126 REV. JOHN GERARD, F.L.S., ON SPECIES AND THEIR ORIGIN. 
outside our own mind. But obviously it is not the same when 
we define it as a collection or group of individuals bound . 
together by certain characteristics. A group, though it is not 
a substance, as is an individual, has, nevertheless, a real 
existence of its own, and possesses attributes which do not 
belong to the several individuals of which it is composed. 
Such a body is now the British Parliament, such are likewise 
our Royal Society, the Jockey Club, and the French Academy, 
each with definite functions and powers, and its own 
distinctive history. From these and similar instances it is 
not difticult to see that, by analogy, “the transformation 
of species” may be understood in a sense differing considerably 
from what we have heard. 
An example which may be worked out in considerable detail 
is furnished by our army. This, as we all know, falls naturally 
into certain broad divisions or classes—horse, foot, and 
artillery. These, again, are further divided into what may be 
styled genera—as the Cavalry, into Dragoons, Hussars, and 
Cuirassiers, the Infantry into Grenadiers, Rifles, and Highlanders. 
Finally, there are regiments which may well represent species, 
every member of each being modelled on exactly the same 
pattern as to uniform, accoutrements, and functions, so that 
from an inspection of one it would be possible to arrive at a 
correct description of all, none, however, being the exact 
facsimile of any other. That there is a very real sense in which 
the continued existence of such bodies can be traced as a 
concrete reality, and not in any mere abstract or figurative 
sense, our many regimental histories bear witness, nor can there 
be any doubt that in very many instances, if not in all, 
transformations have to be recorded which furnish some analogy 
with those of which evolutionists tell us. Not a few regiments 
have served in turn under Marlborough, Wolfe, and Wellington, 
in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, and South Africa. He who 
knew each of them first at one of these epochs could hardly 
believe that it was identical with its own previous self, though 
the unbroken continuity of its life cannot reasonably be ques- 
tioned. Sometimes we still find in the present actual traces of 
adaptation to a state of things that has passed away, as our 
“Grenadiers” record the days when hand-grenades were used in 
battle, and our “ Fusiliers” recall those when soldiers armed 
with guns had to be distinguished from pikemen and archers. 
Occasionally we are introduced to historical origins still more 
remote and fundamental, as in the case of the well-known 
“ Buffs,” a regiment which, as claiming descent from one of the 
