Mr. Ray of the Number of Plants. 345 



ther to conclude, they are not. Firft, as for Flow- 

 ers. The main, if not only difference between thefe 

 pretended new Species and the old, we (hall find to 

 confift either in the colour of the Flowery or the 

 multiplicity of its Leaves. Now that neither of thefe 

 is fufficient to infer a fpecifical Difference, is, I think, 

 evident j urilefs we will admit that an European^ and 

 an Ethiopian^ are two Specie^ of Men, becaufe one 

 is black and the other white $ or an European and an 

 Indian , becaufe the one hath a thick Beard, and the 

 other none at all , or but a few ftraggling Hairs in- 

 ftead of it: The whole diverfity being induced by 

 the Climate, or Soil, or Nourifhment , as in other 

 Animals, is manifeft. Firft, what effe6fc the plenty 

 and diverfity of Food, and different manner of Living 

 hath, appears in domeftick Animals, ex.gr* Swzne y 

 Ducks , Geefe , &c. which do frequently vary their 

 Colours $ whereas the wild of thofe kinds retain con- 

 ftantly the fame^ and not their Colours only, but 

 the taftes of their Flefh, it requiring no very critical 

 Palate to diftinguifli between the Fiefh of tame and 

 wild Beafts , or Fowl. As for the Colour ^ though 

 wild Animals taken and brought up tame, do not u* 

 fually themfelves in individuo change their Colours^ 

 but after two or three Generations their Breed \ yec 

 fometimes they do, as I myfelf have feen a Bull-finchy 

 which kept in a Cage, after fome Years, from the 

 ufual Colour of that Bird, turn'd to be Cole biack. 

 2. What influence the diverfity of Soil and Climate 

 hath upon divers Animals, as to the altering their Co- 

 lour, and other Accidents, appears in divers Inflances. 

 From the difference of Climate, or conftant inipefti- 

 onof Snow, it proceeds that in the Alps and other 

 high Mountains, and alfo in thofe cold Northern 

 Countries where the Earth, for more than half the 

 Year, is continually covered with Snow, there are 

 found many Animals white of thofe forts ^ which are 

 ufually and naturally of another Colour > as for Ex- 



t y ample^ 



