200 COMPENDIUM OF GENERAL BOTANY. 



are formed in great numbers upon the lichen-thallus and are carried 

 long distances by the wind. These soredia contain loth constitu- 

 ents of the lichen-body, alga and fungus. For certain Ascoliehenes 

 STAHL has very probably demonstrated the existence of sexual 

 reproduction. ' 



II. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF REPRODUCTION AND 

 ALTERNATION OF GENERATION IN MOSSES, VAS- 

 CULAR CRYPTOGAMS, AND PHANEROGAMS. 



Comparative morphology shows certain analogies occurring in 

 the course of development in the above-named great groups of 

 plants. Considering this fact from the standpoint of the doctrine 

 of creation does not reveal anything surprising. It rather confirms 

 and elucidates the workings of that uniform idea which called into 

 life and controlled the great series of vegetable organisms. The 

 intellectual work which disclosed these analogies appears the more 

 gigantic since the resemblances are often indistinct, or on the other 

 hand the actual differences between the various groups to be com- 

 pared are often very abrupt. HOFMEISTER must be credited with 

 first having revealed these analogies. Human intellect has received 

 the ability to comprehend the Creative Idea within a certain limit. 

 The fact that the stated differences or boundary-lines between the 

 great divisions of plants are intellectual, that is, can only be 

 bridged over by processes of thought, decides in favor of our con- 

 ception of the subject. Concrete connecting links as they are sup- 

 posed to exist by the believers in natural descent cannot be demon- 

 strated. Although our conception of this subject-matter differs 

 from that of the prevailing tendency in the wider scientific circles, 

 yet we maintain that our process of reasoning is founded upon a 

 purely scientific basis. The existence of points of similarity not- 

 withstanding evident contrasts indicates the ruling of a uniform 



' Recently STURGIS has apparently verified STAHL'S observations. In some 

 instances the supposed male sexual organs (sperinatia of Stahl) are very likely 

 spores of a parasitic fungus (spermagoue of Stahl) living upon the lichen. Further 

 investigation is necessary. 



(It should be noted also that the most recent writers on lichenology (REINKE) 

 consider lichens ns autonomous, having a phytogeny of their own, and should 

 therefore be considered as a distinct class. TRANS.) 



