Comparison with 1860 |
|
no golden rule by which to distinguish species and varieties; they grant some little variability to each species, but when they meet with a somewhat greater amount of difference between any two forms, they rank both as species, unless they are enabled to connect them together by close
intermediate gradations. And
this
from the reasons just assigned
we can seldom hope to effect in any one geological section. Supposing B and C to be two species, and a third, A, to be found in an underlying
bed;
even if A were strictly intermediate between B and C, it would simply be ranked as a third and distinct species, unless at the same time it could be most
closely connected with
either one or both forms
by intermediate varieties.
Nor should it be forgotten, as before explained, that A might be the actual progenitor of B and C, and yet might
not at all
necessarily be strictly intermediate between them in all points of structure. So that we might obtain the parent-species and its several modified descendants from the lower and upper beds of a
formation, and unless we obtained numerous transitional gradations, we should not recognise their relationship,
and should consequently be compelled to
rank them all
as distinct species. |
|
It is notorious on what excessively slight differences many palæontologists have founded their species; and they do this the more readily if the specimens come from different sub-stages of the same formation. Some experienced conchologists are now sinking many of the very fine species of D'Orbigny
and others into the rank of varieties; and on this view we do find the kind of evidence of change which on my
theory we ought to find. ↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860; present in 1861 1866 1869 1872 | Look again at the later tertiary deposits, which include many shells believed by the majority of naturalists to be identical with existing species; but some excellent naturalists, as Agassiz and Pictet, maintain that all these tertiary species are specifically distinct, though the distinction is admitted to be very slight; so that here, unless we believe that these eminent naturalists have been misled by their imaginations
and that these late tertiary species really present no difference whatever from their living representatives, or unless we believe that the great majority of naturalists are wrong and that the
tertiary species are all truly distinct from the recent, we have evidence of a very general
slight modification
of form of
the kind required.
|
Moreover, if
we look to rather wider intervals,
namely,
to distinct but consecutive stages of the same great formation, we find that the embedded fossils, though almost
universally ranked as specifically different,
|
no golden rule by which to distinguish species and varieties; they grant some little variability to each species, but when they meet with a somewhat greater amount of difference between any two forms, they rank both as species, unless they are enabled to connect them together by
close close 1859 1860 1861 | the closest 1866 1869 1872 |
intermediate
gradations. gradations. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | gradations; 1872 |
And And 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | and 1872 |
this this 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | this, 1872 |
from the reasons just
assigned assigned 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | assigned, 1872 |
we can seldom hope to effect in any one geological section. Supposing B and C to be two species, and a third, A, to be found in an
underlying underlying 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
older and underlying 1869 1872 |
bed; bed; 1859 1860 1869 1872 |
and older bed; 1861 1866 |
even if A were strictly intermediate between B and C, it would simply be ranked as a third and distinct species, unless at the same time it could be
most most 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | most 1872 |
closely connected
with with 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
by intermediate varieties with 1872 |
either one or both
forms forms 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | forms. 1872 |
by by 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | by 1872 |
intermediate intermediate 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | intermediate 1872 |
varieties. varieties. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | varieties. 1872 |
Nor should it be forgotten, as before explained, that A might be the actual progenitor of B and C, and yet
might might 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | would 1872 |
not
at all at all 1859 1860 1861 | at all 1866 1869 1872 |
necessarily be strictly intermediate between them in all
points of structure. points of structure. 1859 1860 1861 |
respects. 1866 1869 1872 |
So that we might obtain the parent-species and its several modified descendants from the lower and upper beds of
a a 1859 1860 1861 1866 | the same 1869 1872 |
formation, and unless we obtained numerous transitional gradations, we should not recognise their
relationship, relationship, 1859 1860 | blood-relationship, 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
and should consequently
be compelled to be compelled to 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
OMIT 1872 |
rank them
all all 1859 1860 1861 1866 | all 1869 1872 |
as distinct species. |
|
It is notorious on what excessively slight differences many palæontologists have founded their species; and they do this the more readily if the specimens come from different sub-stages of the same formation. Some experienced conchologists are now sinking many of the very fine species of
D'Orbigny D'Orbigny 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872 | D''Orbigny 1869 |
and others into the rank of varieties; and on this view we do find the kind of evidence of change which on
my my 1859 1860 1861 1866 | the 1869 1872 |
theory we ought to find. ↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860; present in 1861 1866 1869 1872 | Look again at the later tertiary deposits, which include many shells believed by the majority of naturalists to be identical with existing species; but some excellent naturalists, as Agassiz and Pictet, maintain that all these tertiary species are specifically distinct, though the distinction is admitted to be very slight; so that here, unless we believe that these eminent naturalists have been misled by their imaginations
and that these late tertiary species really present no difference whatever from their living representatives, or unless we believe that the great majority of naturalists are wrong and that the
tertiary species are all truly distinct from the recent, we have evidence of a very general
slight modification
of form of
the kind required.
|
Moreover, if Moreover, if 1859 1860 | If 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
we look to rather wider
intervals, intervals, 1859 1860 | intervals 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
namely, namely, 1859 1860 |
of time, namely, 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
to distinct but consecutive stages of the same great formation, we find that the embedded fossils, though
almost almost 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 | almost 1872 |
universally ranked as specifically different,
|