s every form of words and of
illustration, by which intention or mental purpose can be described.
'Contrivance'--'curious contrivance,'--'beautiful contrivance,'--these
are expressions which occur over and over again. Here is one sentence
describing the parts of a particular species: 'the Labellum is developed
into a long nectary, _in order_ to attract Lepidoptera, and we shall
presently give reason for suspecting that the nectar is _purposely_ so
lodged, that it can be sucked only slowly _in order_ to give time for
the curious chemical quality of the viscid matter setting hard and
dry.'" Many other examples of similar expressions are quoted by the
Duke, who maintains that no explanation of these "contrivances" has
been or can be given, except on the supposition of a personal contriver,
specially arranging the details of each case, although causing them to
be produced by the ordinary processes of growth and reproduction.

Now there is a difficulty in this view of the origin of the structure of
Orchids which the Duke does not allude to. The majority of flowering
plants are fertilized, either without the agency of insects or, when
insects are required, without any very important modification of the
structure of the flower. It is evident, therefore, that flowers might
have been formed as varied, fantastic, and beautiful as the Orchids, and
yet have been fertilized without more complexity of structure than is
found in Violets, or Clover, or Primroses, or a thousand other flowers.
The strange springs and traps and pitfalls found in the flowers of
Orchids cannot be necessary _per se_, since exactly the same end is
gained in ten thousand other flowers which do not possess them. Is it
not then an extraordinary idea, to imagine the Creator of the Universe
_contriving_ the various complicated parts of these flowers, as a
mechanic might contrive an ingenious toy or a difficult puzzle? Is it
not a more worthy conception that they are some of the results of those
general laws which were so co-ordinated at the first introduction of
life upon the earth as to result necessarily in the utmost possible
development of varied forms?

But let us take one of the simpler cases adduced and see if our general
laws are unable to account for it.

_A Case of Orchis-structure explained by Natural Selection._

There is a Madagascar Orchis--the Angraecum sesquipedale--with an
immensely long and deep nectary. How did such an extraordinary organ