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 203
... continuous area , must often have been formed when the area was not continuous , and when the conditions of life did not insensibly graduate away from one part to another . When two varieties are formed in two districts of a continuous ...
... continuous area , must often have been formed when the area was not continuous , and when the conditions of life did not insensibly graduate away from one part to another . When two varieties are formed in two districts of a continuous ...
Page 279
... continuous area with graduated physical conditions . I endeavoured to show , that the life of each species depends in a more important manner on the presence of other already defined organic forms , than on climate ; and , therefore ...
... continuous area with graduated physical conditions . I endeavoured to show , that the life of each species depends in a more important manner on the presence of other already defined organic forms , than on climate ; and , therefore ...
Page 316
... continuous . I am aware that there are some apparent exceptions to this rule , but the exceptions are surprisingly ... continuously existed , in order to have generated either new and modified or the same old and unmodified forms ...
... continuous . I am aware that there are some apparent exceptions to this rule , but the exceptions are surprisingly ... continuously existed , in order to have generated either new and modified or the same old and unmodified forms ...
Page 326
... continuous sea . We might therefore expect to find , as we apparently do find , a less strict degree of parallel succession in the productions of the land than of the sea . Dominant species spreading from any region might encounter ...
... continuous sea . We might therefore expect to find , as we apparently do find , a less strict degree of parallel succession in the productions of the land than of the sea . Dominant species spreading from any region might encounter ...
Page 342
... continuously deposited ; that the duration of each formation is , perhaps , short compared with the average duration of specific forms ; that migration has played an important part in the first appearance of new forms in any one area ...
... continuously deposited ; that the duration of each formation is , perhaps , short compared with the average duration of specific forms ; that migration has played an important part in the first appearance of new forms in any one area ...
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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