He who believes that some ancient form was transformed suddenly through an
internal force or tendency into, for instance, one furnished with wings,
will be almost compelled to assume, in opposition to all analogy, that many
individuals varied simultaneously. It cannot be denied that such abrupt
and great changes of structure are widely different from those which most
species apparently have undergone. He will further be compelled to believe
that many structures beautifully adapted to all the other parts of the same
creature and to the surrounding conditions, have been suddenly produced;
and of such complex and wonderful co-adaptations, he will not be able to
assign a shadow of an explanation. He will be forced to admit that these
great and sudden transformations have left no trace of their action on the
embryo. To admit all this is, as it seems to me, to enter into the realms
of miracle, and to leave those of science.
CHAPTER VIII.
INSTINCT.
Instincts comparable with habits, but different in their origin --
Instincts graduated -- Aphides and ants -- Instincts variable -- Domestic
instincts, their origin -- Natural instincts of the cuckoo, molothrus,
ostrich, and parasitic bees -- Slave-making ants -- Hive-bee, its
cell-making instinct -- Changes of instinct and structure not necessarily
simultaneous -- Difficulties of the theory of the Natural Selection of
instincts -- Neuter or sterile insects -- Summary.
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