Origin of Species Variorum

Comparison with 1860

pellets or passed them in their excrement; and several of these seeds retained their power of germination. Certain seeds, however, were always killed by this process. ↑

Although the beaks and feet of birds are generally quite clean, I can show that earth sometimes adheres to them: in one instance I removed twenty-two grains of dry argillaceous earth from one foot of a partridge, and in this earth there was a pebble quite as large as the seed of a vetch. ↑ Thus seeds might occasionally be transported to great distances; for many facts could be given showing that soil almost everywhere is charged with seeds. Reflect for a moment on the millions of quails which annually cross the Mediterranean; and can we doubt that the earth adhering to their feet would sometimes include a few minute seeds? ↑ But I shall presently have to recur to this subject.

As icebergs are known to be sometimes loaded with earth and stones, and have even carried brushwood, bones, and the nest of a land-bird, I can hardly doubt that they must occasionally have transported seeds from

pellets or passed them in their excrement; and several of these seeds retained their power of germination. Certain seeds, however, were always killed by this process. ↑

Although the beaks and feet of birds are generally quite clean, ... earth sometimes adheres to them: in one case I removed sixty-one grains, and in another case twenty-two grains of dry argillaceous earth from one foot of a partridge, and in the earth there was a pebble quite as large as the seed of a vetch. ↑ Thus seeds might occasionally be transported to great distances; for many facts could be given showing that soil almost every-where is charged with seeds. I will give one case:— Mr. Newton sent me the leg of a red-legged partridge (Caccabis rufa) which had been wounded and could not fly; round the wounded leg and foot a ball of hard earth had collected, and this when removed weighed six and a half ounces. This earth had been kept for three years, but when broken, watered and placed under a bell glass, no less than 82 plants sprung up from it: these consisted of 12 monocotyledons, including the common oat, and at least one kind of grass, and of 70 dicotyledons, which included, judging from the young leaves, at least three distinct species. With such facts before us, can we doubt that the many birds which are annually blown by gales across great spaces of ocean, and which annually migrate— for instance, the millions of quails across the Mediterranean— must occasionally transport a few seeds embedded in dirt adhering to their feet? But I shall presently have to recur to this subject.

As icebergs are known to be sometimes loaded with earth and stones, and have even carried brushwood, bones, and the nest of a land-bird, it can hardly be doubted that they must occasionally, as suggested by Lyell, have transported seeds from