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 206
... the Conditions of Existence is the higher law ; as it includes , through the inheritance of former adaptations , that of Unity of Type . CHAPTER VII . INSTINCT . Instincts comparable with habits ,. 206 CHAP . VI . DIFFICULTIES ON THEORY .
... the Conditions of Existence is the higher law ; as it includes , through the inheritance of former adaptations , that of Unity of Type . CHAPTER VII . INSTINCT . Instincts comparable with habits ,. 206 CHAP . VI . DIFFICULTIES ON THEORY .
Page 207
... INSTINCT . Instincts comparable with habits , but different in their origin - Instincts graduated - Aphides and ants - Instincts variable- Domestic instincts , their origin - Natural instincts of the cuckoo , ostrich , and parasitic ...
... INSTINCT . Instincts comparable with habits , but different in their origin - Instincts graduated - Aphides and ants - Instincts variable- Domestic instincts , their origin - Natural instincts of the cuckoo , ostrich , and parasitic ...
Page 208
... instinct are universal . A little dose , as Pierre Huber expresses it , of judgment or reason , often comes into play ... instincts , one action follows another by a sort of rhythm ; if a person be interrupted in a song , or in repeating ...
... instinct are universal . A little dose , as Pierre Huber expresses it , of judgment or reason , often comes into play ... instincts , one action follows another by a sort of rhythm ; if a person be interrupted in a song , or in repeating ...
Page 209
... instincts have been acquired by habit in one generation , and then transmitted by inheritance to succeeding generations . It can be clearly shown that the most wonderful instincts with which we are ac- quainted , namely , those of the ...
... instincts have been acquired by habit in one generation , and then transmitted by inheritance to succeeding generations . It can be clearly shown that the most wonderful instincts with which we are ac- quainted , namely , those of the ...
Page 210
... instincts of animals having been but little observed except in Europe and North America , and for no instinct being known amongst extinct species , how very generally gra- dations , leading to the most complex instincts , can be ...
... instincts of animals having been but little observed except in Europe and North America , and for no instinct being known amongst extinct species , how very generally gra- dations , leading to the most complex instincts , can be ...
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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