446 Macfarlane . — Observations on Pitcher ed 
Professor Dickson gave the known genealogy of some seedlings 
raised in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, and now known as 
N. edinensis . A glance at the genealogy will show that species of 
Nepenthes hybridize freely, that hybrids are themselves fertile 
and by renewed crossing may give rise to offspring which in 
their turn are fertile. A practical knowledge of the species 
and hybrids therein named, as well as of others in the market, 
enables one further to say that so far as habit, shape, colour, 
and power of propagation go, the offspring shows qualities 
strikingly characteristic of both parents, and the same equally 
holds true regarding Sarracenias. 
Now amongst biologists it has been asserted, and by none 
more strongly than the advanced evolutionists, that new forms 
are produced, not by inter-crossing of species, but by perpetu- 
ation of variations in the same species. The objection has 
often been urged against evolution as ordinarily defined, that 
its methods are too slow for the results attained in the limited 
time which physicists will alone give. Can any explanation be 
given which would account for a hastening of the process ? 
Here we may have what is desiderated, for though hybridiza- 
tion means, at first sight, merely the blending of peculiarities 
and advantages already gained, and therefore the possession 
of a form in no way more highly evolved, on closer inspection 
we can convince ourselves that a real and great advance may 
be effected. To take a concrete example, N. sanguinea is 
a species whose rich crimson finely-shaped pitchers give it 
a beauty all its own, while its copious secretion of honey 
renders it attractive to insects. Its large, soft, succulent leaves 
and shoots suggest powerful assimilating capabilities. But 
placed against this is the experience of all cultivators that 
it does not pitcher freely. On the other hand, N \ khasyctna 
has long lurid-green and rather unshapely pitchers, its honey- 
baits are abundant, its leaves are shorter and much narrower 
than in the previous one, it pitchers freely, and can readily be 
propagated. As a result of cross-pollination we get the mag- 
nificent N. Master siana, by far the finest of the many interest- 
ing hybrids which the Messrs. Veitch have sent out, and which 
