2 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



according to its susceptibility to receive the impression, we have 

 no right to look in that direction for dividing lines between Species, 

 and the torture of conflicting uncertainty endured by conscientious 

 men, in their efforts to arrive at a correct conclusion by that 

 method about various forms. Whether they are Species or 

 Varieties, and which is the Species and which is the 

 Variety, and where the line is to be drawn between them, 

 is really deplorable, and is well voiced in the vigorous language 

 of Darwin, when he says : — " After describing a set of forms as 

 "distinct Species, tearing up my manuscript and making them one 

 " Species, tearing that up and making them separate, and then 

 " making them one again — as has often occurred to me — I have 

 "gnashed my teeth, cursed Species, and asked what sin I had com- 

 "mitted to be so punished?" And thus it is made abundantly 

 manifest, that determination by structure is not necessarily a deter- 

 mination of Species at all, but only the defining of the differences be- 

 tween various forms, which may be improperly called Species ; 

 and that all this misery and conflict that is endured by Species- 

 makers is quite uncalled for and unnecessary, for the differences are 

 there, visible to the eye, and are easily described. The trouble 

 comes in when the effort is made to decide just how much difference 

 should be considered enough to make a Species, which is merely a 

 matter of individual opinion, and of which there is an abundant 

 diversity ; and so it appears perfectly plain to me that the conten- 

 tion which has been going on for so many years under the head of 

 the origin of Species is a misnomer ; it is the origin of varieties that 

 has been brought to view, and the ages yet to come will have ever 

 to acknowledge their indebtedness to Darwin for the vast stores of 

 facts which he has accumulated for their use on this subject. 



In the American Naturalist for April, 1888, is an article by 

 Mr. Chas. Morris, entitled " Intelligent Selection," in which he con- 

 tends that man may have produced, in that way, as true Species as 

 nature does by natural selection, and says " that Species have not 

 " been produced by man is more an assertion than a demonstrated 

 "fact," then claims that certain forms of pigeons and dogs might be 

 " regarded as of specific value, or even generic, and says " if we take 

 " the varieties of the dog, such wide differances in size, form and 

 "habit, if found in Nature, would be at once accepted as well 

 " defined Species." A perfectly true statement I believe, but one 



