Origin of Species Variorum

→ or perfectly fertile. 1866 1869 1872

fertile. 1859 1860 1861

↑ 2 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866; present in 1869 1872

The various races of each kind of domesticated animal are quite fertile when crossed together; yet in many cases they are descended from two or more wild species. From this fact we must conclude either that the aboriginal parent-species produced at first perfectly fertile hybrids, or that the hybrids subsequently reared under domestication became quite fertile.

→ seems 1861 1866

seems to me 1859 1860

which was first propounded by Pallas, seems 1869

which was first propounded by Pallas, seems by far 1872

→ I have hardly any doubt of its truth, although it rests on no direct evidence. 1866

I am inclined to believe in its truth, although it rests on no direct evidence. 1859 1860 1861

can, indeed, hardly be doubted. 1869 1872

→ almost certain that 1866 1869 1872

that 1859 1860 1861

→ I have lately acquired decisive evidence that the crossed offspring from the Indian humped and common 1866 1869 1872

there is reason to believe that our European and the humped Indian 1859 1860 1861

→ inter se perfectly fertile; and from the observations by Rütimeyer on their important osteological differences, as well as from those 1866 1869

quite fertile together; but from facts communicated to me 1859 1860 1861

inter se perfectly fertile; and from the observations by Rütimeyer on their important osteological differences, as well as from those 1872

→ on their differences in habits, voice, constitution, &c., these two forms 1866 1869 1872

I think they 1859 1860 1861

→ good and distinct species—as good as any in the world. 1866

distinct species. 1859 1860 1861

good and distinct species as any in the world. 1869

good and distinct species. 1872

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

The same remarks may be extended to the two chief races of the pig.

→ On this view 1859 1860 1861 1866

According to this view 1869

We must, therefore, either give up the belief 1872

→ origin of many of our domestic animals, 1859 1860 1861 1866

origin of many domestic animals, 1869

universal sterility of species when crossed; or 1872

→ either give up the belief of the almost universal sterility of distinct species of animals when crossed; or we must 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

less than

eight

eigth

hybrids (grandchildren of the pure geese) from one nest. In India, however, these cross-bred geese must be far more fertile; for I am assured by two eminently capable judges, namely Mr. Blyth and Capt. Hutton, that whole flocks of these crossed geese are kept in various parts of the country; and as they are kept for profit, where neither pure parent-species exists, they must certainly be highly →or perfectly fertile. ↑

A doctrine which originated with

Pallas,

Pallas

has been largely accepted by modern naturalists; namely, that most of our domestic animals have descended from two or more

aboriginal

wild

species, since commingled by intercrossing. On this view, the aboriginal species must either at first have produced quite fertile hybrids, or the hybrids must have become in subsequent

generations

generation

quite fertile under domestication. This latter

alternative,

alternative

→seems the most probable, and →I have hardly any doubt of its truth, although it rests on no direct evidence.

I believe,

It is,

for instance, →almost certain that our dogs

are

have

descended from several wild stocks; yet, with perhaps the exception of certain indigenous domestic dogs of South America, all are quite fertile together;

but

and

analogy makes me greatly doubt, whether the several aboriginal species would at first have freely bred together and have produced quite fertile hybrids. So again →I have lately acquired decisive evidence that the crossed offspring from the Indian humped and common cattle are → inter se perfectly fertile; and from the observations by Rütimeyer on their important osteological differences, as well as from those by Mr.

Blyth,

Blyth

→on their differences in habits, voice, constitution, &c., these two forms must be

considered

regarded

as →good and distinct species—as good as any in the world. ↑ →On this view of the →origin of many of our domestic animals, we must →either give up the belief of the almost universal sterility of distinct species of animals when crossed; or we must