122 Specific Genesis 



effected by the accidents that have determined superior relations in 

 surviving growths to their supplies of nutriment in the trunk, and in 

 exposure to light and air. This exposure (as great as is consistent 

 with secure connection with the sources of sap) seems actually to be 

 sought, and the form of the tree to be the result of some foresight in 

 it. But the real seeking process is budding, and the geometrical 

 regularity of the production of buds on twigs has little or nothing to 

 do with the ultimate selected results, the distributions of the branches 

 which are different for each individual tree.' 



Now, I willingly accept this illustration, which I propose 

 to turn round and make use of against its author's view, 

 and for the purpose of showing that it exemplifies, not ' the 

 origin of species by Natural Selection,' but the origin of 

 species by innate law, modified by the subordinate action of 

 Natural Selection. 



For, in fact, does not every one know that, in spite of 

 these external influences, each kind of tree has a certain 

 general character of growth which is definite and unmis- 

 takable. The oak, the fir, the birch, etc., each has its own 

 special fades. Mr. Wright does not deny this ; he says : — 



' The general resemblance of trees of a given kind depends on no 

 formative principle other than physical and physiological properties 

 in the woody tissue, and is related chiefly to the tenacity, flexibility, 

 and vascularity of this tissue, the degrees of which might almost be 

 inferred from the general form of the tree.' 



Precisely so. But on what do these physical and physio- 

 logical properties depend? It is useless to endeavour to 

 avoid the admission ; we shall always be compelled by reason 

 to confess the existence, in each seed, of a principle, an 

 intimius principium conditioning the evolution of the plant 

 according to its nature and laws. To deny that there is a 

 something giving unity to the composite whole, and unity of 

 a definite kind, is to contradict the plain and combined 

 evidence of our senses and our reason. 



This internal principle it is which produces the character of 



