| → slow modification from 1861 1866 |
| change through the action of 1869 |
| change through 1872 |
|
| → as 1861 1866 |
| and its importance in this respect is great, that 1869 1872 |
|
| → being 1861 1866 1869 |
| and of their being 1872 |
|
| → favours 1861 1866 1869 |
| tends to increase 1872 |
|
| → new or changed physical 1861 1866 |
| the 1869 |
| the physical 1872 |
|
| → life. 1861 1866 1869 |
| life, in relation to the constitution of each organism. 1872 |
|
| → species inhabiting it, will be found to be 1859 1860 1861 |
| species inhabiting it will be found to be 1866 |
| different species inhabiting it is 1869 |
| species inhabiting it is 1872 |
|
| → else. 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| else in the world. 1869 1872 |
|
| → OMIT 1861 1866 1869 1872 |
| I do not doubt that 1859 1860 |
|
| →slow modification from
some innate law. Lapse of time is only so far
important,
→as
it gives a better chance of beneficial variations arising,
→being
selected,
and
It likewise
→favours
the
action of
→new or changed physical
conditions of
→life.
|
|
| If we turn to nature to test the truth of these remarks, and look at any small isolated area, such as an oceanic island, although the
number of
→species inhabiting it, will be found to be
small, as we shall see in our chapter on
yet of
species a very large proportion are endemic,— that is, have been produced there, and nowhere
→else. Hence an oceanic island at first sight seems to have been highly favourable for the production of new species. But we may thus
deceive ourselves, for to ascertain whether a small isolated area, or a large open area like a continent, has been most favourable for the production of new organic forms, we ought to make the comparison within equal times; and this we are incapable of doing. |
|
| Although
→OMIT
isolation is of
importance in the production of new species, on the whole I am inclined to believe that largeness of area is
more
especially
the production of
which
prove capable of enduring for a long period, and of spreading widely. Throughout a great and open area, not only will there be a better chance of favourable
arising from the large number of individuals of the same species there supported, but the conditions of life are
complex from the large number of already existing species; and if some of these many species become modified and improved, others will have to be improved in a corresponding
|
