On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life"In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist, reflecting on the mutual affinities of organic beings, on their embryological relations, their geographical distribution, geological succession, and other such facts, might come to the conclusion that each species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties, from other species. Nevertheless, such a conclusion, even if well founded, would be unsatisfactory, until it could be shown how the innumerable species inhabiting this world have been modified, so as to acquire that perfection of structure and coadaptation which most justly excites our admiration. Naturalists continually refer to external conditions, such as climate, food, & c, as the only possible cause of variation. In one very limited sense, as we shall hereafter see, this may be true; but it is preposterous to attribute to mere external conditions, the structure, for instance, of the woodpecker, with its feet, tail, beak, and tongue, so admirably adapted to catch insects under the bark of trees. In the case of the misseltoe, which draws its nourishment from certain trees, which has seeds that must be transported by certain birds, and which has flowers with separate sexes absolutely requiring the agency of certain insects to bring pollen from one flower to the other, it is equally preposterous to account for the structure of this parasite, with its relations to several distinct organic beings, by the effects of external conditions, or of habit, or of the volition of the plant itself"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) |
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Page 8
... believe in this ; but the chief one is the remarkable effect which confine- ment or cultivation has on the function of the repro- ductive system ; this system appearing to be far more susceptible than any other part of the organisation ...
... believe in this ; but the chief one is the remarkable effect which confine- ment or cultivation has on the function of the repro- ductive system ; this system appearing to be far more susceptible than any other part of the organisation ...
Page 14
... believe that the rule has a wider extension , and that when there is no apparent reason why a peculiarity should appear at any particular age , yet that it does tend to appear in the offspring at the same period at which it first ...
... believe that the rule has a wider extension , and that when there is no apparent reason why a peculiarity should appear at any particular age , yet that it does tend to appear in the offspring at the same period at which it first ...
Page 17
... believe , as we shall presently see , that the whole amount of difference between the several breeds of the dog has been produced under domestication ; I believe that some small part of the difference is due to their being descended ...
... believe , as we shall presently see , that the whole amount of difference between the several breeds of the dog has been produced under domestication ; I believe that some small part of the difference is due to their being descended ...
Page 18
... believe that these latter have had more than one wild parent . With respect to horses , from reasons which I cannot give here , I am doubtfully inclined to believe , in opposition to several authors , that all the races have descended ...
... believe that these latter have had more than one wild parent . With respect to horses , from reasons which I cannot give here , I am doubtfully inclined to believe , in opposition to several authors , that all the races have descended ...
Page 19
... believe that every race which breeds true , let the distinctive cha- racters be ever so slight , has had its wild prototype . At this rate there must have existed at least a score of species of wild cattle , as many sheep , and several ...
... believe that every race which breeds true , let the distinctive cha- racters be ever so slight , has had its wild prototype . At this rate there must have existed at least a score of species of wild cattle , as many sheep , and several ...
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Common terms and phrases
adapted affinities allied species America analogous ancient animals become bees believe birds breeds cause cells chapter characters cirripedes climate closely allied colour continuous crossed crustaceans degree difficulty distinct species divergence domestic doubt embryo Europe existing exterminated extinct extremely facts favourable Fcap fertility flowers formations forms fossil Gärtner genera genus geological geological period Glacial period greater number groups of species habits Hence hermaphrodites History hybrids hybrids produced important individuals inhabitants inherited insects instance instincts intercrossing intermediate land larvæ less living male mammals manner migration modification modified descendants natural selection naturalists nearly nest offspring perfect pigeons plants pollen Portrait Post 8vo present principle probably produced progenitor racter ranked reciprocal crosses remarked resemble rudimentary organs Second Edition seeds sexual selection Silurian slight South America sterility structure struggle successive supposed theory Third Edition tion variability variations varieties vary Vols widely Woodcuts