Origin of Species Variorum

→ all the species of the same group together, 1859 1860 1861

together all the species of the same group, 1866 1869 1872

→ in a future chapter attempt to show, in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

attempt to show in a future chapter, in 1872

→ a land carnivorous animal could 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

could a land carnivorous animal 1872

→ within the same group 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

there now exist 1872

→ exist having every 1859 1860 1861

exist, having every 1866 1869

presenting close 1872

→ between truly aquatic and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

from 1872

→ habits; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

to aquatic habits; 1872

→ habits to its 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

tend to connect. From this cause alone the

interme- diate

intermediate

varieties will be liable to accidental extermination; and during the process of further modification through natural selection, they will almost certainly be beaten and supplanted by the forms which they connect; for these from existing in greater numbers will, in the aggregate, present more

varieties,

variation,

and thus be further improved through natural selection and gain further advantages.

Lastly, looking not to any one time, but to all time, if my theory be true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking

~~most~~

most

closely →all the species of the same group together, must assuredly have existed; but the very process of natural selection constantly tends, as has been so often remarked, to exterminate the

parent forms

parent-forms

and the intermediate links. Consequently evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains, which are preserved, as we shall →in a future chapter attempt to show, in an extremely imperfect and intermittent record.

the

Origin

origin

and

Transitions

transitions

Organic

organic

Beings

beings

with

peculiar

Habits

habits

and

structure .—

Structure .

Structure.

Structure .—

structure. —

It has been asked by the opponents of such views as I hold, how, for instance, →a land carnivorous animal could have been converted into one with aquatic habits; for how could the animal in its transitional state have subsisted? It would be easy to show that →within the same group carnivorous animals →exist having every intermediate

grades

grade

→between truly aquatic and strictly terrestrial →habits; and as each exists by a struggle for life, it is clear that each

must be

well adapted

its →habits to its place in nature. Look at the Mustela vison of North America, which has webbed

feet,

feet

and which resembles an otter in its fur, short legs, and form of

tail.

~~during~~

~~summer~~

~~this~~

~~animal~~