MARCH. 155 



well observe, " many flowers are furnished with the remains of parts that 

 once existed, and which have become abortive. The verbena of England 

 has four stamens, while that of Sweden has only two." The changes which 

 plants undergo, and indeed not only plants but everything physically con- 

 nected with the globe we inhabit, under various circumstances and condi- 

 tions is a very interesting study, and affords incredible pleasure in its pur- 

 suit. I think, however, with all due respect, that in offering these changes 

 in support of Dr. Darwin's theory of progressive development, and the 

 views of the supporters of the " Vestiges of the Natural History of the 

 Creation," we do the facts an injustice, and an injury to real science. That 

 plants have advanced from a lower to a higher grade — that they may have 

 for ages existed as a simple cell, as we find them in the green slimy matter 

 covering stagnant pools, and afterwards become developed into plants and 

 flowers, as we now find them, may or may not be true; but no changgs that 

 we are accustomed to observe in vegetation seems to demonstrate it. In 

 all cases there seems to be a limit set to variation, beyond which it cannot 

 go. Still, there seems to be such a wide range possessed by some plants 

 that it becomes almost as difficult to imagine where the boundaries of 

 change may appear, as to believe the whole progressive theory. Who 

 would have imagined centuries ago, on seeing a plant somewhat resembling 

 a common mustard, that such a very different looking plant as the Drum- 

 head cabbage should spring into existence, from this very plant, a few cen- 

 turies later ; or that, subsequently, the latter should further be " developed" 

 into the cauliflower, broccoli, Scotch kale, Brussels sprouts, and other simi- 

 lar forms ? The beet has so departed from its original form as it is still 

 gathered on sea coasts and waste sandy places, as scarcely to be recognized 

 in its cultivated state. Still, in all these there seems to be the same essen- 

 tial characters, qualities and properties, — size and quantity of the various 

 parts, and intensity of the peculiar properties of each being the chief con- 

 stitution of their difference. And so in any change which might be speci- 

 fied, this non-development of parts known to exist in certain states, or 

 increase in their usual size or properties, is about the limit of variation. 

 The Ranunculus aquatalis, when growing in water, has its leaves made up 

 of thread-like fibres, until the plant reaches the surface, when the fibres 

 become filled in between with the green parenchymous matter, and a beau- 

 tiful trilobate leaf is the result ; yet with all its great tendency to vary 

 according to the depth or stillness of the water, it has never yet been found 

 to approach a congener, R. hederacev^, growing in exactly the same circum- 

 stances, so closely as to render it doubtful whether the plant belonged to 

 one species or the other. 



The transformation of leaves into bracts, calyx, petals, stamens and pis- 

 tils, are easily understood, and the conversion of one into the other, or re- 

 conversion into their usual forms, are matters of every-day experience ; but 

 in what way this bears on the theory that " all the productions of nature are 

 in a continual state of progress to greater perfection," I never could clearly 

 see. — Very sincerely, Thomas Meehan, Germantotcn, Phil. 



[We quite agree with our correspondent in his views as expressed in the 

 last paragraph. The article in our January No. was furnished by a corre- 



