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
... never seed ! In some few such cases it has been discovered that very trifling changes , such as a little more or less water at some particular period of growth , will determine whether or not the plant sets a seed . I cannot here enter ...
... never seed ! In some few such cases it has been discovered that very trifling changes , such as a little more or less water at some particular period of growth , will determine whether or not the plant sets a seed . I cannot here enter ...
Page 28
... never less than 20,000 pigeons were taken with the court . " The monarchs of Iran and Turan sent him some very rare birds ; " and , continues the courtly historian , " His Majesty by crossing the breeds , which method was never ...
... never less than 20,000 pigeons were taken with the court . " The monarchs of Iran and Turan sent him some very rare birds ; " and , continues the courtly historian , " His Majesty by crossing the breeds , which method was never ...
Page 29
... never met a pigeon , or poultry , or duck , or rabbit fancier , who was not fully convinced that each main breed was descended from a distinct species . Van Mons , in his treatise on pears and apples , shows how utterly he disbelieves ...
... never met a pigeon , or poultry , or duck , or rabbit fancier , who was not fully convinced that each main breed was descended from a distinct species . Van Mons , in his treatise on pears and apples , shows how utterly he disbelieves ...
Page 30
... never desire to sit , and with the bantam so small and elegant ; when we compare the host of agricultural , culinary , orchard , and flower - garden races of plants , most useful to man at different seasons and for different purposes ...
... never desire to sit , and with the bantam so small and elegant ; when we compare the host of agricultural , culinary , orchard , and flower - garden races of plants , most useful to man at different seasons and for different purposes ...
Page 33
... never , the case . The laws of correlation of growth , the importance of which should never be overlooked , will ensure some dif- ferences ; but , as a general rule , I cannot doubt that the continued selection of slight variations ...
... never , the case . The laws of correlation of growth , the importance of which should never be overlooked , will ensure some dif- ferences ; but , as a general rule , I cannot doubt that the continued selection of slight variations ...
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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