Origin of Species Variorum

→ I cannot doubt that 1859 1860

OMIT 1861 1866 1869 1872

→ in its nature), 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

→ with each other, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

Consequently,

sequently,

→I cannot doubt that in the course of many

thousand

thousands

generations, the most distinct varieties of any one species of grass would

~~always~~

always

have the best chance of succeeding and of increasing in numbers, and thus of supplanting the less distinct varieties; and varieties, when rendered very distinct from each other, take the rank of species.

The truth of the

principle

principle,

that the greatest amount of life can be supported by great diversification of structure, is seen under many natural circumstances. In an extremely small area, especially if freely open to immigration, and where the contest between individual and individual must be

very severe,

severe,

we always find great diversity in its inhabitants. For instance, I found that a piece of turf, three feet by four in size, which had been exposed for many years to exactly the same conditions, supported twenty species of plants, and these belonged to eighteen genera and to eight orders, which shows how much these plants differed from each other. So it is with the plants and insects on small and uniform

islets:

islets;

also

and so

in small ponds of fresh water. Farmers find that they can raise most food by a rotation of plants belonging to the most different

orders;

orders:

nature follows what may be called a simultaneous rotation. Most of the animals and plants which live close round any small piece of ground, could live on it (supposing

its nature

not to be in any way

peculiar),

peculiar

→in its nature), and may be said to be striving to the utmost to live there; but, it is seen, that where they come into the closest

competition,

competition

→with each other, the advantages of diversification of structure, with the accompanying differences of habit and constitution, determine that the inhabitants, which thus jostle each other most closely, shall, as a general rule, belong to what we call different genera and orders.

The same principle is seen in the naturalisation of