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
... period of life the causes of variability , whatever they may be , generally act ; whether during the early or late period of development of the embryo , or at the instant of conception . Geoffroy St. Hilaire's experiments show that ...
... period of life the causes of variability , whatever they may be , generally act ; whether during the early or late period of development of the embryo , or at the instant of conception . Geoffroy St. Hilaire's experiments show that ...
Page 28
... period the Dutch were as eager about pigeons as were the old Romans . The paramount importance of these considerations in ex- plaining the immense amount of variation which pigeons have undergone , will be obvious when we treat of Selec ...
... period the Dutch were as eager about pigeons as were the old Romans . The paramount importance of these considerations in ex- plaining the immense amount of variation which pigeons have undergone , will be obvious when we treat of Selec ...
Page 34
... period attended to . Savages now sometimes cross their dogs with wild canine animals , to improve the breed , and they formerly did so , as is attested by passages in Pliny . The savages in South Africa match their draught cattle by ...
... period attended to . Savages now sometimes cross their dogs with wild canine animals , to improve the breed , and they formerly did so , as is attested by passages in Pliny . The savages in South Africa match their draught cattle by ...
Page 65
... period of less than ten years . Several of the plants , such as the cardoon and a tall thistle , now most numerous over the wide plains of La Plata , clothing square leagues of surface almost to the exclusion of all other plants , have ...
... period of less than ten years . Several of the plants , such as the cardoon and a tall thistle , now most numerous over the wide plains of La Plata , clothing square leagues of surface almost to the exclusion of all other plants , have ...
Page 66
... period of life ; and this period in the great majority of cases is an early one . If an animal can in any way protect its own eggs or young , a small number may be produced , and yet the average stock be fully kept up ; but if many eggs ...
... period of life ; and this period in the great majority of cases is an early one . If an animal can in any way protect its own eggs or young , a small number may be produced , and yet the average stock be fully kept up ; but if many eggs ...
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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