161 



On the TJieory of " Progressive Development^'' applied in explana- 

 tion of the Origin and Transition of Species. By Hewett C. 

 Watson, Esq., F.L.S. 



(Continued from p. 147). 



In my former remarks on this subject, I left, for a separate commu- 

 nication, the " crucial" inquiry about any facts directly in proof of a 

 transition of species, one into or from another. Theoretically, a spe- 

 cies comprehends all the individual plants which are descendants (or 

 might have been descendants) from a single progenitor, how wide so- 

 ever their differences may have become in course of many descents. 

 Practically, this idea of a species is utterly disregarded by the bota- 

 nists who describe and give names to plants ; scarce any of them ever 

 trying a single experiment, in order to ascertain whether species A 

 can or cannot be raised from the seed of species B. With botanists 

 the practical inquiry is merely a search for some one or more physi- 

 cal characters, usually those of shape or proportion, suflBciently obvi- 

 ous to be readily seen in dried specimens, and sufficiently uniform to 

 become marks whereby to distinguish the plants. If such characters 

 can be found, the plants are described as distinct species ; and this 

 is done, even although only " a single specimen, and that none of the 

 best," has been seen by the describer. That potent organ in the brain, 

 called by phrenologists the " Love-of- Approbation," or (better name) 

 " Love-of-Notoriety," stimulates many of our botanists to seek out 

 even the most trifling differences, upon which to found a pretence 

 for " making a new species," and giving it a name. This circum- 

 stance, together with the frequent change-naming and cross-naming 

 of plants, has rendered it customary of late, to add also the surname 

 of the botanist who first applied to any plant the technical name by 

 which it is designated. This addition of the botanist's own name 

 should have removed much of the uncertainty occasioned by changes 

 and misapplications of names of plants. Unfortunately, by giving a 

 powerful stimulus to the Love-of-Notoriety organ, the custom has 

 tended greatly to increase the confusion and uncertainty of plant-no- 

 menclature. 



The consequence now is, that we have many gradations of species — 

 so to speak. Some species are universally admitted distinct by all 

 botanical authorities ; as Betula alba and Betula nana. Other spe- 

 cies are received as such by the majority, though questioned by some 

 few ; as Primula veris and Primula vulgaris. With regard to others, 

 opinions may be held equally balanced or thereabouts ; as Ranuncu- 

 VoL. II. X 



