Origin of Species Variorum

→ together all the species of the same group, 1866 1869 1872

all the species of the same group together, 1859 1860 1861

→ attempt to show in a future chapter, in 1872

in a future chapter attempt to show, in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ could a land carnivorous animal 1872

a land carnivorous animal could 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ there now exist 1872

within the same group 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ presenting close 1872

exist having every 1859 1860 1861

exist, having every 1866 1869

→ from 1872

between truly aquatic and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ to aquatic habits; 1872

habits; 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ OMIT 1872

habits to its 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. 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. Yet 1872

Yet 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

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

interme- diate

intermediate

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

variation,

varieties,

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

most

....

closely →together all the species of the same group, 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

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 an extremely imperfect and intermittent record.

the

origin

Origin

and

transitions

Transitions

organic

Organic

beings

Beings

with

peculiar

habits

Habits

and

structure .—

structure. —

Structure .

Structure.

Structure .—

It has been asked by the opponents of such views as I hold, how, for instance, →could a land carnivorous animal 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 carnivorous animals →presenting close intermediate

grade

grades

→from strictly terrestrial →to aquatic habits; and as each exists by a struggle for life, it is clear that each

must be

well adapted

its →OMIT place in nature. Look at the Mustela vison of North America, which has webbed

feet

feet,

and which resembles an otter in its fur, short legs, and form of

tail;

during

summer

this

animal

dives

for

and

preys

fish,

but

during

the

long

winter

leaves

the

frozen

waters,

and

preys

preys,

....

other

....

polecats

pole-cats

pole-cats,

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. →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 I think such difficulties have

very

....

little weight.

Here, as on other occasions, I lie under a heavy disadvantage,

for

for,

out of the many striking cases which I have collected, I can give only one or two instances of transitional habits and structures in