| → Ireland, 1859 1860 1861 |
| between the several islets in each of these small archipelagos, 1866 |
| between the several islets of these small archipelagos, 1869 1872 |
|
| ↑ 1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872; present in 1861 |
| Some few naturalists maintain that animals never present varieties; but then these same naturalists rank the slightest differences as of specific value; and when even the same identical form is met with in two distant countries, or in two quite distinct geological formations, they go so far as to believe that two separate species are hidden under the same dress.
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| → It must be admitted 1859 1860 |
| Finally, it cannot be disputed 1861 |
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| → they 1859 1860 |
| such slightly different forms 1861 |
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| → rank. 1859 1860 1861 |
| rank; but space does not here permit me to discuss them. 1866 1869 1872 |
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be ranked as distinct species by many entomologists. Even
has a few animals, now generally regarded as varieties, but which have been ranked as species by some zoologists. Several
experienced ornithologists consider our British red grouse as only a strongly-marked race of a Norwegian species, whereas the greater number rank it as an undoubted species peculiar to Great Britain. A wide distance between the homes of two doubtful forms leads many naturalists to rank
as distinct species; but what distance, it has been well asked, will
that between America and Europe is ample, will that between
and the Azores, or Madeira, or the Canaries, or
→Ireland,
be sufficient? ↑ →It must be admitted
that many forms, considered by highly-competent judges as varieties, have so perfectly the character of species that they are ranked by other
judges as good and true species. But to discuss whether
→they
are rightly called species or varieties, before any definition of these terms has been generally accepted, is vainly to beat the air.
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| Many of the cases of strongly-marked varieties or doubtful species well deserve consideration; for several interesting lines of argument, from geographical distribution, analogical variation, hybridism, &c., have been brought to bear
the attempt to determine their
→rank. I will here give only a single instance,— the well-known one of the primrose and cowslip, or Primula
and
These plants differ considerably in appearance; they have a different
and emit a different odour; they flower at slightly different periods; they grow in somewhat different stations; they ascend mountains to different heights; they have different geographical ranges; and lastly, according to very numerous experiments made during several years by
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