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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... give them to show that I have not been hasty in coming to a decision . My work is now nearly finished ; but as it will take me two or three more years to complete it , and as my health is far from strong , I have been urged to publish ...
... give them to show that I have not been hasty in coming to a decision . My work is now nearly finished ; but as it will take me two or three more years to complete it , and as my health is far from strong , I have been urged to publish ...
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... give references and autho- rities for my several statements ; and I must trust to the reader reposing some confidence in my accuracy . No doubt errors will have crept in , though I hope I have always been cautious in trusting to good ...
... give references and autho- rities for my several statements ; and I must trust to the reader reposing some confidence in my accuracy . No doubt errors will have crept in , though I hope I have always been cautious in trusting to good ...
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... space ; in the thirteenth , their classification . or mutual affinities , both when mature and in an em- bryonic condition . In the last chapter I shall give a brief recapitulation of the whole work , and a few. INTRODUCTION . 5.
... space ; in the thirteenth , their classification . or mutual affinities , both when mature and in an em- bryonic condition . In the last chapter I shall give a brief recapitulation of the whole work , and a few. INTRODUCTION . 5.
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... give numerous instances ) , yet having their reproductive system so seriously affected by un- perceived causes as to fail in acting , we need not be surprised at this system , when it does act under con- finement , acting not quite ...
... give numerous instances ) , yet having their reproductive system so seriously affected by un- perceived causes as to fail in acting , we need not be surprised at this system , when it does act under con- finement , acting not quite ...
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... give , we have no right to expect often to meet with generic differences in our domesticated productions . When we attempt to estimate the amount of struc- tural difference between the domestic races of the same species , we are soon ...
... give , we have no right to expect often to meet with generic differences in our domesticated productions . When we attempt to estimate the amount of struc- tural difference between the domestic races of the same species , we are soon ...
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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