Finks and Chickweed ITs 
of the small quantity of pollen being effective in this 
case 1t refuses to open its buds properly, but remains 
with the bursting anthers pressed against the stigmas 
and fertilises every seed-ege. 
Thus the Chickweed may be said to have origin- 
ated as a species by descent from a more showy 
perennial member of the same family, which we 
probably regard to-day as an entirely distinct species. 
It may be included by theologians among the plants 
with which the earth is cursed on account of original 
sin, and evolutionists of narrow views may point to it 
as evidence of the evil results of self-fertilisation ; but 
the naturalist who takes broad views can only regard 
it as an instance of the meekness that inherits the 
earth. It is a plant that—like most genuine weeds— 
has stooped to conquer. Its production of seed—the 
true test of floral success, apart from size or showiness 
—is so sure that it is found in almost every place 
where civilised man has been. A very striking story 
is told by Sir J. D. Hooker which—although I have 
had occasion to quote it in a former work—will bear 
reproduction. He says: “Upon one occasion landing 
on a small uninhabited island nearly at the Antipodes, 
the first evidence I met with of its having been 
previously visited by man was the English Chick- 
weed ; and this I traced to a mound that marked the 
grave of a British sailor, and that was covered with 
the plant, doubtless the offspring of seed that had 
adhered to the spade or mattock with which the 
grave had been dug.” 
Considerations of space prevent our dealing at 
length with the remaining genera of the Pink family, 
which includes the Sandworts (Arenaria), with small 
2 
