58 FOOTNOTES FROM 



poisonous, or at least questionable properties. The Z. 

 catharticum has been administered as a strong cathartic. 

 In the Highlands they are employed with alum to fix 

 the native dyes in the manufacture of tartan, while they 

 are said themselves to produce a blue tint. 



Lycopods may be said to present the highest type of 

 cryptogamic vegetation, the highest limit capable jof being 

 reached by flowerless plants. Indeed, they are said by 

 botanists of the highest reputation to bear a close affinity 

 to coniferous trees, to be, in fact, pine-trees in miniature. 

 This affinity though indicated by very curious resem- 

 blances is, however, strictly analogical. The gap between 

 the two great orders of plants is too wide to be over- 

 leaped by a sudden transition. There is a resemblance 

 in external form, habit, and fructification ; the leaves are 

 in both cases linear ; the seeds are in both cases pro- 

 duced from cones or spikes ; the formation of the arche- 

 gonia and embryonic pods of the one, is similar to that 

 of the corpuscles and embryo in the other, but in these 

 points the likeness begins and ends. There is no true 

 homology, but a mere analogy which is often seen to 

 harmonize the most dissimilar works of nature, as if 

 to show that they proceeded from the same creating hand. 

 There may be gradual transition from one class of plants 

 to another, and certain characters may be common 

 to two families ; but still there are definite groups 

 in nature, and typical characters belonging to plants, 

 which will for ever keep them distinct and isolated, 

 as illustrations of the infinite variety of the Divine 

 works. 



The first pages of the earth's history reveal to us very 



