The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

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John Murray, 1873 - Evolution - 458 pages

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Page 1 - These facts, as will be seen in the latter chapters of this volume, seemed to throw some light on the origin of species — that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers.
Page 162 - ... if it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection
Page 1 - ... of our greatest philosophers. On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question by patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which could possibly have any bearing on it. After five years' work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes...
Page 424 - Analogy would lead me one step further, namely, to the belief that all animals and plants have descended from some one prototype. But analogy may be a deceitful guide.
Page 50 - In these several senses, which pass into each other, I use for convenience' sake the general term of Struggle for Existence.
Page 322 - Every species has come into existence coincident both in space and time with a pre-existing closely allied species.
Page 146 - If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.
Page 310 - I strongly insisted, in 1839 and 1845, on this " law of the succession of types,"—on " this wonderful relationship in the same continent between the dead and the living." Professor Owen has subsequently extended the same generalisation to the mammals of the Old World. We see the same law in this author's restorations of the extinct and gigantic birds of New Zealand. We see it also in the birds of the caves of Brazil. Mr. Woodward has shown that the same law holds good with sea-shells, but, from...
Page 57 - Now the number of. mice is largely dependent, as every one knows, on the number of cats; and Col.
Page 103 - It is a truly wonderful fact—the wonder of which we are apt to overlook from familiarity—that all animals and all plants throughout all time and space should be related to each other in groups subordinate to groups, in the manner which we everywhere behold...

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