On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection; Or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life |
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Page 51
... Look at the common oak , how closely it has been studied ; yet a German author makes more than a dozen species out of forms , which are very gener- ally considered as varieties ; and in this country the high- est botanical authorities ...
... Look at the common oak , how closely it has been studied ; yet a German author makes more than a dozen species out of forms , which are very gener- ally considered as varieties ; and in this country the high- est botanical authorities ...
Page 52
... look at individual differences , though of small interest to the systematist , as of high importance for us , as being the first step towards such slight varieties as are barely thought worth recording in works on natural his- tory ...
... look at individual differences , though of small interest to the systematist , as of high importance for us , as being the first step towards such slight varieties as are barely thought worth recording in works on natural his- tory ...
Page 53
... look at the term species , as one arbitrarily given for the sake of con- venience to a set of individuals closely resembling each other , and that it does not essentially differ from the term variety , which is given to less distinct ...
... look at the term species , as one arbitrarily given for the sake of con- venience to a set of individuals closely resembling each other , and that it does not essentially differ from the term variety , which is given to less distinct ...
Page 55
... look at each species as a special act of creation , there is no apparent reason why more varieties should occur in a group having many spe- cies , than in one having few . To test the truth of this anticipation I have arranged CHAP . II ...
... look at each species as a special act of creation , there is no apparent reason why more varieties should occur in a group having many spe- cies , than in one having few . To test the truth of this anticipation I have arranged CHAP . II ...
Page 66
... Look at the most vigorous species ; by as much as it swarms in numbers , by so much will its tendency to increase be still further increased . We know not exactly what the checks are in even one single instance . Nor will this surprise ...
... Look at the most vigorous species ; by as much as it swarms in numbers , by so much will its tendency to increase be still further increased . We know not exactly what the checks are in even one single instance . Nor will this surprise ...
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Common terms and phrases
accumulated adapted affinities allied species America amount ancient animals appear become bees believe birds breeds cause cells characters cirripedes climate closely allied colour continuous crossed crustaceans degree difficulty distinct species disuse divergence domestic doubt embryo endemic Europe existing exterminated extinct extremely facts favourable fertility flowers formations forms fossil Gärtner genera genus geological geological period Glacial period gradations greater number groups of species habits Hence hermaphrodites hybrids hybrids produced important individuals inhabitants inherited insects instance instincts intercrossing intermediate larvæ laws less living look male mammals manner migration modification modified descendants natural selection naturalists nearly nest offspring organic organisation perfect pigeons pistil plants pollen present probably produced progenitor ranked reciprocal crosses remarked resemble rudimentary seeds seems sexual selection Silurian slight South America sterility structure struggle successive suppose swimbladder tend theory tion trees variability variation varieties vary whole widely
Popular passages
Page 9 - After five years' work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed to me probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursued the same object. I hope that I may be excused for entering on these personal details, as I give them to show that I have not been hasty in coming to a decision.
Page 76 - When we reflect on this struggle, we may console ourselves with the full belief, that the war of nature is not incessant, that no fear is felt, that death is generally prompt, and that the vigorous, the healthy, and the happy survive and multiply.
Page 171 - If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.
Page 9 - Beagle,' as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the organic beings inhabiting South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent.
Page 70 - Firs on the distant hill-tops ; within the last ten years large spaces have been enclosed, and self-sown firs are now springing up in multitudes, so close together that all cannot live. When I ascertained that these young trees had not been sown or planted, I was so much surprised at their numbers that I went to several points of view, whence I could examine hundreds of acres of the unenclosed heath, and literally I could not see a single Scotch Fir, except the old planted clumps.
Page 72 - Near villages and small towns I have found the nests of humble-bees more numerous than elsewhere, which I attribute to the number of cats that destroy the mice." Hence it is quite credible that the presence of a feline animal in large numbers in a district might determine, through the intervention first of mice and then of bees, the frequency of certain flowers in that district!
Page 72 - Newman, who has long attended to the habits of humble-bees, believes that " more than two-thirds of them are thus destroyed all over England.
Page 169 - To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.
Page 423 - Hereafter we shall be compelled to acknowledge that the only distinction between species and well-marked varieties is, that the latter are known, or believed to be connected at the present day by intermediate gradations whereas species were formerly thus connected.
Page 212 - This difficulty, though appearing insuperable, is lessened, or, as I believe, disappears, when it is remembered that selection may be applied to the family, as well as to the individual, and may thus gain the desired end. Thus, a well-flavoured vegetable is cooked, and the individual is destroyed; but the horticulturist sows seeds of the same stock, and confidently expects to get nearly the same variety; breeders of cattle wish the flesh and fat to be well marbled together; the animal has been slaughtered,...