XIV. 



Some /l&teefc IRelationsbips, 



IN the old days of natural history, when there existed 

 a veritable mania for defining "species " of animals and 

 plants, and when a man's whole energy might be 

 absorbed in the task of labelling living beings as if 

 they were pots and pans in a warehouse, scarcely any 

 doubt was ascertained regarding the exact and distinct 

 nature of each kind of living thing. A crow, a chough, 

 and a raven are probably three distinct species of 

 birds. They are distinguished from one another by 

 certain marks, not, it must be admitted, of very special 

 character. They are, nevertheless, readily recognised 

 as crows, choughs, and ravens respectively, whenever 

 they are scrutinised by the practised eye. 



Again, their young hatch out into crows, choughs, 

 and ravens, and there does not appear to be any 

 admixture of the blood or breeds of these birds. So 

 we say they are true " species " the crow resembles 

 his " kind/' and the chough his kind, and there, it might 

 be thought, is an end of the matter. Unfortunately, 

 however, instead of the matter being thus finished and 

 done with, it is only begun. For, first of all, it is 

 clear that to-day nobody who pretends to an intelligent 

 interest in the world of life rests content with the 

 assumption that these birds have from time immemorial 



