Origin of Species Variorum

→ a 10 , 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

a 10 , 1872

→ m 6 , 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

m 6 , 1872

→ call 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

consider as intermediate 1872

→ together, intermediate in character, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

→ justified, as 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

partly justified, for 1872

→ of the families (those 1866 1869 1872

families 1859 1860 1861

→ a 14 , 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872

a 14 , 1869

→ b 14 , 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872

b 14 , 1869

→ there would remain two families, which would be less distinct from each other than they were before the discovery of the fossils. 1866 1869 1872

the two other families (namely, a 14 to f 14 now including five genera, and o 14 to m 14 ) would yet remain distinct. 1859 1860 1861

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

So again, if the three families formed of eight genera ( a 14 to m 14 ), on the uppermost line, be supposed to differ from each other by half a dozen important characters, then the families which existed at the period marked VI. would certainly have differed from each other by a less number of characters; for they would at this early stage of descent have diverged in a less degree from their common progenitor.

→ So again, if the three families formed of eight genera ( a 14, to m 14 ), on the uppermost line, be supposed 1866

If, for instance, we suppose the existing genera of the two families 1859 1860 1861

→ half a dozen important characters, then the families which existed 1866

a dozen characters, in this case the genera, 1859 1860 1861

→ certainly have differed from each other 1866

differ 1859 1860 1861

→ they would at 1866

at 1859 1860 1861

→ a less degree from their 1866

character from the 1859 1860 1861

→ some slight 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

a greater or less 1872

sub-families and families, some of which are supposed to have perished at different periods, and some to have endured to the present day.

By looking at the diagram we can see that if many of the extinct

forms

forms,

supposed to be

imbedded

embedded

in the successive formations, were discovered at several points low down in the series, the three existing families on the uppermost line would be rendered less distinct from each other. If, for instance, the genera a 1 , a 5 , → a 10 , f 8 , m 3 , → m 6 , m 9 , were

disinterred,

distinterred,

these three families would be so closely linked together that they probably would have to be united into one great family, in nearly the same manner as has occurred with ruminants and

pachyderms.

certain pachyderms.

Yet he who objected to →call the extinct

genera,

genera

which thus

link together

linked

the living genera of three

families,

families

→together, intermediate in character, would be →justified, as they are intermediate, not directly, but only by a long and circuitous course through many widely different forms. If many extinct forms were to be discovered above one of the middle horizontal lines or geological formations— for instance, above No. VI.— but none from beneath

this

his

line, then only

the

....

two →of the families (those on the left

hand

hand,

(namely,

....

→ a 14 , &c., and → b 14 , &c.) would have to be united into

one

one;

family;

....

and →there would remain two families, which would be less distinct from each other than they were before the discovery of the fossils. ↑ → So again, if the three families formed of eight genera ( a 14, to m 14 ), on the uppermost line, be supposed to differ from each other by →half a dozen important characters, then the families which existed at the

early

....

period marked

VI.,

VI.

would →certainly have differed from each other by a

lesser

less

number of characters; for →they would at this early stage of descent

they

....

have