Origin of Species Variorum

→ CHAP. IX. GEOLOGICAL RECORD. 1859

OMIT 1860 1861 1866 1869 1872

→ only 1859 1860 1861 1869 1872

distinct species from their European representatives, and by other conchologists as only 1866

→ only by the future geologist 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

by the future geologist only by his 1872

→ seems to me 1859 1860

is 1861 1866 1869 1872

↑ 4 blocks not present in 1859 1860; present in 1861 1866 1869 1872

It has been asserted over and over again, by writers who believe in the immutability of species, that geology has yielded no linking forms. This assertion is entirely erroneous. As Mr. Lubbock has recently remarked, "Every species is a link between other allied forms." We clearly see this if we take a genus having a score of recent and extinct species and destroy four-fifths of them; for in this case no one will doubt that the remainder will stand much more distinct from each other. If the extreme forms in the genus happen to have been thus destroyed, the genus itself in most cases will stand more distinct from other allied genera.

↑ 2 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1872; present in 1861 1866 1869

The camel and the pig, or the horse and the tapir, are now obviously very distinct forms; but if we add the several fossil quadrupeds which have already been discovered to the families including the camel and pig, these forms become joined by links not extremely wide apart. The chain of linking forms does not, however, in these cases, or in any case, run straight from the one living form to the other, but takes a circuitous sweep through the forms which lived during long past ages.

↑ 2 blocks not present in 1859 1860; present in 1861 1866 1869 1872

What geological research has not revealed is the former existence of infinitely numerous gradations, as fine as existing varieties, connecting all known species. And this not having been effected by geology is the most obvious of the many objections which may be urged against my views.

→ Hence it will 1859 1860 1861 1866

It may 1869 1872

→ under 1859 1860

on the causes of the imperfection of the geological record under 1861 1866 1869 1872

→ of the whole world 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

→CHAP. IX. GEOLOGICAL RECORD.

our-selves

ourselves

whether, for instance, geologists at some future period will be able to

prove

prove,

that our different breeds of cattle, sheep, horses, and dogs

are

have

descended from a single stock or from several aboriginal stocks; or, again, whether certain sea-shells inhabiting the shores of North America, which are ranked by some conchologists as distinct species from their European representatives, and by other conchologists as →only varieties, are really

varieties,

varieties

or are, as it is called, specifically distinct. This could be effected →only by the future geologist discovering in a fossil state numerous intermediate

gra- dations;

gradations;

and such success →seems to me improbable in the highest degree. ↑ ↑ ↑

Geological research, though it has added numerous species to existing and extinct genera, and has made the intervals between some few groups less wide than they otherwise would have been, yet has done scarcely anything in breaking down the distinction between species, by connecting them together by numerous, fine, intermediate varieties; and this not having been effected, is probably the gravest and most obvious of all the many objections which may be urged against my views. →Hence it will be worth while to sum up the

fore-going

foregoing

remarks

remarks,

→under an imaginary illustration. The Malay Archipelago is

about the size of Europe from the North Cape to the Mediterranean, and from Britain to Russia; and therefore equals all the geological

forma- tions

formations

which have been examined with any accuracy, excepting those of the United States of America. I fully agree with Mr. Godwin-Austen, that the present condition of the Malay Archipelago, with its numerous large islands separated by wide and shallow seas, probably represents the former state of Europe,

whilst

when

most of our formations were accumulating. The Malay Archipelago is one of the richest regions →of the whole world