Origin of Species Variorum

and assuming a separate act of creation. It cannot, however, be disputed that many forms, considered by highly-competent judges as varieties, have so perfectly the character of species that they have been ranked by other highly-competent judges as good and true species. ↑ But to discuss whether such slightly different forms are rightly called species or varieties, before any definition of these terms has been generally accepted, is vainly to beat the air.

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 on the attempt to determine their rank; but space does not here permit me to discuss them. Close investigation, in many cases, will bring naturalists to an agreement how to rank doubtful forms. Yet it must be confessed that it, is in the best known countries that we find the greatest number of forms of doubtful value. I have been struck with the fact, that if any animal or plant in a state of nature be highly useful to man, or from any cause closely attract his attention, varieties of it will almost universally be found recorded. These varieties, moreover, will often be ranked by some authors as species. Look at the common oak, how closely it has been studied; yet a German author makes more than a dozen species out of forms, which are almost universally considered as varieties; and in this country the highest botanical authorities and practical men can be quoted to show that the sessile and pedunculated oaks are either good and distinct species or mere varieties.

I may here allude to a remarkable memoir lately published by A. de Candolle, on the oaks of the whole world. No one ever had more ample materials for the