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) |
From inside the book
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Page 7
... look to the individuals of the same variety or sub - variety of our older cultivated plants and ani- mals , one of the first points which strikes us , is , that they generally differ more from each other than do the individuals of any ...
... look to the individuals of the same variety or sub - variety of our older cultivated plants and ani- mals , one of the first points which strikes us , is , that they generally differ more from each other than do the individuals of any ...
Page 13
... look at the in- heritance of every character whatever as the rule , and non - inheritance as the anomaly . The laws governing inheritance are quite unknown ; no one can say why a peculiarity in different individuals of the same species ...
... look at the in- heritance of every character whatever as the rule , and non - inheritance as the anomaly . The laws governing inheritance are quite unknown ; no one can say why a peculiarity in different individuals of the same species ...
Page 15
... look to the hereditary varieties or races of our domestic animals and plants , and compare them with closely allied species , we generally perceive in each domestic race , as already remarked , less uniformity of character than in true ...
... look to the hereditary varieties or races of our domestic animals and plants , and compare them with closely allied species , we generally perceive in each domestic race , as already remarked , less uniformity of character than in true ...
Page 24
... look in vain throughout the whole great family of Columbidæ for a beak like that of the English carrier , or that of the short - faced tumbler , or barb ; for reversed feathers like those of the Jacobin ; for a crop like that of the ...
... look in vain throughout the whole great family of Columbidæ for a beak like that of the English carrier , or that of the short - faced tumbler , or barb ; for reversed feathers like those of the Jacobin ; for a crop like that of the ...
Page 30
... look further than to mere variability . We cannot suppose that all the breeds were suddenly produced as perfect and as useful as we now see them ; indeed , in several cases , we know that this has not been their history . The key is ...
... look further than to mere variability . We cannot suppose that all the breeds were suddenly produced as perfect and as useful as we now see them ; indeed , in several cases , we know that this has not been their history . The key is ...
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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