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 61
... hand of Nature . But Natural Selection , as we shall hereafter see , is a power incessantly ready for action , and is as immeasurably superior to man's feeble efforts , as the works. CHAP . III . 61 STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE .
... hand of Nature . But Natural Selection , as we shall hereafter see , is a power incessantly ready for action , and is as immeasurably superior to man's feeble efforts , as the works. CHAP . III . 61 STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE .
Page 68
... hand , in some cases , as with the elephant and rhinoceros , none are destroyed by beasts of prey : even the tiger in India most rarely dares to attack a young elephant protected by its dam . Climate plays an important part in ...
... hand , in some cases , as with the elephant and rhinoceros , none are destroyed by beasts of prey : even the tiger in India most rarely dares to attack a young elephant protected by its dam . Climate plays an important part in ...
Page 70
... hand , in many cases , a large stock of individuals of the same species , relatively to the num- bers of its enemies , is absolutely necessary for its pre- servation . Thus we can easily raise plenty of corn and rape - seed , & c . , in ...
... hand , in many cases , a large stock of individuals of the same species , relatively to the num- bers of its enemies , is absolutely necessary for its pre- servation . Thus we can easily raise plenty of corn and rape - seed , & c . , in ...
Page 71
... hand of man ; but several hundred acres of exactly the same nature had been enclosed twenty - five years pre- viously and planted with Scotch fir . The change in the native vegetation of the planted part of the heath was most remarkable ...
... hand of man ; but several hundred acres of exactly the same nature had been enclosed twenty - five years pre- viously and planted with Scotch fir . The change in the native vegetation of the planted part of the heath was most remarkable ...
Page 80
... hands of man , apply in nature ? I think we shall see that it can act most effectually . Let it be borne in mind in what an endless number of strange peculiarities our domestic productions , and , in a lesser degree , those under nature ...
... hands of man , apply in nature ? I think we shall see that it can act most effectually . Let it be borne in mind in what an endless number of strange peculiarities our domestic productions , and , in a lesser degree , those under nature ...
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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