successfully
competing
on a continent with many on a continent with many 1866 |
in stature with a 1859 1860 1861 |
with the many 1869 1872 |
fully developed
trees, trees, 1866 | tree, 1859 1860 1861 | trees 1869 1872 |
when
established on an island
and having to compete with herbaceous plants alone, might readily gain an advantage over them by over them by 1866 |
by 1859 1860 1861 1869 1872 |
growing taller and
overtopping them. overtopping them. 1866 |
taller and overtopping the other plants. 1859 1860 1861 |
taller and overtopping the other herbaceous plants. 1869 |
taller and overtopping them. 1872 |
If so,
natural selection would often
tend to add to the stature of herbaceous
plants
when growing on oceanic islands, when growing on oceanic islands, 1866 |
when growing on an island, 1859 |
when growing on an oceanic island, 1860 1861 |
OMIT 1869 1872 |
to whatever order they
belonged, and thus convert them first into bushes and ultimately into
trees.
|
With respect to the absence of whole orders on
oceanic islands, Bory St. Vincent long ago remarked that Batrachians (frogs, toads, newts) have
never been
found on any of the many islands with which the great oceans are studded. I have taken pains to verify this assertion, and
....... 1866 1869 1872 | I 1859 1860 1861 |
have found it strictly
true, with the exception of New Zealand, of the Andaman Islands, and perhaps of the Salomon Islands. true, with the exception of New Zealand, of the Andaman Islands, and perhaps of the Salomon Islands. 1866 1869 |
true. 1859 1860 1861 |
true, with the exception of New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Andaman Islands, and perhaps the Salomon Islands and the Seychelles. 1872 |
But I have already remarked that it is doubtful whether But I have already remarked that it is doubtful whether 1866 |
I have, however, been assured that a frog exists on the mountains of the great island of 1859 1860 1861 |
New
Zealand Zealand 1866 | Zealand; 1859 1860 1861 |
ought to be classed as an oceanic island; and this is still more doubtful with respect to the Andaman and Salomon groups. ought to be classed as an oceanic island; and this is still more doubtful with respect to the Andaman and Salomon groups. 1866 |
but I suspect that this exception (if the information be correct) may be explained through glacial agency. 1859 1860 1861 |
↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866; present in 1869 1872 | But I have already remarked that it is doubtful whether New Zealand ought
to be classed as an
oceanic island;
and this is still more doubtful with respect to the Andaman and Salomon groups.
|
This general absence of frogs, toads, and newts on so many oceanic
islands cannot be accounted for by their physical conditions;
indeed it seems that islands are peculiarly well
fitted for these animals; for frogs have been introduced into Madeira, the Azores, and Mauritius, and have multiplied so as to
become a nuisance. But as these animals and their spawn are known to be
immediately killed
by sea-water, by sea-water, 1861 1866 1869 |
by sea-water, on my view we can see that 1859 1860 |
(with the exception, as far as known, of one Indian species) by sea-water, 1872 |
there would be great difficulty in their transportal across the sea, and therefore
on my view we can see why on my view we can see why 1861 1866 |
why 1859 1860 |
we can see why 1869 1872 |
they do not exist on any
oceanic island. But why, on the theory of creation, they should not have been created there, it would be very difficult to explain. |