On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin Chapter 6 Page 93

numerous bones in the fin of some ancient fish-like progenitor of the whole class.

It is scarcely possible to decide how much allowance ought to be made for such causes of change, as the definite action of external conditions, so-called spontaneous variations, and the complex laws of growth; but with these important exceptions, we may conclude that the structure of every living creature either now is, or was formerly, of some direct or indirect use to its possessor.

With respect to the belief that organic beings have been created beautiful for the delight of man — a belief which it has been pronounced is subversive of my whole theory — I may first remark that the sense of beauty obviously depends on the nature of the mind, irrespective of any real quality in the admired