Origin of Species Variorum

→ As Owen has 1866 1869

but, as Owen and others have 1859 1860 1861

OMIT 1872

→ is much analogy between them and ordinary muscles, in their manner of action, in the influence on them of the nervous power and of stimulants such as strychnine, 1869

OMIT 1872

intimate structure closely resembles that of common muscle; 1859 1860 1861

is much analogy between them and ordinary muscles, in their manner of action, in the influence on them of the nervous power and other stimulants such as strychnine, 1866

→ some believe in their intimate structure. 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

it has lately been shown that Rays have an organ closely analogous to the electric apparatus, and yet do not, as Matteuchi asserts, discharge any electricity, we must own that we are far too ignorant to argue that no transition of any kind is possible. 1859

it has lately been shown that Rays have an organ closely analogous to the electric apparatus, and yet do not, as Matteucei asserts, discharge any electricity, we must own that we are far too ignorant to argue that no transition of any kind is possible. 1860

it has lately been shown that Rays have an organ closely analogous to the electric apparatus, and yet do not, as Matteucci asserts, discharge any electricity, we must own that we are far too ignorant to argue that no transition of any kind is possible. 1861

→ We 1866 1869

But this is not surprising, for we 1872

→ OMIT 1869 1872

in all cases 1866

→ these organs are; though in 1866 1869

they are. In 1872

→ an 1866 1869

as observed by Matteucci, an 1872

→ even when 1866 1869

manifests but little electricity, even when the animal is 1872

→ manifests, as lately observed by Matteucci, but little electricity; 1866 1869

OMIT 1872

→ such purposes. 1869

these ends. 1866

the above purposes. 1872

→ appears to be 1869 1872

apparently is 1866

↑ 3 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872

It is generally admitted that there exists between these organs and ordinary muscle a close analogy, in intimate structure, in the distribution of the nerves, and in the manner in which they are acted on by various reagents. It should, also, be especially observed that muscular contraction is accompanied by an electrical discharge; and, as Dr. Radcliffe insists, "in the electrical apparatus of the torpedo during rest, there would seem to be a charge in every respect like that which is met with in muscle and nerve during rest, and the discharge of the torpedo, instead of being peculiar, may be only another form of the discharge which attends upon the action of muscle and motor nerve." Beyond this we cannot at present go in the way of explanation; but as we know so little about the uses of these organs, and as we know nothing about the habits and structure of the progenitors of the existing electric fishes, it would be extremely bold to maintain that no serviceable transitions are possible by which these organs might have been gradually developed.

→ These same organs at first appear to 1866 1869

The electric organs 1859 1860 1861

These organs appear at first to 1872

→ fish, of which 1866 1869 1872

which 1859 1860 1861

→ other; but this is far from the case. 1866 1869 1872

other. 1859 1860 1861

conceive by what steps these wondrous organs have been

produced;

produced.

→As Owen has

~~remarked,~~

remarked,

their

~~there~~

there

→is much analogy between them and ordinary muscles, in their manner of action, in the influence on them of the nervous power and of stimulants such as strychnine,

~~and~~

and

→some believe in their intimate structure. →We do not even →OMIT know of what use →these organs are; though in the Gymnotus and Torpedo they no doubt serve as powerful means of

defense,

defence

and perhaps for securing prey; yet in the

Ray,

Ray

→an analogous organ in the

tail

tail,

→even when greatly

irritated;

irritated,

→manifests, as lately observed by Matteucci, but little electricity; so

little,

little

that it can hardly be of

much

any

....

use for →such purposes. Moreover, in the Ray, besides the organ just referred to, there is, as Dr. R. M'Donnell has shown, another organ near the head, not known to be electrical, but which →appears to be the real homologue of the electric battery in the

Torpedo.

torpedo.

↑

And

....

lastly,

Lastly,

as we know nothing about the lineal progenitors of

any of

....

these fishes, it must be admitted that we are too ignorant to be enabled to affirm that no transitions are possible, through which the electric organs might have been developed.

→These same organs at first appear to offer another and

even

far

more serious difficulty; for they occur in

only

....

about a dozen

fishes,

kinds

of →fish, of which several are widely remote in their affinities.

~~Generally~~

Generally

When

when

the same organ

appears

is found

in several members of the same class, especially if in members having very different habits of life, we may

generally attribute

attribute

its presence to inheritance from a common ancestor; and its absence in some of the members to

its

....

loss through disuse or natural selection.

But

So that,

if the electric organs had been inherited from

one

some one

ancient

progenitor

progenitor,

thus provided,

....

we might have expected that all electric fishes would have been specially related to each →other; but this is far from the case. Nor does geology at all