226 BOTANY OF JERSEY. 



in every part of their contents, or that they touch or show 

 a tendency to touch each other at some particular point. 

 Thus, if we suppose all birds to be equally distinct in essen- 

 tial structure from all mammals, all Vertebrata from all 

 Mollusca, it is plain that the approximation between Orni- 

 thorhynchus and birds, and between Myxine and Mollusca, 

 resolves itself into mere analogy. But if birds have a ten- 

 dency to unite with mammals by means of Ornithorhynchiis, 

 and Vertebrata with Mollusca by means of Myxine, then 

 this approximation must be regarded as an affinity. So that 

 in either case, approximation is not to be considered as a 

 distinct principle, but only as an undetermined analogy or 

 affinity. 



With regard to the above enquiry, I am inclined to believe 

 that the larger natural groups are not only widely separated, 

 but have no real tendency to unite, — that no mammal, for 

 instance, is in essence any nearer a bird, — no vertebrate any 

 nearer a mollusc than another. Be this, however, as it may, 

 we cannot assert the same complete separation of natural 

 types, when we look to the smaller groups. There can be 

 no doubt that the lower groups, such as families and genera, 

 do, in numerous instances, come into contact, or pass into 

 one another, and in other cases, where the contact is not com- 

 plete, yet a tendency towards it is very evident, and in such 

 cases, the approximation becomes one of real affinity. Such 

 is most probably the case with An thus and Alauda, quoted 

 by Mr. Blyth as examples of approximation. 



Cracombe House, Evesham, Worcester. 

 April 10, 1840. 



Art. IV. — Notice of a /eta rare Plants, collected principally durinff 

 the Autumn of 1839, in Jersey. By Joseph Dickson, Esq. 



The subject which I now bring before your notice, appears 

 to me to be one of considerable interest, for two reasons : — 

 First, as relating to a field, which those who are really fond 

 of Botany, and who wish to make their herbariums as com- 

 plete as possible, will not fail to visit ; many plants being 

 found in this island, which, if not entirely wanting, are for 

 the most part extremely rare in the British Flora. The se- 

 cond reason is, that no slight degree of controversy exists, 

 as to whether the plants of this and the neighbouring islands 

 should be included in the English or French Flora. 



