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 346
... continuous , all authors agree that one of the most fundamental divisions in geographical distribution is that between the New and Old Worlds ; yet if we travel over the vast American continent , from the central parts of the United ...
... continuous , all authors agree that one of the most fundamental divisions in geographical distribution is that between the New and Old Worlds ; yet if we travel over the vast American continent , from the central parts of the United ...
Page 347
... much isolated from each other as is possible . On each continent , also , we see the same fact ; for on the opposite sides of lofty and continuous mountain - ranges , and of great. CHAP . XI . 347 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION .
... much isolated from each other as is possible . On each continent , also , we see the same fact ; for on the opposite sides of lofty and continuous mountain - ranges , and of great. CHAP . XI . 347 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION .
Page 348
... continuous mountain - ranges , and of great deserts , and sometimes even of large rivers , we find different productions ; though as mountain - chains , deserts , & c . , are not as impassable , or likely to have endured so long as the ...
... continuous mountain - ranges , and of great deserts , and sometimes even of large rivers , we find different productions ; though as mountain - chains , deserts , & c . , are not as impassable , or likely to have endured so long as the ...
Page 352
... continuous ; and when a plant or animal inhabits two points so distant from each other , or with an interval of such a nature , that the space could not be easily passed over by migration , the fact is given as something remarkable and ...
... continuous ; and when a plant or animal inhabits two points so distant from each other , or with an interval of such a nature , that the space could not be easily passed over by migration , the fact is given as something remarkable and ...
Page 353
... climatal changes , which have cer- tainly occurred within recent geological times , must have interrupted or rendered discontinuous the for- merly continuous range of many species . So that we. CHAP . XI . 353 SINGLE CENTRES OF CREATION .
... climatal changes , which have cer- tainly occurred within recent geological times , must have interrupted or rendered discontinuous the for- merly continuous range of many species . So that we. CHAP . XI . 353 SINGLE CENTRES OF CREATION .
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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