Chap. XIV. CONCLUSION. 485 



sideration than it is at present ; for differences, how- 

 ever slight, between any two forms, if not blended by 

 intermediate gradations, are looked at by most natural- 

 ists as sufficient to raise both forms to the rank of 

 species. Hereafter we shall be compelled to acknow- 

 ledge that the only distinction between species and 

 well-marked varieties is, that the latter are known, or 

 believed, to be connected at the present day by inter- 

 mediate gradations, whereas species were formerly thus 

 connected. Hence, without quite rejecting the con- 

 sideration of the present existence of intermediate gra- 

 dations between any two forms, we shall be led to weigh 

 more carefully and to value higher the actual amount 

 of difference between them. It is quite possible that 

 forms now generally acknowledged to be merely varie- 

 ties may hereafter be thought worthy of specific names, 

 as with the primrose and cowslip ; and in this case 

 scientific and common language will come into accord- 

 ance. In short, we shall have to treat species in the 

 same manner as those naturalists treat genera, who 

 admit that genera are merely artificial combinations 

 made for convenience. This may not be a cheering 

 prospect ; but we shall at least be freed from the vain 

 search for the undiscovered and undiscoverable essence 

 of the term species. 



The other and more general departments of natural 

 history will rise greatly in interest. The terms used by 

 naturalists of affinity, relationship, community of type, 

 paternity, morphology, adaptive characters, rudimentary 

 and aborted organs, &c, will cease to be metaphorical, 

 and will have a plain signification. When we no longer 

 look at an organic being as a savage looks at a ship, as at 

 something wholly beyond his comprehension ; when we 

 regard every production of nature as one which has had 

 a history ; when we contemplate every complex structure 



