1 857.] MEDALS. 101 



not concern us, as there the medals are. I am almost inclined 

 to think that I would rather lower the standard, and give 

 medals to young workers than to old ones with no especial 

 claims. With regard to especial claims, I think it just 

 deserving your attention, that if general claims are once 

 admitted, it opens the door to great laxity in giving them. 

 Think of the case of a very rich man, who aided solely with 

 his money, but to a grand extent or such an inconceivable 

 prodigy as a minister of the Crown who really cared for 

 science. Would you give such men medals ? Perhaps 

 medals could not be better applied than exclusively to such 

 men. I confess at present I incline to stick to especial claims 

 which can be put down on paper. . . . 



I am much confounded by your showing that there are not 

 obvious instances of my (or rather Waterhouse's) law of 

 abnormal developments being highly variable. I have been 

 thinking more of your remark about the difficulty of judging 

 or comparing variability in plants from the great general 

 variability of parts. I should look at the law as more com- 

 pletely smashed if you would turn in your mind for a little 

 while for cases of great variability of an organ, and tell me 

 whether it is moderately easy to pick out such cases ; for if 

 they can be picked out, and, notwithstanding, do not coincide 

 with great or abnormal development, it v/ould be a complete 

 smasher. It is only beginning in your mind at the variability 

 end of the question instead of at the abnormality end. Per- 

 haps cases in which a part is highly variable in all the species 

 of a group should be excluded, as possibly being something 

 distinct, and connected with the perplexing subject of poly- 

 morphism. Will you perfect your assistance by further 

 considering, for a little, the subject this way ? 



I have been so much interested this morning in comparing 

 all my notes on the variation of the several species of the genus 

 Equus and the results of their crossing. Taking most strictly 

 analogous facts amongst the blessed pigeons for my guide, 



