280 THE OVARIAN EGG. 



connection with the subject under discussion, 

 whether these buds start from the surface of an 

 animal or sprout in its interior, to be cast off in 

 due time. Neither is the inequality of buds, 

 varying more or less among themselves, any 

 sound reason for overlooking their essential iden- 

 tity of structure. We have seen instances of this 

 among Acalephs, and it is still more apparent 

 among trees which produce simultaneously leaf 

 and flower buds, and even separate male and 

 female flower-buds, as is the case with our Hazels, 

 Oaks, etc. 



It is not, however, my purpose here to de- 

 scribe the various modes of reproduction and 

 multiplication among animals and plants, nor to 

 discuss the merits of the different opinions re- 

 specting their numeric increase, according to 

 which some persons hold that all types originated 

 from a few primitive individuals, while others 

 believe that the very 'numbers now in existence 

 are part of the primitive plan, and essential to 

 the harmonious relations existing between the 

 animal and vegetable world. 'I would only at- 

 tempt to show that in the plan of Creation the 

 maintenance of types has been secured through 

 a variety of means, but under such limitations, 

 that, within a narrow range of individual differ- 

 ences, all representatives of one kind of animals 

 agree with one another, whether derived from 



