LIXNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 29 



in several hundred species in which no trace of it ever appears. 

 We uest come to the case o^ Pycreus. Here we see two " stems " 

 of Cyperus — the one {Eucyperus) producing 500 species, the other 

 {Pycreus) producing 80 species ; we may presume the second 

 Pycreus stem a branch of ttae first, but we have nothing to carry 

 us back one step to the point at which Pycreus diverged ; that 

 point appears at au infinite distance. 



Then we have the case of 4 stigmas, accompanied in general 

 bv 4 stamens, gradually arising under our eyes. Are we to call 

 this, unexplained correlation of growth ? Or is it possible to 

 imagine that the 4 stigmas are a reversion to something that 

 existed before the mouocotyledonous 3-merous type was estab- 

 lished, so that the 4 stamens revived also ? And, lastly, what 

 are we to think about the 8-stigma 14-22- stamen case ? Is that 

 to be called merely variation fixed by some advantage it has in 

 tlie struggle for existence ? Or are we to think that the varia- 

 tion itself is the rejuvenescence of some germ that has laid hid 

 since some date when the monocotyledons, though established as 

 a type, still produced from time to time by atavism flowers with 

 more than 3 parts in each whorl ? 



I think that all botanists, who accept any theory of evolution, 

 will agree that the period required for such a series of develop- 

 ments is inconceivably vast. They will, with Huxley, be relieved 

 to reflect that there are physicists, who incline to a slow-cooling 

 sun, who do not believe that heat can be radiated out in a direction 

 where there is nothing to receive it ; and who say that if an ether 

 for transmitting vibrations can be proved to exist, no energy 

 from radiation or any other source need necessarily, or probably, 

 be perpetually absorbed and occluded in maintaining its life. 



It must, I think, occur to every naturalist in this room that 

 the Order of Plants or of Animals he has studied shows very 

 similar phenomena to those exhibited by the Cyperaceae, and 

 suggests an equally long history. 



Conclusion. 



I appear this evening for the last time as President of this 

 Society. I am conscious that I have had my culmination in the 

 Office. I have to thank you. Gentlemen, for the great kindness 

 with which you have ti*eated my attempts to perform my duties. 

 I must thank the Council for their zealous assistance in con- 

 ducting the business of the Society ; but especially the Officers 

 for their loyal support on all occasions ; their experience and care 

 of me has kept me out of many errors. I leave the Chair without 

 regret — not because a better President succeeds me (that goes 

 without saying), but because I hope to see more of the Fellows 

 individually, and to do at least as much for the Society as a private 

 Member as I have been able to do as President. 



