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
... parent - Explains the Grouping of all organic beings 80-130 CHAPTER V. LAWS OF VARIATION . - — Effects of external conditions- Use and disuse , combined with natural selection ; organs of flight and of vision Acclimatisa- tion ...
... parent - Explains the Grouping of all organic beings 80-130 CHAPTER V. LAWS OF VARIATION . - — Effects of external conditions- Use and disuse , combined with natural selection ; organs of flight and of vision Acclimatisa- tion ...
Page 7
... parent - species have been exposed under nature . There is also , I think , some probability in the view propounded by Andrew Knight , that this variability may be partly connected with excess of food . It seems pretty clear that ...
... parent - species have been exposed under nature . There is also , I think , some probability in the view propounded by Andrew Knight , that this variability may be partly connected with excess of food . It seems pretty clear that ...
Page 10
... parent has affected a bud or offset , and not the ovules or pollen . But it is the opinion of most physiologists that there is no essential difference between a bud and an ovule in their earliest stages of formation ; so that , in fact ...
... parent has affected a bud or offset , and not the ovules or pollen . But it is the opinion of most physiologists that there is no essential difference between a bud and an ovule in their earliest stages of formation ; so that , in fact ...
Page 11
... parent . The great and inherited development of the udders in cows and goats in countries where they are habitually milked , in comparison with the state of these organs in other countries , is another instance of the effect of use ...
... parent . The great and inherited development of the udders in cows and goats in countries where they are habitually milked , in comparison with the state of these organs in other countries , is another instance of the effect of use ...
Page 13
... parent - say , once amongst several million individuals -and it reappears in the child , the mere doctrine of chances almost compels us to attribute its reappearance to inheritance . Every one must have heard of cases of albinism ...
... parent - say , once amongst several million individuals -and it reappears in the child , the mere doctrine of chances almost compels us to attribute its reappearance to inheritance . Every one must have heard of cases of albinism ...
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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