Origin of Species Variorum

Comparison with 1866

we should there find formations older than the Silurian strata, supposing such to have been formerly deposited; for it might well happen that strata which had subsided some miles nearer to the centre of the earth, and which had been pressed on by an enormous weight of superincumbent water, might have undergone far more metamorphic action than strata which have always remained nearer to the surface. The immense areas in some parts of the world, for instance in South America, of bare metamorphic rocks, which must have been heated under great pressure, have always seemed to me to require some special explanation; and we may perhaps believe that we see in these large areas, the many formations long anterior to the Silurian epoch in a completely metamorphosed but likewise denuded condition.

The several difficulties here discussed, namely our not finding in the successive formations infinitely numerous transitional links between the many species which now exist and have existed, we do not find infinitely numerous fine transitional forms closely joining them all together;— the sudden manner in which several whole groups of species first appeared in our European formations; the almost entire absence, as at present known, of fossiliferous formations rich in fossils beneath the Silurian strata,— are all undoubtedly of the gravest nature. We see this in the plainest manner by the fact that all the most eminent palæontologists, namely Cuvier, Owen, Agassiz, Barrande, Falconer, E. Forbes , &c., and all our greatest geologists, as Lyell, Murchison, Sedgwick, &c., have unanimously, often vehemently, maintained the immutability of species. But it is evident from the recent works of Sir Charles Lyell, that he now almost gives up this view; and some other great geologists and palæontologists are much shaken in their confidence. I feel how rash it is to differ from these great authorities, to whom, with others, we owe all our knowledge. Those who think the natural geological record in any degree perfect, and who do not attach much weight to the facts and arguments of other kinds given in this volume, will undoubtedly at once reject my theory. For my part, following out Lyell's metaphor, I look at the natural geological record, as a history of the world imperfectly kept, and written in a changing dialect; of this history we possess the last volume alone, relating only to two or three countries. Of this volume, only here and there a short chapter has been preserved; and of each page, only here and there a few lines. Each word of the slowly-changing language being more or less different in the interrupted succession of chapters, may represent the apparently abruptly changed forms of life, entombed in our consecutive, but widely separated formations, which falsely appear to have been abruptly transformed. On this view, the difficulties above discussed are greatly diminished, or even disappear.

we should there find sedimentary formations in a recognisable condition older than the Cambrian strata, supposing such to have been formerly deposited; for it might well happen that strata which had subsided some miles nearer to the centre of the earth, and which had been pressed on by an enormous weight of superincumbent water, might have undergone far more metamorphic action than strata which have always remained nearer to the surface. The immense areas in some parts of the world, for instance in South America, of naked metamorphic rocks, which must have been heated under great pressure, have always seemed to me to require some special explanation; and we may perhaps believe that we see in these large areas, the many formations long anterior to the Cambrian epoch in a completely metamorphosed and denuded condition.

The several difficulties here discussed, namely— that, though we find in our geological formations many links between the .. species which now exist and which formerly existed, we do not find infinitely numerous fine transitional forms closely joining them all together;— the sudden manner in which several groups of species first appear in our European formations;— the almost entire absence, as at present known, of .. formations rich in fossils beneath the Cambrian strata,— are all undoubtedly of the most serious nature. We see this in the ... fact that .. the most eminent palæontologists, namely, Cuvier, .. Agassiz, Barrande, Pictet, Falconer, E. Forbes , &c., and all our greatest geologists, as Lyell, Murchison, Sedgwick, &c., have unanimously, often vehemently, maintained the immutability of species. But ... Sir Charles Lyell now gives the support of his high authority to the opposite side; and most geologists and palæontologists are much shaken in their former belief. ↑ Those who believe that the geological record is in any degree perfect, ... will undoubtedly at once reject the theory. For my part, following out Lyell's metaphor, I look at the .. geological record as a history of the world imperfectly kept, and written in a changing dialect; of this history we possess the last volume alone, relating only to two or three countries. Of this volume, only here and there a short chapter has been preserved; and of each page, only here and there a few lines. Each word of the slowly-changing language, ... more or less different in the .. successive .. chapters, may represent the ... forms of life, which are entombed in our consecutive formations, and which falsely appear to us to have been abruptly introduced. On this view, the difficulties above discussed are greatly diminished, or even disappear.