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 53
... widely diffused within their own country ( and this is a different consideration from wide range , and to a certain extent from commonness ) , often give rise to varieties sufficiently well - marked to have been recorded in botanical ...
... widely diffused within their own country ( and this is a different consideration from wide range , and to a certain extent from commonness ) , often give rise to varieties sufficiently well - marked to have been recorded in botanical ...
Page 54
... widely over the world , are the most diffused in their own country , and are the most numerous in individuals , which oftenest produce well - marked varieties , or , as I consider them , incipient species . And this , perhaps , might ...
... widely over the world , are the most diffused in their own country , and are the most numerous in individuals , which oftenest produce well - marked varieties , or , as I consider them , incipient species . And this , perhaps , might ...
Page 55
... widely diffused than plants higher in the scale ; and here again there is no close relation to the size of the genera . The cause of lowly - organised plants ranging widely will be discussed in our chapter on geographical distribution ...
... widely diffused than plants higher in the scale ; and here again there is no close relation to the size of the genera . The cause of lowly - organised plants ranging widely will be discussed in our chapter on geographical distribution ...
Page 74
... widely - different checks act on the same species in different districts . When we look at the plants and bushes clothing an entangled bank , we are tempted to attribute their proportional numbers and kinds to what we call chance . But ...
... widely - different checks act on the same species in different districts . When we look at the plants and bushes clothing an entangled bank , we are tempted to attribute their proportional numbers and kinds to what we call chance . But ...
Page 77
... widely distributed and fall on unoc- cupied ground . In the water - beetle , the structure of its legs , so well adapted for diving , allows it to compete with other aquatic insects , to hunt for its own prey , and to escape serving as ...
... widely distributed and fall on unoc- cupied ground . In the water - beetle , the structure of its legs , so well adapted for diving , allows it to compete with other aquatic insects , to hunt for its own prey , and to escape serving as ...
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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