhe says, " Hardly any fact has struck me somuch as the endless diversities of structure,-the prodigality of resources for gaining thevery same end.'' Again when giving us hisprevailing impression he says,--" The more Istudy nature, the more I become impressedwith ever-increasing force, that the contrivancesand beautiful adaptations, slowly acquiredthrough each part occasionally varyingin a slight degree, but in many ways, with.the preservation of tliose variations which werebeneficial to the organism under complex and* Fertilization, p. 44. t Scientijic Lectures, p. 31.$ Fertilization, p. 2. Q Ib. p. 284.