Origin of Species Variorum

→ OMIT 1869 1872

A difficulty, diametrically opposite to this which we have just been considering, has been advanced, namely, 1861 1866

→ it has been asked, could 1869 1872

could 1861 1866

→ the advancement or differentiation 1869 1872

advancement or in the differentiation and specialisation 1861 1866

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

I can make no sufficient answer; and can only say that as we have no facts to guide us, all speculation on the subject would be baseless and useless.

→ OMIT 1869 1872

would come into action, namely, 1866

→ different" would come into action. 1869 1872

different." 1866

→ thus 1869 1872

through their preservation either 1861

through their preservation, either 1866

→ as I remarked 1866 1869 1872

I must recur to what was stated 1861

→ OMIT 1866 1869 1872

where I say that 1861

→ we make due allowance 1869 1872

due allowance be made 1861 1866

→ present time, and still more so during past ages. 1872

many past epochs in its history. 1861 1866

past epochs in its history. 1869

←Subtitle not present 1859 1860 1861 1872 Various Objections considered. 1866 1869

→ OMIT 1872

I need allude only to two other objections: a distinguished botanist, 1869

→ If 1872

I will only remark that if 1869

→ belonging to two distinct though 1872

of two 1869

→ forms, it is conceivable that these might 1872

species, I can believe that they might sometimes 1869

→ have all to 1872

for convenience sake 1869

→ the descendants of two distinct 1872

two 1869

development. In some few cases there

may have

has

been what we must call retrogression of organisation. But the main cause lies in the

circumstance

fact

that under very simple conditions of life a high organisation would be of no service,— possibly would be of actual disservice, as being of a more delicate nature, and more liable to be put out of order and

thus

....

injured.

→OMIT

looking

that, looking

Looking

to the

dawn

first dawn

of life, when all organic beings, as we may

imagine,

believe,

presented the simplest structure,

how

how,

→it has been asked, could the first steps in →the advancement or differentiation of parts have arisen? ↑ Mr. Herbert Spencer would probably answer

that

that,

as soon as

the most

....

simple unicellular organism came by growth or division to be compounded of several cells, or became attached to any supporting surface, his law →OMIT "that homologous units of any order become differentiated in proportion as their relations to incident forces become →different" would come into action. But as we have no facts to guide us,

all

....

speculation on the subject is

useless.

almost useless.

It is, however, an error to suppose that there would be no struggle for existence, and, consequently, no natural selection, until many forms had been produced: variations in a single species inhabiting an isolated station might be beneficial,

and,

and

→thus the whole mass of individuals might

become

modified, or two distinct forms might arise.

But

But,

→as I remarked towards the close of the Introduction, →OMIT no one ought to feel surprise at much remaining as yet unexplained on the origin of species, if →we make due allowance for our profound ignorance on the mutual relations of the inhabitants of the world

during

the →present time, and still more so during past ages. →

→OMIT Mr. H. C.

Watson,

Watson

believes

thinks

that I have overrated the importance of divergence of character (in which, however, he apparently believes), and that

convergence

convergence,

of character,

....

as it may be called, has likewise played a part. →If two

species

species,

→belonging to two distinct though allied genera,

both

had both

produced a

number

large number

of new and divergent →forms, it is conceivable that these might approach each other so closely that they would →have all to be classed

under

the same

new

....

genus,

genus;

and thus →the descendants of two distinct genera would converge into

one;

but

from

the

strength

the

principle

inheritance,

and

from

the

two

parent-species

already

differing

and

consequently

tending

vary

somewhat

different

manner,

seems

hardly

credible

that

the

two

new

groups

would

not

least

form

distinct

sections

the

genus.

But it would in most cases be extremely rash to attribute to convergence a close and general similarity of structure in the modified descendants of widely distinct forms. The shape of a crystal is determined solely by the molecular forces, and it is not surprising that dissimilar substances should sometimes assume the same form; but with organic beings we should bear in mind that the form of