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
Results 1-5 of 91
Page vi
... tion - Correlation of growth - Compensation and economy of growth - False correlations - Multiple , rudimentary , and lowly organised structures variable - Parts developed in an unusual manner are highly variable : specific characters ...
... tion - Correlation of growth - Compensation and economy of growth - False correlations - Multiple , rudimentary , and lowly organised structures variable - Parts developed in an unusual manner are highly variable : specific characters ...
Page viii
... tion and of denudation- On the poorness of our paleontological collections - On the intermittence of geological formations- On the absence of intermediate varieties in any one formation On the sudden appearance of groups of species - On ...
... tion and of denudation- On the poorness of our paleontological collections - On the intermittence of geological formations- On the absence of intermediate varieties in any one formation On the sudden appearance of groups of species - On ...
Page 9
... tion , and vary very slightly - perhaps hardly more than in a state of nature . A long list could easily be given of " sporting plants ; " by this term gardeners mean a single bud or offset , which suddenly assumes a new and sometimes ...
... tion , and vary very slightly - perhaps hardly more than in a state of nature . A long list could easily be given of " sporting plants ; " by this term gardeners mean a single bud or offset , which suddenly assumes a new and sometimes ...
Page 19
... tion . Who can believe that animals closely resembling the Italian greyhound , the bloodhound , the bull - dog , or Blenheim spaniel , & c . - so unlike all wild Canida -ever existed freely in a state of nature ? It has often been ...
... tion . Who can believe that animals closely resembling the Italian greyhound , the bloodhound , the bull - dog , or Blenheim spaniel , & c . - so unlike all wild Canida -ever existed freely in a state of nature ? It has often been ...
Page 22
... tion with the length of beak ) , the size of the crop and of the upper part of the oesophagus ; the development and abortion of the oil - gland ; the number of the primary wing and caudal feathers ; the relative length of wing and tail ...
... tion with the length of beak ) , the size of the crop and of the upper part of the oesophagus ; the development and abortion of the oil - gland ; the number of the primary wing and caudal feathers ; the relative length of wing and tail ...
Other editions - View all
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