Origin of Species Variorum

→ it assumed 1859 1860 1861 1866

whilst young it possessed 1869 1872

→ there is some evidence to render it probable, that 1859 1860 1861

there is a large body of facts rendering it probable, that 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ horns of almost full-grown 1859 1860 1861 1866

full-grown horns of 1869 1872

→ cattle. 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872

cattle. But further than this, variations which, for all that we can see, might have appeared earlier or later in life, tend to appear at a corresponding age in the offspring and parent. 1861

→ But further than this, 1859 1860 1866

I am far from meaning that this 1861

But 1869 1872

→ variations which, for all that we can see, might have appeared earlier or later in life, tend to appear at a corresponding age 1859 1860 1866

is invariably the case; and I could give a good many cases of variations (taking the word 1861

variations, which, for all that we can see might have appeared either earlier or later in life, likewise tend to appear at a corresponding age 1869

variations, which, for all that we can see might have first appeared either earlier or later in life, likewise tend to re-appear at a corresponding age 1872

→ offspring and 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872

largest sense) which have supervened at an earlier age in the child than in the 1861

→ a good many 1859 1860 1866

several exceptional 1869 1872

→ if their truth be admitted, will, 1859 1860 1861 1866

namely, that slight variations generally appear at a not very early period of life, and are inherited at a corresponding not early period, explain, as 1869 1872

→ and have probably 1859 1860 1861 1866

varieties, 1869 1872

acquired a little earlier or later in life. It would not signify, for instance, to a bird which obtained its food

~~best~~

best

by having a

much-curved

long

beak

beak,

whether or not →it assumed a beak of this

shape,

particular length,

as long as it was fed by its parents. Hence, I conclude, that it is quite possible, that each of the many successive modifications, by which each species has acquired its present structure, may have supervened at a not very early period of life; and some direct evidence from our domestic animals supports this view. But in other cases it is quite possible that each successive modification, or most of them, may have appeared at an extremely early period.

I have stated in the first chapter, that →there is some evidence to render it probable, that at whatever age

any

variation first appears in the parent, it tends to

re-appear

reappear

at a corresponding age in the offspring. Certain variations can only appear at corresponding

ages;

ages,

for instance, peculiarities in the caterpillar, cocoon, or imago states of the

silk-moth:

silk-moth;

or, again, in the →horns of almost full-grown →cattle. →But further than this, →variations which, for all that we can see, might have appeared earlier or later in life, tend to appear at a corresponding age in the →offspring and parent. I am far from meaning that this is invariably the

case,

case;

and I could give →a good many cases of variations (taking the word in the largest sense) which have supervened at an earlier age in the child than in the parent.

These two principles, →if their truth be admitted, will, I believe,

~~explain~~

explain

all the above specified leading facts in embryology. But first let us look