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 vi
... natural selection - The term used in a wide sense- Geometrical powers of increase - Rapid increase of naturalised ... NATURAL SELECTION . — Page 60-79 Natural Selection - its power compared with man's selection - its power on characters ...
... natural selection - The term used in a wide sense- Geometrical powers of increase - Rapid increase of naturalised ... NATURAL SELECTION . — Page 60-79 Natural Selection - its power compared with man's selection - its power on characters ...
Page 5
... Natural Selection will be treated at some length in the fourth chapter ; and we shall then see how Natural Selection almost inevitably causes much Extinction of the less improved forms of life , and leads to what I have called ...
... Natural Selection will be treated at some length in the fourth chapter ; and we shall then see how Natural Selection almost inevitably causes much Extinction of the less improved forms of life , and leads to what I have called ...
Page 15
... nature the conditions of life do change , variations and reversions of character probably do occur ; but natural selection , as will hereafter be explained , will determine how far the new characters thus arising shall be preserved ...
... nature the conditions of life do change , variations and reversions of character probably do occur ; but natural selection , as will hereafter be explained , will determine how far the new characters thus arising shall be preserved ...
Page 29
... nature being lineal descendants of other species ? Selection . - Let us now briefly consider the steps by which domestic races have been produced , either from one or from several allied species . Some little effect may , perhaps , be ...
... nature being lineal descendants of other species ? Selection . - Let us now briefly consider the steps by which domestic races have been produced , either from one or from several allied species . Some little effect may , perhaps , be ...
Page 38
... natural selection , " as will hereafter be more fully explained , two sub - breeds might be formed . This , perhaps , partly explains what has been remarked by some authors , namely , that the varieties kept by savages have more of the ...
... natural selection , " as will hereafter be more fully explained , two sub - breeds might be formed . This , perhaps , partly explains what has been remarked by some authors , namely , that the varieties kept by savages have more of the ...
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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