THE LAWS OF VARIABILITY. 79 



THE TEUE PLAN OF CEEATIOX. 



Origin of When the views advanced by me in this 



Species, volume, and by Mr. Wallace, or when analo- 

 page 425. g 0ug views on the origin of species are generally 

 admitted, we can dimly foresee that there will be a consid- 

 erable revolution in natural history. Systematists will be 

 able to pursue their labors as at present ; but they will not 

 be incessantly haunted by the shadowy doubt whether 

 this or that form be a true species. 



p o Hereafter we shall be compelled to acknowl- 



edge that the only distinction between species 

 and well-marked varieties is, that the latter are known, or 

 believed, to be connected at the present day by interme- 

 diate gradations, whereas species were formerly thus con- 

 nected. Hence, without rejecting the consideration of the 

 present existence of intermediate gradations between any 

 two forms, we shall be led to weigh more carefully and to 

 value higher the actual amount of difference between them. 

 It is quite possible that forms now generally acknowledged 

 to be merely varieties may hereafter be thought worthy of 

 specific names ; and in this case scientific and common 

 language will come into accordance. In short, we shall 

 have to treat species in the same manner as those natural- 

 ists treat genera who admit that genera are merely arti- 

 ficial combinations made for convenience. This may not 

 be a cheering prospect ; but we shall at least be freed 

 from the vain search for the undiscovered and undiscov- 

 erable essence of the term species. 



The other and more general departments of natural 

 history will rise greatly in interest. The terms used by 



Ituralists, of affinity, relationship, community of type, 

 ternity, morphology, adaptive characters, rudimentary 



