| → is formed by having had some advantage 1860 |
| will become superior to their predecessors; for they will 1866 |
|
| → over other and preceding forms. 1860 |
| have to beat all the older forms with which they come into close competition. 1866 |
|
| ↑ 2 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866; present in 1869 1872 |
| In another and more general manner, new species will
become superior to their predecessors; for they will
have to beat in the struggle for life all the older forms
with which they come into close competition.
We may therefore conclude that if under a nearly similar climate the eocene inhabitants of the world could be put into competition with the existing inhabitants, the former would be beaten and exterminated by the latter, as would the secondary by the eocene, and the palæozoic by the secondary forms.
|
|
| → If 1859 1860 1861 |
| We may therefore conclude that if 1866 |
|
| → one quarter of 1859 1860 1861 |
| OMIT 1866 |
|
| → same or some other quarter, the eocene fauna or flora would certainly 1859 1860 1861 |
| former would 1866 |
|
| ↑ 3 blocks not present in 1859 1860; present in 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
| So that by this fundamental test of victory in the battle for life, as well as by the standard of the specialisation of organs, modern forms ought
on the theory of natural selection
to stand higher than ancient forms.
Is this the case?
A large majority of palæontologists would certainly
answer in the affirmative; but in my judgment I can, after having read the discussions on this subject by Lyell, and Hooker's views in regard to plants, concur only to a limited extent. |
|
| ↑ 1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872; present in 1861 |
| Nevertheless it may be anticipated that the evidence will be rendered more decisive by future geological research.
|
|
|
new species
→is formed by having had some advantage
in the struggle for life
→over other and preceding forms.
↑
→If
under a nearly similar
the eocene inhabitants of
→one quarter of
the world
put into competition with
existing
the
→same or some other quarter, the eocene fauna or flora would certainly
be beaten and
as would a secondary fauna by an eocene, and a palæozoic fauna by a secondary fauna. ↑ ↑
I do not doubt that this process of improvement has affected in a marked and sensible manner the organisation of the more recent and victorious forms of life, in comparison with the ancient and beaten forms; but I can see no way of testing this sort of progress. Crustaceans, for instance, not the highest in their own class, may have beaten the highest molluscs. From the extraordinary manner in which European productions have recently spread over New Zealand, and have seized on places which must have been previously occupied, we may believe, if all the animals and plants of Great Britain were set free in New Zealand, that in the course of time a multitude of British forms would become thoroughly naturalized there, and would exterminate many of the natives. On the other hand, from what we see now occurring in New Zealand, and from hardly a single inhabitant of the southern hemisphere having become wild in any part of Europe, we may doubt, if all the productions of New Zealand were set free in Great Britain, whether any considerable number would be enabled to seize on places now occupied by our native plants and animals. Under this point of view, the productions of Great Britain may be said to be higher than those of New Zealand. Yet the most skilful naturalist from an examination of the
|
