( xciii ) 



is the dominance of the subjective element. Thus he writes 

 about his descriptive work on Cirihipedes to Hooker, October 

 12, 1849: — "I have of late been at work at mere species 

 describing, which is much more difficult than I expected, and 

 has much the same sort of interest as a puzzle has ; but I 

 confess I often feel wearied with the work, and cannot help 

 sometimes asking myself what is the good of spending a week 

 or fortnight in ascertaining that certain just perceptible 

 differences blend together, and constitute varieties and not 

 species. As long as I am on anatomy I never feel myself in 

 that disgusting, horrid, cui bono, inquiring humour." * 



On another occasion, when Darwin was anxious to ascertain 

 the " close species" in the North American Flora, and wrote 

 for information to Asa Gray, he frankly adopted the sub- 

 jective criterion in order to explain exactly what he meant. 

 He wrote, June 8, [1855] : — " The definition I should give 

 of a ' close species ' was one that yoio thought specifically dis- 

 tinct, but which you could conceive some other good botanist 

 might think only a race or variety ; or, again, a species that 

 you had trouble, though having opportunities of knowing it 

 well, in discriminating from some other species." t 



Asa Gray's reply is also very interesting from the same 

 point of view. He- wrote, June 30, 1855: — "Those thus 

 connected" [he had bracketed the " close species" in a list 

 of the Flora], " some of them, I should in revision unite under 

 one, many more Dr, Hooker would unite, and for the rest it 

 would not be extraordinary if, in any case, the discovery of 

 intermediate forms compelled their union." t 



Darwin was evidently in high spirits when he wrote the 

 following passage which bears on the same subject. The 

 "Origin" had been published on November 24, 1859, and 

 the whole edition of 1250 copies sold on the day of issue. 

 On November 29 he wrote to Asa Gray : — " You speak of 

 species not having any material base to rest on, but is this 

 any gx'eater hardship than deciding what deserves to be called 

 a variety, and be designated by a Greek letter ? When I 



* "Life and Letters," vol. i, p. 379. 



t Ibid., vol. ii, p. 64. 



Z " More Letters," vol. i, p. 421, Letter 324. 



