THE NATURALIST. 



ON THE MEALY LINNET (Linaria canescens, Gould.) 



with remarks on the close affinity of particular species. 



By Edward Blyth. 



Within the range of Ornithology a number of inextricable little groups occur, 

 which, on a superficial view, most naturalists would be disposed to consider as con- 

 sisting of varieties merely of as many species ; but which, when numerous facts and 

 considerations that can be adduced come to be thrown into the scale of evidence, 

 induce us to suspend our judgment a while, and are finally apt to impress a full con- 

 viction (since the doctrine of transmutation of species is inadmissible) that veritable 

 specifical diversity does not absolutely require to be indicated by a single appreci- 

 able distinguishing character. Our native Barn Owl belongs to a group of this 

 description, as does also the Common Gallinule ; and it is not likely that orni- 

 thologists will ever be agreed as to the number of species which each of these 

 forms presents ; both are of general distribution, but exhibit modifications in 

 different parts of the globe, the value of which is variously estimated by sys- 

 tematists ; and the advocate for the opinion that such (often very slight) variations 

 are to be ascribed to local or climatal influence upon the descendants of the same 

 primitive stock, will not only find it impossible to fix the limits between his 

 species and varieties, and be compelled, by the most urgent analogies, to bring 

 obviously distinct species together, but, in following out his theory through the 

 entire series, will find it irreconcileable with numerous instances wherein the 

 very species (?) assumed to be thus variable prove to be dispersed over an exten- 

 sive area — embracing great climatal and other differences — without undergoing 

 any perceptible modification ; while, within a circumscribed range, and even in 

 the same locality, a plurality of those more or less distinguishable races occur, 

 the existence of which had been prematurely attributed to local causes. 



It is only by taking a series of examples, illustrative of the grades of approxi- 

 mation from manifestly distinct species to such as are undistinguishable, that the 

 possible non-identity of certain of the latter becomes apparent ; that is to say, 

 the probability that some original races may have been alike. To expatiate on 

 the close similitude which many universally-acknowledged species display, would 

 be taxing the reader's patience to little purpose ; it is sufficient to refer to those 

 very numerous instances of species which, a few years back, were considered 

 to be mere varieties of each other, but which are now, by general consent, 

 admitted separately, — as the Waxwings, Crows, and Coots, of America 



No. 15, Vol. II. 3 o 



