Part 6 (1/2)

Without attempting to enter upon the argument yet to be conducted through the wider relations concerned, it must be obvious that the facts bearing on insect life must erelong have a larger share than they have yet had in influencing our generalizations. By reference to these, it becomes apparent, that anatomical structure is not in itself an adequate guide in determining comparative importance on the scale of organic existence; and, what is still more startling, that even comparative brain structure can not be taken as the sole test of the measure of intelligence belonging to animals. The whole orders of ants, taken collectively, must be regarded as presenting quite exceptional difficulties, not only for a theory of evolution regarded as an all-embracing science of life; but also for that theory of intelligence which seeks to account for diversities of power by the comparative complexity of brain structure.

Pa.s.sing from more detailed discussion, it is needful to observe how wide and valuable are the results of these researches concerning the relation of the vegetable kingdom with lower orders of animals. Facts now recorded in mult.i.tudes of scientific journals, and more elaborate treatises, ill.u.s.trate wonderful minuteness of contrivance and completeness of adaptation in the works of nature, giving to the range of knowledge possessed only a century ago an aspect of insignificance.

What the microscope has done by enlarging the range of human vision, subdivision of labor among scientific inquirers, and proportionate concentration, have done, in the way of embracing the vast and complicated field, of observation lying open to all eyes. The results exalt to a greatly higher place in our appreciation the evidence of design in the world. The consequence is that while the line of thought followed by Paley, in what he designated _Natural Theology_, has become a thousand-fold more interesting, the familiar and now almost antiquated ill.u.s.tration of the _watch_, taken as a model of human design, by the comparative simplicity of its adjustments, seems strangely inadequate to represent even in the most temporary form, a minuteness of design quite overwhelming to the human mind in its attempts to bring it within a uniform scheme. Whether all this was provided for by manifold creative acts, or by development from a few primordial forms, does not affect the argument; the latter suggestion only greatly increases its force. To those who are swayed only by an intellectual interest, the facts of vegetable and insect life must be full of significance, suggestive of far-reaching reflection. But to no body of men can these results of scientific research be so attractive as to those who require for all nature a supernatural explanation.

FOOTNOTES:

[BR] _Lay Sermons_, chap, vii., p. 134.

[BS] Darwin's _Fertilization of Orchids_, p. 2; Lubbock's _Scientific Lectures_, p. 8.

[BT] Sir John Lubbock's _Scientific Lectures_, p. 3. Mr. Darwin refers to Fritz Muller's papers as reported in _Botanische Zeitung_, 1869-70.

Appendix IX.

[BU] _The Various Contrivances by which Orchids are fertilized by Insects_, 2d ed. p. 293.

[BV] _Fertilization_, p. 5.

[BW] _Fertilization_, p. 12.

[BX] _Fertilization_, p. 102.

[BY] _Ib._ p. 113.

[BZ] _Fertilization_, p. 44.

[CA] _Scientific Lectures_, p. 31.

[CB] _Fertilization_, p. 2.

[CC] _Ib._ p. 284.

[CD] _Fertilization_, p. 285.

[CE] _Fertilization_, p. 246.

[CF] _Botany_, (Science Primers) by Dr. J. D. Hooker, C.B., P.R.S., p.

79.

[CG] _Scientific Lectures_, p. 36.

[CH] See Appendix X.

[CI] See Appendix VIII.

[CJ] _Origin of Species_, 6th ed. p. 230.

[CK] _Origin of Species_, 6th ed. p. 233.