202 



Natural pstonr. 



ZOOLOGY. * 



ORIGIX OF SPECIES. 



It was to the section D. (Zoology and Botany, including Physio- 

 logy, a sub-section attached for the last-named subject) that the 

 chief interest attached at the late meeting of the British Association, 

 in consequence of the popularity at the present moment of discussion 

 as to the Origin of Species. After a Report by Dr. Ogilvie, inti- 

 mating the little that had been done, in consequence of the tempes- 

 tuous weather and the early meeting of the Association, by the 

 Dredging Committee for the North and East Coasts of Scotland, and 

 a very interesting communication by the Rev. P. P. Carpenter, on 

 the Progress of Natural Science in the United States and Canada, Dr. 

 Daubeny led off in the great question of the day, by a paper on the 

 Pinal Causes of the Sexuality of Plants, with particular reference to 

 Mr. Dar.vin's work on the Origin of Species hy Natural Selection. 



Dr. Daubeny began by pointing out the identity between the two 

 modes by which the multiplication of plants is brought about, the 

 very same properties being imparted to the bud or to the graft as to 

 the seed produced by the ordinary process of fecundation, and anew 

 individual being in either instance equally produced. We are there- 

 fore led to speculate as to the final cause of the existence of sexual 

 organs in plants, as well a3 in those lower animals which can be pro- 

 pagated by cuttings. One use, no doubt, may be the dissemination 

 of the species ; for many plants, if propagated by buds alone, would 

 be in a manner confined to a single spot. Another secondary use is 

 the production of fruits which afford nourishment to animals. A 

 third may be to minister to the gratification of the senses of man by 

 the beauty of their forms and colours. But as these ends are only 

 answered in a small proportion of cases, we must seek further for the 

 uses of the organs in question ; and hence the author suggested that 

 they might have been provided in order to prevent that uniformity in 

 the aspect of Nature which would have prevailed if plants had 

 multiplied exclusively by buds. It is well known that a bud is a 

 mere counterpart of the stock from whence it springs, so that we arc 

 always sure of obtaining the very same description of fruit by merely 

 grafting a bod or cutting of a pear <>r apple tree upon another plant 

 of the same species. On the other hand, the seed never prodai 

 individual exactly like the plant from which it sprang; and hence, 



by the onion of thfl HZea in plant*, some variation from the primitive 



type is sure to result. Dr. Daubi ny remarked, that if we adopt in 

 any degree the views of Mr, Darwin, with retpeot to Che origin of 

 species by natural selection, she creation of sexual organs in plants 

 might be regarded as intended to promote this specific object. 

 however, he gave his sasenl to the Darwinian hypothesis, 

 as likely to aid us in reducing the number of existing speei 



