a A 
Miscellaneous. 385 
members and nothing else, and all subordinated to a common nervous 
centre—fully realized, perhaps, only in a conscious person. 
So also the broad distinction between reproduction by seeds or ova 
and propagation by buds, though perfect in some of the lowest forms 
of life, becomes evanescent in others; and even the most absolute 
law we know in the physiology of genuine reproduction—that of 
sexual cooperation—has its exceptions in both kingdoms in partheno- 
genesis, to which in the animal kingdom a most curious series of 
gradations leads. In plants, likewise, a long and most finely graduated 
series of transitions leads from bisexual to unisexual blossoms; and 
so in various other respects. Everywhere we may perceive that 
Nature secures her ends, and makes her distinctions on the whole 
manifest and real, but everywhere without abrupt breaks. We need 
not wonder, therefore, that gradations between species and varieties 
should occur—the more so since genera, tribes, and other groups into 
which the naturalist collocates species are far from being always ab- 
solutely limited in Nature, though they are necessarily represented 
to be so in systems. From the necessity of the case, the classifica- 
tions of the naturalist abruptly define where Nature more or less 
blends. Our systems are nothing, if not definite. They are intended 
to express differences, and perhaps some of the coarser gradations. 
But this evinces, not their perfection, but their imperfection. Even 
the best of them are to the system of Nature what consecutive patches 
of the seven colours are to the rainbow. 
Now the principle of gradation throughout organic Nature may, 
of course, be interpreted upon other assumptions than those of 
Darwin’s hypothesis—certainly upon quite other than those of 
materialistic philosophy, with which we ourselves have no sympathy. 
Still we conceive it not only possible, but probable, that this grada- 
tion, as it has its natural ground, may yet have its scientific expla- 
nation. In any case -there is no need to deny that the general facts 
correspond well with a hypothesis like Darwin’s, which is built upon 
fine gradations. 
We have contemplated quite long enough the general presump- 
tions in favour of a hypothesis of the derivation of species. We 
cannot forget, however, while for the moment we overlook, the for- 
midable difficulties which all hypotheses of this class have te en- 
counter, and the serious complications which they seem to involve. 
We feel, moreover, that Darwin’s particular hypothesis is exposed to 
some special objections. It requires no small strength of nerve 
steadily to conceive not only of the diversification, but of the forma- 
‘tion of the organs of an animal through cumulative variation and 
natural selection. Think of such an organ as the eye—that most 
perfect of optical instruments—as so produced in the lower animals 
and perfected in the higher! A friend of ours, who accepts the new 
doctrine, confesses that for a long while a cold chill came over him 
whenever he thought of the eye. He has at length got over that 
stage of the complaint, and is now in the fever of belief, perchance 
to be succeeded by the sweating stage, during which sundry peccant 
humours may be eliminated from the system. 
