Miscellaneous. 385 



members and nothing else, and all subordinated to a common nervous 

 centre — fully realized, perhaps, only in a conscious person. 



So also the broad distinction between reproduction by seeds or ova 

 and propagation by buds, though perfect in some of the lowest forms 

 of life, becomes evanescent in others ; and even the most absolute 

 law we know in the physiology of genuine reproduction — that of 

 sexual cooperation — has its exceptions in both kingdoms in partheno- 

 genesis, to which in the animal kingdom a most curious series of 

 gradations leads. In plants, likewise, a long and most finely graduated 

 series of transitions leads from bisexual to unisexual blossoms ; and 

 so in various other respects. Everywhere we may perceive that 

 Nature secures her ends, and makes her distinctions on the whole 

 manifest and real, but everywhere without abrupt breaks. We need 

 not wonder, therefore, that gradations between species and varieties 

 should occur — the more so since genera, tribes, and other groups into 

 which the naturalist collocates species are far from being always ab- 

 solutely limited in Nature, though they are necessarily represented 

 to be so in systems. From the necessity of the case, the classifica- 

 tions of the naturalist abruptly define where Nature more or less 

 blends. Our systems are nothing, if not definite. They are intended 

 to express differences, and perhaps some of the coarser gradations. 

 But this evinces, not their perfection, but their imperfection. Even 

 the best of them are to the system of Nature what consecutive patches 

 of the seven colours are to the rainbow. 



Now the principle of gradation throughout organic Nature may, 

 of course, be interpreted upon other assumptions than those of 

 Darwin's hypothesis — certainly upon quite other than those of 

 materialistic philosophy, with which we ourselves have no sympathy. 

 Still we conceive it not only possible, but probable, that this grada- 

 tion, as it has its natural ground, may yet hare its scientific expla- 

 nation. In any case there is no need to deny that the general facts 

 correspond well with a hypothesis like Darwin's, which is built upon 

 fine gradations. 



We have contemplated quite long enough the general presump- 

 tions in favour of a hypothesis of the derivation of species. We 

 cannot forget, however, while for the moment we overlook, the for- 

 midable difficulties which all hypotheses of this class have to en- 

 counter, and the serious complications which they seem to involve. 

 We feel, moreover, that Darwin's particular hypothesis is exposed to 

 some special objections. It requires no small strength of nerve 

 steadily to conceive not only of the diversification, but of the forma- 

 tion of the organs of an animal through cumulative variation and 

 natural selection. Think of such an organ as the eye— that most 

 perfect of optical instruments — as so produced in the lower animals 

 and perfected in the higher ! A friend of ours, who accepts the new 

 doctrine, confesses that for a long while a cold chill came over him 

 whenever he thought of the eye. He has at length got over that 

 stage of the complaint, and is now in the fever of belief, perchance 

 to be succeeded by the sweating stage, during which sundry peccant 

 humours may be eliminated from the system. 



