RECAPITULATION AND CONCLUSION 525 



consideration than it is at present; for differences, however 

 slight, between any two forms, if not blended by interme- 

 diate gradations, are looked at by most naturalists as suffi- 

 cient to raise both forms to the rank of species. 



Hereafter we shall be compelled to acknowledge 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 intermediate gradations whereas species were 

 formerly thus connected. Hence, without rejecting the con- 

 sideration of the present existence of intermediate grada- 

 tions 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 

 naturalists treat genera, who admit that genera are merely 

 artificial 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 undiscoverable 

 essence of the term species. 



The other and more general departments of natural history 

 will rise greatly in interest. The terms used by naturalists, 

 of affinity, relationship, community of type, paternity, mor- 

 phology, adaptive characters, rudimentary and aborted 

 organs, &c., will cease to be metaphorical, and will have a 

 plain signification. When we no longer look at an organic 

 being as a savage looks at a ship, as something wholly be- 

 yond his comprehension ; when we regard every production 

 of nature as one which has had a long history; when we 

 contemplate every complex structure and instinct as the 

 summing up of many contrivances, each useful to the pos- 

 sessor, in the same way as any great mechanical invention 

 is the summing up of the labour, the experience, the reason, 

 and even the blunders of numerous workmen ; when we 

 thus view each organic being, how far more interesting — I 

 speak from experience — does the study of natural history 

 become ! 



A grand and almost untrodden field of inquiry will be 



