44 POPULAR ERRORS. 



lose their identity than can the different species of 

 domestic animals. 



Species may be modified by climate, soil, or other 

 causes, so that new varieties may in time arise, such 

 as the different kinds of corn. Some species may 

 be hybridized, producing plants or animals of inter- 

 mediate character, as the hybrids between wheat 

 and rye or between the horse and the ass. But no 

 case has ever occurred in which any plant or ani- 

 mal has been converted into another existing species, 

 and even if such a case could occur we should ex- 

 pect it to thke place gradually and show interme- 

 diate stages, which in the alleged transformation of 

 wheat into chess are never found. 



Some years ago one of the editors of an agricul- 

 tural paper offered $500 to any one who would pro- 

 duce a plant part way changed from wheat to chess, 

 on the ground that if such changes were constantly 

 taking place at least a single plant might be found 

 in a transitive condition among the countless mil- 

 lions all over the country. But not a single claim- 

 ant applied, in the face of a small penalty in the 

 case of failure or attempted imposition. Other 

 prizes have been offered for proof that wheat would 

 produce chess, and such prizes have in several cases 

 been claimed, but investigation has always shown, 

 to the satisfaction of even, the contestants, that 

 actual proof was wanting, 



