| → cannot, however, be disputed 1866 |
| is certain 1872 |
|
| → as varieties, have so perfectly the character of species 1866 |
| to be varieties, resemble species so completely in character, 1872 |
|
| ↑ 1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872; present in 1869 |
| It is certain that many forms, considered by highly-competent judges as varieties, so completely resemble species in character, that they have been thus ranked by other highly-competent judges.
|
|
| → such slightly different forms are rightly 1866 |
| they ought to be 1869 1872 |
|
| → rank; but space does not here permit me to discuss them. 1866 1869 1872 |
| rank. 1859 1860 1861 |
|
| → bring 1866 1869 |
| no doubt bring 1872 |
|
| → forms of doubtful value. 1866 1869 |
| them. 1872 |
|
| → as 1866 1869 |
| by other botanists to be 1872 |
|
|
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
by other highly-competent
↑
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
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
how to rank doubtful forms. Yet it must be confessed that
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
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
|
