Origin of Species Variorum

→ A difficulty, diametrically opposite to this which we have just been considering, has been advanced, namely, 1861 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ could 1861 1866

it has been asked, could 1869 1872

→ advancement or in the differentiation and specialisation 1861 1866

the advancement or differentiation 1869 1872

↑ 1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872; present in 1861

I can make no sufficient answer; and can only say that as we have no facts to guide us, all speculation on the subject would be baseless and useless.

→ would come into action, namely, 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ different." 1866

different" would come into action. 1869 1872

→ through their preservation, either 1866

through their preservation either 1861

thus 1869 1872

→ as I remarked 1866 1869 1872

I must recur to what was stated 1861

→ OMIT 1866 1869 1872

where I say that 1861

→ due allowance be made 1861 1866

we make due allowance 1869 1872

to act on and accumulate. In no case, probably, has time sufficed for the utmost possible amount of development. In some few cases there

has

may have

been what we must call retrogression of organisation. But the main cause lies in the

fact

circumstance

that under very simple conditions of life a high organisation would be of no service,— possibly would be of actual disservice, as being of a more delicate nature, and more liable to be put out of order and

~~thus~~

thus

injured.

→A difficulty, diametrically opposite to this which we have just been considering, has been advanced, namely,

looking

Looking

that, looking

to the

first dawn

dawn

of life, when all organic beings, as we may

believe,

imagine,

presented the simplest structure,

how,

how

→could the first steps in →advancement or in the differentiation and specialisation of parts have arisen? ↑ Mr. Herbert Spencer would probably answer

that,

that

as soon as

~~the most~~

the most

simple unicellular organism came by growth or division to be compounded of several cells, or became attached to any supporting surface, his law →would come into action, namely, "that homologous units of any order become differentiated in proportion as their relations to incident forces become →different." But as we have no facts to guide us,

~~all~~

all

speculation on the subject is

almost useless.

useless.

It is, however, an error to suppose that there would be no struggle for existence, and, consequently, no natural selection, until many forms had been produced: variations in a single species inhabiting an isolated station might be beneficial,

and

and,

→through their preservation, either the whole mass of individuals might

become

modified, or two distinct forms might arise.

But

But,

→as I remarked towards the close of the Introduction, →OMIT no one ought to feel surprise at much remaining as yet unexplained on the origin of species, if →due allowance be made