portions of a strictly continuous area, intermediate varieties will, it is probable, at first have been formed in the intermediate zones, but they will generally have had a short duration. For these intermediate varieties will, from reasons already assigned (namely from what we know of the actual distribution of closely allied or representative species, and likewise of acknowledged varieties), exist in the intermediate zones in lesser numbers than the varieties which they tend to connect. From this cause alone the
intermediate intermediate 1860 1861 1866 1869 1872 | interme- diate 1859 |
varieties will be liable to accidental extermination; and during the process of further modification through natural selection, they will almost certainly be beaten and supplanted by the forms which they connect; for these from existing in greater numbers will, in the aggregate, present more
varieties, varieties, 1872 | variation, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
and thus be further improved through natural selection and gain further advantages. |
|
Lastly, looking not to any one time, but to all time, if my theory be true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking
....... 1861 1866 1869 1872 | most 1859 1860 |
closely
together all the species of the same group, together all the species of the same group, 1866 1869 1872 |
all the species of the same group together, 1859 1860 1861 |
must assuredly have existed; but the very process of natural selection constantly tends, as has been so often remarked, to exterminate the
parent-forms parent-forms 1860 1861 1866 1869 1872 | parent forms 1859 |
and the intermediate links. Consequently evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains, which are preserved, as we shall
attempt to show in a future chapter, in attempt to show in a future chapter, in 1872 |
in a future chapter attempt to show, in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
an extremely imperfect and intermittent record. |
On
On
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
On
1866 1869 |
the
the
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
the
1866 1869 |
Origin
Origin
1872 |
origin
1859 1860 1861 |
Origin
1866 1869 |
and
and
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
and
1866 1869 |
Transitions
Transitions
1872 |
transitions
1859 1860 1861 |
Transitions
1866 1869 |
of
of
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
of
1866 1869 |
Organic
Organic
1872 |
organic
1859 1860 1861 |
Organic
1866 1869 |
Beings
Beings
1872 |
beings
1859 1860 1861 |
Beings
1866 1869 |
with
with
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
with
1866 1869 |
peculiar
peculiar
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
peculiar
1866 1869 |
Habits
Habits
1872 |
habits
1859 1860 1861 |
Habits
1866 1869 |
and
and
1859 1860 1861 1872 |
and
1866 1869 |
Structure
.—
Structure
.—
1872 |
structure
.—
1859 1861 |
structure.
—
1860 |
Structure
. 1866 |
Structure. 1869 |
|
It has been asked by the opponents of such views as I hold, how, for instance,
could a land carnivorous animal could a land carnivorous animal 1872 |
a land carnivorous animal could 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
have been converted into one with aquatic habits; for how could the animal in its transitional state have subsisted? It would be easy to show that
there now exist there now exist 1872 |
within the same group 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
carnivorous animals
presenting close presenting close 1872 |
exist having every 1859 1860 1861 |
exist, having every 1866 1869 |
intermediate
grades grades 1872 | grade 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
from from 1872 |
between truly aquatic and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
strictly terrestrial
to aquatic habits; to aquatic habits; 1872 |
habits; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
and as each exists by a struggle for life, it is clear that each
must be must be 1872 | is 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
well adapted
to to 1872 | in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
its
...OMIT 1872 |
habits to its 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
place in nature. Look at the Mustela vison of North America, which has webbed
feet, feet, 1866 1869 1872 | feet 1859 1860 1861 |
and which resembles an otter in its fur, short legs, and form of
tail. tail. 1872 | tail; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | during 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | summer 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | this 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | animal 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | dives 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | for 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | preys 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | on 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | fish, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | but 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | during 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | long 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | winter 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | it 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | leaves 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | frozen 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | waters, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | preys 1859 1860 1861 | preys, 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | like 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | other 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | polecats 1859 1860 | pole-cats 1861 | pole-cats, 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | on 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | mice 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | land 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
....... 1872 | animals. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
During the summer this animal dives for and preys on fish, but during the long winter it leaves the frozen waters, and preys, like other pole-cats, on mice and land animals. During the summer this animal dives for and preys on fish, but during the long winter it leaves the frozen waters, and preys, like other pole-cats, on mice and land animals. 1872 |
If a different case had been taken, and it had been asked how an insectivorous quadruped could possibly have been converted into a flying bat, the question would have been far more difficult, and I could have given no answer. 1859 1860 1861 |
If a different case had been taken, and it had been asked how an insectivorous quadruped could possibly have been converted into a flying bat, the question would have been far more difficult to answer. 1866 1869 |
If a different case had been taken, and it had been asked how an insectivorous quadruped could possibly have been converted into a flying bat, the question would have been far more difficult to answer. Yet If a different case had been taken, and it had been asked how an insectivorous quadruped could possibly have been converted into a flying bat, the question would have been far more difficult to answer. Yet 1872 |
Yet 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
I think such difficulties have
....... 1861 1866 1869 1872 | very 1859 1860 |
little weight. |
|
Here, as on other occasions, I lie under a heavy disadvantage,
for, for, 1866 1869 1872 | for 1859 1860 1861 |
out of the many striking cases which I have collected, I can give only one or two instances of transitional habits and structures in
|