| → explained in the last chapter, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
| has been explained, 1872 |
|
| → through natural selection 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| OMIT 1869 1872 |
|
| ←Subtitle not present 1859 1860 1861 Single
Centres
of
supposed Creation
.
—
1866 1869 1872 |
| → distinctly limited in 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| clear in the case of 1869 1872 |
|
| → such cases as 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| OMIT 1869 1872 |
|
| → having been formerly united to Europe, and consequently 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| OMIT 1869 1872 |
|
| → quadrupeds. 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
| quadrupeds with the rest of Europe, for they were no doubt once united. 1869 1872 |
|
|
is also obvious that the individuals of the same species, though now inhabiting distant and isolated regions, must have proceeded from one spot, where their parents were first produced: for, as
→explained in the last chapter,
it is incredible that individuals identically the same should
have been produced
→through natural selection
from parents specifically distinct. →
|
| We are thus brought to the question which has been largely discussed by naturalists, namely, whether species have been created at one or more points of the
surface. Undoubtedly there are
many cases of extreme
in understanding how the same species could possibly have migrated from some one point to the several distant and isolated points, where now found. Nevertheless the simplicity of the view that each species was first produced within a single region captivates the mind. He who rejects it, rejects the
of ordinary generation with subsequent migration, and calls in the agency of a miracle. It is universally admitted, that in most cases the area inhabited by a species is continuous; and
a plant or animal inhabits two points so distant from each other, or with an interval of such a nature, that the space could not
easily passed over by migration, the fact is given as something remarkable and exceptional. The
of migrating across
sea is more
→distinctly limited in
terrestrial
than perhaps
any other organic beings;
accordingly, we find no inexplicable
of the same
inhabiting distant points of the world. No geologist
any difficulty in
→such cases as
Great Britain
→having been formerly united to Europe, and consequently
possessing the same
→quadrupeds. But if the same species can be produced at two separate points, why do we not find a single mammal common to Europe and
or South America?
|
