cies are parts of a plan devised by an intelligent Creator, that plan must appear in their structures. If the plan embraces more general and more specialised contrivances, the latter must, in their earlier stages of growth, simulate the former. All organs, if there is a plan at all, must appear in its different parts in different degrees of relative perfection and complexity, and what we call rudimentary organs are merely the lowest of these degrees; not useless, for in many cases we know their uses, but of less relative importance than in other cases.

We have in the foregoing remarks dwelt chiefly on the points in which we believe the author to be mistaken; but we do not wish to undervalue the work. In many respects it is eminently useful. It shews, in opposition to many views maintained with much vigour on this side of the Atlantic, the great variability of species. It imposes a salutary caution on those naturalists who too readily admit geographical distribution as an evidence of specific distinctness. It illustrates by a vast fund of curious fact the obscure laws of variation and hybridity. All these pearls are not the less valuable to the judicious reader, that the author has seen fit to string them upon a thread of loose and faulty argument, and to employ them to deck the faded form of the transmutation theory of Lamarck.

In conclusion, it is but fair to state in his own words the ultimate deductions of the author, and then the opposite view, as maintained by the greater number of naturalists:—

"It may be asked how far I extend the doctrine of the modification of species. The question is difficult to answer, because the more distinct the forms are which we may consider, by so much the arguments fall away in force. But some arguments of the greatest weight extend very far. All the members of whole classes can be connected together by chains of affinities, and all can be classified on the same principle, in groups subordinate to groups. Fossil remains sometimes tend to fill up very wide intervals between existing orders. Organs in a rudimentary condition plainly show that an early progenitor had the organ in a fully developed state; and this in some instances necessarily implies an enormous amount of modification in the descendants. Throughout whole classes various structures are formed on the same pattern, and at an embryonic age the species closely resemble each other. Therefore I cannot doubt that the theory of descent with modification embraces all the members of the same class.

I believe that animals have descended from at most only four or five progenitors, and plants from an equal or lesser number.

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Analogy would lead me one step further, namely, to the belief that all animals and plants have descended from some one prototype. But analogy may be a deceitful guide. Nevertheless all living things have much in common, in their chemical composition, their germinal vesicles, their cellular structure, and their laws of growth and reproduction. We see this even in so trifling a circumstance as that the same poison often similarly affects plants and animals; or that the poison secreted by the gall-fly produces monstrous growths on the wild rose or oak-tree. Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first

breathed."

We may well ask what is gained by such a result, even if established. The origin of species, as we now have them, it is true is mysterious, but what is gained by reducing them all to one primitive form? That would be an equal mystery, more especially if it included within itself the germs of all the varied developments of animal and plant life. By such a doctrine also we involve ourselves in a host of geological and other difficulties, and so break down the distinction between species and varieties as to deprive our classifications of any real value. On the contrary, if we are content to take species as direct products of a creative power, without troubling ourselves with supposed secondary causes, we may examine, free of any trammelling hypothesis, the law of their succession in time, the guards placed upon their intermixture, the limits set to their variation in each case, the remarkable arrangements for diminishing variations by the natural crossing of varieties, the laws of geographical distribution from centres of origin, and the physical causes of variation, of degeneracy, of extinction.

All these are questions to be investigated apart from any hypothesis of the common origin of different species on the one hand, or of the diverse origin of individuals apparently identical on the other; and we cannot doubt that the results will approach to the following conclusions. (1) That the origin of specific distinctness lies beyond the domain of any natural law known to us. (2) That the variations of the species are the effects of the combined influences of its natural endowments and of external circumstances. (3) That

in nature specific force and causes of variation constitute antago nist powers, acting and reacting on each other, and thus producing an equilibrium which is disturbed only by the artificial contrivance of man. We are quite certain that the belief of naturalists in these great doctrines will eventually be confirmed by Mr. Darwin's book, and that his failure, with all the immense mass of facts at his disposal, to maintain the theory of transmutation, will give an eternal quietus to the Lamarckian hypothesis; though we shall be quite prepared to find that for a time it may gain a wide acceptance with young naturalists, and with those who are willing to adopt any amount of error rather than appear not to be on a level with the latest scientific novelties. For this signal service to science we sincerely thank him, though we are sorry that it has been rendered by a man whose sincerity and honesty of purpose all who know him respect and love, and to whom natural science is under so many eminent obligations.

Since writing the above, we have seen able reviews of Mr. Darwin's work by Prof. Gray and Prof. Huxley. Both naturalists dissent from his ultimate conclusions as not satisfactorily proved, though neither, in our view, insists sufficiently on the fundamental unsoundness of the argument.

J. W. D.

ARTICLE X.-Abridged Sketch of the life of Mr. David Douglas, Botanist, with a few details of his travels and discoveries.

