Origin of Species Variorum

→ will become superior to their predecessors; for they will 1866

is formed by having had some advantage 1860

→ have to beat all the older forms with which they come into close competition. 1866

over other and preceding forms. 1860

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

In another and more general manner, new species will become superior to their predecessors; for they will have to beat in the struggle for life all the older forms with which they come into close competition. We may therefore conclude that if under a nearly similar climate the eocene inhabitants of the world could be put into competition with the existing inhabitants, the former would be beaten and exterminated by the latter, as would the secondary by the eocene, and the palæozoic by the secondary forms.

→ We may therefore conclude that if 1866

If 1859 1860 1861

→ OMIT 1866

one quarter of 1859 1860 1861

→ former would 1866

same or some other quarter, the eocene fauna or flora would certainly 1859 1860 1861

→ but in my judgment I cannot, after having read the discussions on this subject by Lyell, Bronn, and Hooker, look at this conclusion as fully proved, though highly probable. 1866

but in my judgment I can, after having read the discussions on this subject by Lyell, and Hooker's views in regard to plants, concur only to a limited extent. 1861

and I suppose that the answer must be admitted as true, though difficult of full proof. 1869

and it seems that this answer must be admitted as true, though difficult of proof. 1872

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

Nevertheless it may be anticipated that the evidence will be rendered more decisive by future geological research.

→ or to the general belief that species in the course of time change, 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ period, although no explanation can be given of this fact. 1866

epoch. 1869

epoch; and that certain land and fresh-water shells have remained nearly the same, from the time when, as far as is known, they first appeared. 1872

→ progressed in organisation, 1866

OMIT 1869 1872

→ since that most ancient of all epochs 1866

progressed in organisation since even 1869 1872

→ formation of Canada; 1866

epoch; 1869 1872

→ better 1866

could be better fitted 1869 1872

→ but in this case we can see that 1866

for 1869

new species →will become superior to their predecessors; for they will in the struggle for life →have to beat all the older forms with which they come into close competition. ↑ →We may therefore conclude that if under a nearly similar

climate,

climate

the eocene inhabitants of →OMIT the world

were

could be

put into competition with

the

our

existing

inhabitants

inhabitants,

....

the →former would be beaten and

exterminated;

exterminated,

as would a secondary fauna by an eocene, and a palæozoic fauna by a secondary fauna. So that by this fundamental test of victory in the battle for life, as well as by the standard of the specialisation of organs, modern forms

ought,

ought

on the theory of natural

selection,

selection

to stand higher than ancient forms. Is this the case? A large majority of palæontologists would

~~certainly~~

certainly

answer in the affirmative; →but in my judgment I cannot, after having read the discussions on this subject by Lyell, Bronn, and Hooker, look at this conclusion as fully proved, though highly probable. ↑

It is no valid objection to this

conclusion,

conclusion

→or to the general belief that species in the course of time change, that certain Brachiopods have been but slightly modified from an extremely remote geological →period, although no explanation can be given of this fact. It is not an insuperable difficulty that Foraminifera have

not,

not

→progressed in organisation, as insisted on by Dr. Carpenter, →since that most ancient of all epochs the Laurentian →formation of Canada; for some organisms would have to remain fitted for simple conditions of life, and what →better for this end than these lowly organised Protozoa? It is no great difficulty that fresh-water shells, as Professor Phillips has

urged,

remarked,

have remained almost unaltered from the time when they first appeared to the present day; →but in this case we can see that these shells will have been subjected to less severe competition than the

molluscs

molluses

~~which~~

which

inhabiting

inhabit

the

~~far~~

far

more extensive area of the sea with its innumerable inhabitants. Such