495 
always and everywhere itself controlled by the principle 
of utility. 
Two consequences follow from this treatment of the 
problem : i. The advocate of Natural Selection seizes 
upon the fact of degeneration because he can explain, or 
thinks that he can explain, that phenomenon on the 
principles of his theory ; 2. While he does not deny the 
possibility of the existence of progressive organs, he limits 
the action of progressive Organic Evolution by insisting 
that at every stage each step of progress shall be useful in 
a very emphatic sense, while he allows that it is not 
always easy to prove that this is so. 
The discussion as to the true significancy of imperfect 
organs has been much obscured by the curious confusion 
which has arisen in connection with the terms which are 
employed. The facts already referred to suggest that an 
organ or organism may exist in one or other of the follow 
ing conditions:—In the first place it must have begun in 
some very small modification, that went on progressing 
until a condition of tolerable perfection was attained, the 
organ being structurally and functionally perfect. Having 
attained perfection, it is possible that it should become 
degenerate, either in structure or in function, until at last 
it disappeared altogether. But not only might an organ 
or an organism exist in any stage of progress or of 
retrogression, it might also be moving or it might be 
arrested in this progress or retrogression. Now I venture 
to say that the resources of the English language suffice 
to provide us with a clear and distinct nomenclature on 
this subject. What better word could possibly be found 
to express the first beginnings of the process of develop 
ment than the word “ nascent ” ? for as the birth is the 
beginning of the career of the man, so the first modifica 
tion is the beginning of the development of an organism.