The inducement for collecting the few scattered fragments that are to be found in the following pages, is the desire to prolong somewhat, the public remembrance of one who was warmly attached to Natural History, and who also in his own short day, largely contributed by his enterprise and unwearied spirit of research, to swell the list of novelties in some of its principal departments. Cut down in the prime of life, and in the midst of his usefulness, his memory is still fondly cherished by his friends, and his successful exertions in his sphere of labour have procured him among botanists, an undying fame. Had he lived, he would have attained to the highest celebrity as a traveller, for his diligence in investigating, and accuracy in observing, would have tended to elucidate much that is of great interest in the physical geography of the earth.

David Douglas, of humble but respectable parentage, was born at Scoone in Perthshire in the last year of the last century. He received his early education at the parish school of Kinnoul, in the neighbourhood. He was somewhat wayward, and therefore frequently the mark for the master's ire. Trout-fishing and bird-nesting held out temptations too strong for the lively boy, and such occupations often lengthened his road, if they did not entirely prevent his march to school. His love of nature soon. displayed itself in the rearing of birds, collecting of plants, and other such amusements. Following up these early intuitions, employment was found! for him, first in the nursery ground and then in the gardens of the Earl of Mansfield, at Stowe.

Here his zeal and industry were so conspicuous, that they gained him the esteem and affection of the superintendent. After a seven years apprenticeship in these gardens, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of the practical part of gardening, the friendship of the superintendent Mr. Beatty, procured him a situation under Mr. Alexander Stewart, who had charge of the gardens at Valleyfield, the seat of Sir Robert Preston near Culross. There being at this place a very choice collection of plants, the attractions of the kitchen-garden and of out-door work, soon lost their weight with young Douglas, who now began to study botany, and to attach himself to the care of the exotics, of which Valleyfield could boast a magnificent display. Being very careful of the plants committed to his care, Mr. Stewart showed him much kindness, and allowed him the privilege and advantage of Sir Robert's botanical library. Such an opportunity was not lost by the youthful naturalist. The second year he became foreman to Mr. Stewart, when upon application, he gained admission to the Botanical gardens at Glasgow. This nursery of botanists was still in its infancy, but advancing rapidly to high reputation under the knowledge, skill, and fostering influence of Professor Hooker, since whose time, a succession of able and indefatigable Botanists have well preserved its celebrity. The energetic working qualities of Douglas, and his vivacity of disposition, speedily procured him the esteem and regard of all connected with the gardens; and the valuable friendship of the professor, which he at this time acquired, may be looked upon as the reward of his sterling merits. For the Professor, now Sir W. Jackson Hooker, I have heard him express such sentiments as a son might hold for a revered and beloved parent. First a diligent attendant at the botanical lectures,

next a favourite companion of the professor during his periodical excursions through the Highlands of Scotland, his capacity was quickly recognised by the keen judgment of Hooker, and the noble qualities of his mind pointed him out as one from whom much might be expected.

Douglas was afterwards recommended as botanical collector to the London Horticultural Society, for which he was indebted to Sir William, as well as to Mr. Stewart, Nursery Curator of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, who always took a lively interest in his welfare. The recommendation was attended to, and the first appointment made out for the young botanist was to the United States. In the summer of 1823, he there procured many fine plants for the Society and added greatly to its collection of fruit trees. Pleased with his exertions, the Horticultural Society, thought of a wider field for their new collector, and the interior of North West America being a region yet unexplored by any naturalist, they wisely determined upon availing themselves of Douglas's youthful vigour and talents in that quarter. Joseph Sabine Esquire, then Honorary Secretary to the Society, took the most friendly notice of Douglas, and was also highly interested in the success of his mission, and the then Governor or Deputy-Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, afforded every kind assistance, and such valuable information towards the prosecution of his labors, as to insure happy results.

The 25th of July 1824, found our scientific adventurer on board the Hudson Bay Company's ship William and Anne, fortunate in having the companionship of Dr. Scouler of Glasgow, a younger man than himself, but ardently devoted to everything pertaining to natural history. An extract from the sketch of his life taken from a London botanical periodical, will give some idea of the style in which Douglas recorded his observations on living nature. After crossing the tropics, he writes thus of the Albatross.

"While within the paralells of 50° and 60°, I caught sixty-nine "specimens of Diomeda, consisting of D. exulaus, fulginosa, and "chlororynchos. The last, though a smaller bird than the first, "reigns lord paramount over the rest, and compels them all to flee "at his approach. It is stated by most authors that these birds

are taken with the greatest ease during warm weather; it was "only during the driving gusts of a storm that I could secure them, "and on such occasions they fight voraciously about the bait, the "hook often being received into the stomach. The appearance of