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 16
... naturalists differ widely in deter- mining what characters are of generic value ; all such valuations being at present empirical . Moreover , on the view of the origin of genera which I shall presently give , we have no right to expect ...
... naturalists differ widely in deter- mining what characters are of generic value ; all such valuations being at present empirical . Moreover , on the view of the origin of genera which I shall presently give , we have no right to expect ...
Page 23
... naturalists is correct , namely , that all have descended from the rock - pigeon ( Columba livia ) , including under this term several geographical races or sub - species , which differ from each other in the most trifling respects . As ...
... naturalists is correct , namely , that all have descended from the rock - pigeon ( Columba livia ) , including under this term several geographical races or sub - species , which differ from each other in the most trifling respects . As ...
Page 29
... naturalists who , knowing far less of the laws of inheritance than does the breeder , and knowing no more than he does of the intermediate links in the long lines of descent , yet admit that many of our domestic races have descended ...
... naturalists who , knowing far less of the laws of inheritance than does the breeder , and knowing no more than he does of the intermediate links in the long lines of descent , yet admit that many of our domestic races have descended ...
Page 44
... naturalists ; yet every naturalist knows vaguely what he means when he speaks of a species . Generally the term includes the unknown element of a distinct act of creation . The term " variety " is almost equally difficult to define ...
... naturalists ; yet every naturalist knows vaguely what he means when he speaks of a species . Generally the term includes the unknown element of a distinct act of creation . The term " variety " is almost equally difficult to define ...
Page 46
... naturalist , I may add , has also quite recently shown that the muscles in the larvæ of certain insects are very far from ... naturalists have honestly confessed ) which does not vary ; and , under this point of view , no instance of an ...
... naturalist , I may add , has also quite recently shown that the muscles in the larvæ of certain insects are very far from ... naturalists have honestly confessed ) which does not vary ; and , under this point of view , no instance of an ...
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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