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 11-15 of 100
Page 74
... extinct or very rare in England , the heartsease and red clover would become very rare , or wholly disappear . The number of humble - bees in any district depends in a great degree on the number of field - mice , which destroy their ...
... extinct or very rare in England , the heartsease and red clover would become very rare , or wholly disappear . The number of humble - bees in any district depends in a great degree on the number of field - mice , which destroy their ...
Page 80
... Extinction caused by Natural Selection - Divergence of Cha- racter , related to the diversity of inhabitants of any small area , and to naturalisation - Action of Natural Selection , through Divergence of Character and Extinction , on ...
... Extinction caused by Natural Selection - Divergence of Cha- racter , related to the diversity of inhabitants of any small area , and to naturalisation - Action of Natural Selection , through Divergence of Character and Extinction , on ...
Page 81
... extinct . We may conclude , from what we have seen of the intimate and complex manner in which the inhabitants of each country are bound to- gether , that any change in the numerical proportions of some of the inhabitants ...
... extinct . We may conclude , from what we have seen of the intimate and complex manner in which the inhabitants of each country are bound to- gether , that any change in the numerical proportions of some of the inhabitants ...
Page 86
... the least degree injurious : for if they became so , they would cause the extinction of the species . Natural selection will modify the structure of the young in relation to the parent , and of the. 86 CHAP . IV . NATURAL SELECTION .
... the least degree injurious : for if they became so , they would cause the extinction of the species . Natural selection will modify the structure of the young in relation to the parent , and of the. 86 CHAP . IV . NATURAL SELECTION .
Page 107
... extinct tertiary flora of Europe . All fresh - water basins , taken together , make a small area compared with that of the sea or of the land ; and , consequently , the competition between fresh - water productions will have been less ...
... extinct tertiary flora of Europe . All fresh - water basins , taken together , make a small area compared with that of the sea or of the land ; and , consequently , the competition between fresh - water productions will have been less ...
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