20 FLORA INDICA. 



of naturalists who seek to bind nature by arbitrary laws. So 

 again with regard to specific centres; except we are agreed 

 with an author as to whether the same species has been created 

 in one or more localities^ and at one or more times^ we shall 

 be at cross purposes when discussing points and principles re- 

 lating to identity of species and geographical distribution. 



Great differences of opinion have from the earliest days of 

 science always existed on the nature of species. The preva- 

 lent opinion has undoubtedly at all times been, that a species 

 is a distinct creation, distinguishable from all others by cer- 

 tain permanent characters. Many eminent philosophers, how- 

 ever, have taken a contrary view ; of these the best known 

 have been Lamarck, and more recently the anonymous author 

 of the ' Vestiges of Creation.' Into the arguments on either 

 side it is not now our intention to enter ; indeed we could not 

 do so without occupying more space and time than are at 

 our disposal. A most masterly ^dew of the present state of 

 the question will be found in Sir C. Lyell's ' Principles of Geo- 

 logy,' where the arguments of Lamarck and others are stated 

 with great fairness, and answered by the author, whose 

 opinion is decided in favour of species being definite crea- 

 tions. In this we are disposed to agree, having seen no ar- 

 gument which is sufiScient to alter the a priori conclusion to 

 which facts appear to point, that it is more probable that spe- 

 cies should have been created with a certain degree of varia- 

 bility, than that mutability should be a part of the scheme of 

 nature. This however is pre-eminently a question for syste- 

 matists. Long and patient observation in the field, and much 

 practice in sifting and examining the comparative value of 

 characters, can alone give the experience which will warrant 

 the expression of a decided opinion on a question of so much 

 difficulty. 



It cannot be doubted that the general acceptance which the 

 doctrine of the mutability of species has met with amongst 

 superficial naturalists, has originated in a reaction from early 

 impressions of the absolute fixity of characters. The student 



