CHAP. II. IRREGULAR METAMORPHOSIS. 
549 
since turned his attention to the inquiry, although it must be 
confessed that the comparative anatomy of flowerless plants is 
among the most interesting topics still remaining for discus- 
sion ; and that it is rather discreditable to Cryptogam ic 
botanists that the elucidation of so curious a matter should 
be postponed to the comparatively unimportant business of 
distinguishing or dividing genera and species. 
N N 3 
