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 6-10 of 84
Page 42
... inhabitants of open plains rarely possess more than one breed of the same species . Pigeons can be mated for life , and this is a great convenience to the fancier , for thus many races may be kept true , though mingled in the same ...
... inhabitants of open plains rarely possess more than one breed of the same species . Pigeons can be mated for life , and this is a great convenience to the fancier , for thus many races may be kept true , though mingled in the same ...
Page 54
... inhabitants of the country , the species which are already dominant will be the most likely to yield offspring , which , though in some slight degree modified , still inherit those advan- tages that enabled their parents to become ...
... inhabitants of the country , the species which are already dominant will be the most likely to yield offspring , which , though in some slight degree modified , still inherit those advan- tages that enabled their parents to become ...
Page 69
... inhabitants , the other species will decrease . When we travel southward and see a species decreasing in numbers , we may feel sure that the cause lies quite as much in other species being favoured , as in this one being hurt . So it is ...
... inhabitants , the other species will decrease . When we travel southward and see a species decreasing in numbers , we may feel sure that the cause lies quite as much in other species being favoured , as in this one being hurt . So it is ...
Page 80
... inhabitants of any small area , and to naturalisation - Action of Natural Selection , through Divergence of Character and Extinction , on the descendants from a common parent - Explains the Grouping of all organic beings . How will the ...
... inhabitants of any small area , and to naturalisation - Action of Natural Selection , through Divergence of Character and Extinction , on the descendants from a common parent - Explains the Grouping of all organic beings . How will the ...
Page 81
... inhabitants would almost immediately undergo a change , and some species might become 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 ...
... inhabitants would almost immediately undergo a change , and some species might become 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 ...
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