914 



goes on, " It is evident that the term species applies to one of the pri- 

 mary inductions from a comparison of individuals ; not that a species 

 has any absolute existence, but is merely the conception or expression 

 of the points of resemblance of a certain number of individuals bearing 

 the greatest resemblance to each other. Another argument against Mr. 

 Edmonston's view is the fact of the existence of varieties; a still low- 

 er induction from individuals." Whatever is meant by this scholastic 

 induction, it would rather seem to contradict the writer's own words 

 quoted above, but I am doubtful if I understand it. The fact of the ex- 

 istence of varieties is surely no argument against Mr. Edmonston's view. 

 Again, " The quotation from Dr. Lindley's Key to Botany is not 

 sufficiently ample, Mr. Edmonston should have added the next para- 

 graph." "'What we call the characters of plants are merely the signs 

 by which we judge of affinity, and all the groups into which plants 

 are thrown, are in one sense artificial, inasmuch as Nature recognizes 

 no such groups. Nevertheless, consisting in all cases of species very 

 closely allied to each other, they are in another sense natural . ' The 

 addition of the last sentence very much alters our notion of Dr. Lind- 

 ley's expression ; for now he implies that Nature has not created spe- 

 cies, orders, genera, or other groups as such." This quotation from 

 Lindley surely very much confirms Mr. Edmonston's argument. It 

 is quite clear that Lindley uses the word species exactly as I have 

 endeavoured to show is the true meaning. If the passage be read 

 with attention, it will be seen that he refers to groups of species, and 

 by no means implies that Nature has not created species, which word 

 is introduced by Dr. Ayres in his inference ; Lindley's meaning being 

 that the arrangement of species into genera is the work of man, found- 

 ed on natural affinities. 



It might perhaps have been rather more accurate if Mr. Edmonston 

 had said, Nature created species, instead of using the present tense ; 

 by Nature no man in his senses can suppose that he means any other 

 than Divine power. 



Having, I trust, shown that Mr. Edmonston and Dr. Ayres, both of 

 whom are unknown to me, except by their writings in ' The Phytolo- 

 gist' do not differ except in the use of words, I am led to lament, that 

 fashionable botanists of the present day are in the constant habit of 

 using words in a new sense. We can scarcely meet one, in whose 

 conversation the word form is not introduced by hook or by crook, 

 for species, genus, group or anything else. Our language does not 

 want it, but for variety it is not improper. I am ready to allow that 

 were it not for the indecent want of reverence in attributing to Na- 



