M. Cb. Naiidin 07i Hijhridity in Plants, 237 



three things are formed from one, and the terms which pre- 

 tend to distinguish them only indicate degrees of contrast 

 between compared forms. 



It must be understood that here the question is not con- 

 cerning simple individual variations, non-transmissible by 

 way of generation, but only forms common to an indefinite 

 number of individuals, and transmitting themselves faith- 

 fully and indefinitely by generation. 



Contrasts between compared forms are of all degrees, 

 from the strongest to the weakest, which simply means that 

 following the comparisons which are established between 

 groups of similar individuals, species are found of all degrees 

 of strength and. weakness ; and if it was attempted to ex- 

 press these degrees in so many words, the whole vocabulary 

 would be insufficient. 



The delineation of species is therefore as I said before 

 entirely optional ; it makes them larger or smaller, accord- 

 ing to the importance which is given to the resemblances 

 and difference of various groups of individuals taken with 

 respect to each otlier, and these appreciations vary accord- 

 ing to men, times, and phases of science. How many 

 modifications have certain great species of Linnseus and 

 Jussieu undergone during fifty years ! 



The division of old species, their pulverisation, if T may 

 use such a term, seems to have now reached its extreme 

 limits, and many botanists are led by this tendency to com- 

 plicate the descriptive part of the science in such a way as to 

 threaten to involve the whole life of a man in its minutise. 

 Notwithstanding this, if those who have inaugurated these 

 scientific refinements have not committed error by taking 

 individual alterations, non- transmissible and not forming a 

 group, that is to say simple variations, for forms common to 

 an indefinite number of individuals, very constant and very 

 faithfully transmissible in every consecutive generation, 

 there is reason to believe that they have proceeded logically. 

 The whole question is to know if it be advantageous to 

 science to distinguish and enrol in its catalogues, these 

 feebly contrasting species ; but it is essentially necessary to 

 be assured that the characters which are assigned tliem are 

 really specific — that is to say, common to an unlimited num- 



NEW SERIES. VOL. XIX. NO. II. APRIL 1864. 2 H 



