506 



followed by a second, to the same general purport, but extending the 

 alleged peculiarity to the leaves of Sax. hirsuta and Sax. Geum like- 

 wise. The ultimate statement of Mr. Babington amounted to this ; 

 namely, that on the Pyrenean examples of the three species mentioned 

 the leaves are always obtusely crenate; whereas, on the Irish examples 

 of the same three species the leaves are always acutely crenate, or 

 dentate, or serrate; — say, for sake of brevity, crenate in the one 

 country, serrate in the other. 



Taken by itself this alleged difference between the leaves of the 

 Irish and Pyrenean Saxifrages was but a trifle, although a curious 

 trifle, in descriptive botany. But by its direct bearings upon large 

 questions in botanical geography, touching the derivation of distant 

 floras and the migration of species, it assumed a character of much 

 greater importance. A more extended scrutiny by other parties, so 

 as to confirm or to correct the statements of Mr. Babington, which- 

 ever might be found necessary, became very desirable ; at any rate, 

 desirable in my own view of the matter, if not in the eyes of other 

 botanists. 



For Ireland, the desired scrutiny was happily undertaken, and pro- 

 secuted ably and zealously by Mr. Andrews. The results of this 

 botanist's researches and experiments were in direct contradiction to 

 the statements made by Mr. Babington. The most ample evidence 

 was procured by Mr. Andrews, to prove that the alleged Pyrenean 

 forms of leaf occurred on the wild Irish plants, and were also pro- 

 duced on plants in gardens, raised from Irish seeds. Moreover, what 

 is highly important in such matters, Mr. Andrews did not simply 

 make assertions without visible proofs of their truth and accuracy ; 

 but, on the contrary, he distributed seeds, living plants, and dried 

 specimens, freely and numerously, to other botanists. 



Fortunately, also, it happened that Englishmen were collecting the 

 Robertsonian Saxifrages, about the same time, on the Pyrenees. The 

 collections and observations of Dr. Southby and Mr. Spruce brought 

 out a considerable store of evidence to prove that the alleged Hi- 

 bernian forms of leaf were to be found, if looked for, on the Py- 

 renees also. Their proofs do not appear to have been sought or 

 collected with a view particularly to the question agitated, and are 

 therefore less ample and complete than those of Mr. Andrews ; but 

 they are quite sufficient to establish the fact. 



The general result is, that crenate and serrate leaves are produced 

 in Ireland, and that crenate and serrate leaves are produced on the 

 Pyrenees. Mr. Babington's apparently curious discovery turns out 



