ee 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 107 
root, the author has taken some pains in examining many specimens, and thinks 
he may say that nearly all the stems are sheathed at the base by a very thin close- 
pressed transparent membrane, which is always to be seen surrounding the rising 
stems, and which the author is disposed to think may have fallen or decayed away 
in the few cases where he did not see it on the adult stem. Further, he inferred 
that these sheaths should be considered to represent the leaves, and that the so- 
called leaves are only barren stems ; and certainly these outer stems do not sheathe 
the inner, as occurs, for instance, in the fronds of Zsoetes, but each rises indepen- 
dently from the side of its neighbour. The little tufts throw out numerous white 
fibrous roots, and also very slender filiform runners ending in minute tubers, which 
he believes are hybernacula, and serve to propagate the plant*. Hence, even if the 
tufts die away annually, the tubers will still remain and the root be perennial. 
This little plant seems widely scattered along the coasts of Europe, from the 
Baltic and German Ocean in the north to the Adriatic in the south, occurring 
especially in many localities on the western coast of France, but is everywhere a 
rare and local species, and is said to be more abundant in some seasons than at 
others. In England it has not been gathered since 1837, when the Rey. G. E. 
Smith collected specimens near Lymington in Hants, so that its discovery at Arklow 
may almost claim to restore to the British flora a very curious and interesting species, 
Fresh specimens of Scirpus parvulus were exhibited to the Section. 
On the Difficulties of Darwinism. By the Rey. F. O. Morris. 
Mr. Darwin’s first work on ‘Selection by Species’ is alone referred to in this 
aper. The old belief was that a species, subject indeed to variety, was a separate 
ind of itself, and had so continued from the original creation. The new theory, 
viz. that so-called species are not descendants of originals of the same kind, but 
the offspring and offshoots in the lapse of vast ages of a more limited number of 
forms by process of natural selection, leads to the startling result that all species, 
genera, orders, classes had one common source of being in some one first parent. 
One cause imagined to operate in this subdivision of species is an internal impulse 
acting on accidental advantages and compelling a continued change in the form. 
It is quite true that energies of the mind called forth by exigencies of the body do 
produce changes and improvements in the body for a time, but not permanently, 
not beyond the individual concerned—as in the case of the blind, whose other senses 
are quickened to make up for the loss of sight. Examples were given of the adap- 
tation to circumstances in their case, and the capacity to improve the condition of 
the individual corporeally. But these powers only serve the occasion, They are 
not permanent or hereditary. 
Again, if by the retention of accidental advantages, such as superior strength, 
new species are formed, how can this apply to insects and birds only distinguish- 
able by colour, and with few gradations in relative strength ? If the strongest 
creatures were intended to prevail, why have the Dinotherium and Plesiosaurus 
and Mammoth perished? If insects with elaborate organs live but a few days or 
weeks, how could those organs have been produced by process of natural selec- 
tion? If there was only one species‘at first, whence and why that diversity of plants 
suitable for the food of various species? Why, if natural selection acts for the good 
of the creature, are so many transmutations of a downward tendency ? Is not every 
variety of pigeon a pigeon still, and so of the horse, ox,dog ? May not each species 
be at once seen in the variety ? Was the primordial form both male and female ? 
How came it to require improvement in its normal condition? Was it of animal 
or vegetable nature? Why do lower forms exist still? Can a strong or handsome 
man secure the transmission of his strength or beauty, wish as he may? Yet man 
is the highest creature, and he, if any, might desire to benefit his offspring by per- 
petuating natural advantages. And why should not this supposed power of natural 
selection ayail a man to get rid of disadvantages, as in the case of a blind person 
or otherwise deficient ? Why the retrogressions and degradations seen amonost 
mankind? Some such disadvantages are temporarily hereditary, and no volition 
can remove them. If the power of selection can perpetuate change of form, why 
* Tt may be added that the author could not discover any ripe seed early in October. 
