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reasons, I admit them to be greatest in domesticated species, I 
need not dally over the instances given by Mr Darwin, however 
interesting and suggestive .they may be. I shall merely observe, 
with regard to those facts which he adduces as instances of natural 
variation, in contradistinction to artificial or domesticated variation, 
that they are limited, and consist (as it appears to me) entirely 
of such minor modifications as I have already alluded to, as per- 
mitted more or less in all species for the preservation of the 
individual. Seizing upon the variations (of which there is no want) 
which have given rise to disputes among naturalists as to whether 
particular forms are mere varieties or true species, he thence infers 
that these are species in the course of transmutation. That some 
naturalists, with too quick a perception of differences, should 
attempt to make species or sub-species out of varieties, should not 
prejudice the question ; the blunders of the few are frail ground 
on which to rest a theory ; and if the concurrent opinion of the ma- 
jority be taken, the number of forms as to which doubt may fairly be 
entertained is comparatively few. And this Mr Darwin, with his 
usual fairness, frankly admits. “ It may be asked,” says he, “ how 
is it that varieties which I have called incipient species become ulti- 
mately converted into good and distinct species, which in most cases 
obviously differ from each other more than do the varieties of the 
same species and he sets himself to account for this, but does not 
dispute the fact. He gives no instance of any wild plant or animal, 
subject to no restriction as to intermixture, having within the 
knowledge of man deviated into a well-established constant form, 
which would be admitted as a species by naturalists. He refers 
to Mr Buckman’s experiments, as showing the extent of variation 
capable of being assumed by plants ; but, on the one hand, these 
experiments may be classed as instances of artificial selection ; and 
on the other, I hear (I have no personal knowledge on the 
subject) that there is considerable difference of opinion among 
botanists as to their trustworthiness. And even although they were 
trustworthy, their result is merely to show how various the modifi- 
cations are which take place under altered circumstances, a fact 
which Ido not deny. A writer in the “ National Beview” offers to 
supplement such instances by quoting from M. Boulin two naturally 
modified breeds of cattle descended from the cattle of the Pampas, 
and now found in the hottest parts of South America ; one of 
