Origin of Species Variorum

→ sedimentary formations in a recognisable condition 1866 1869 1872

formations 1859 1860 1861

→ and denuded condition. 1869 1872

condition. 1859 1860

but likewise denuded condition. 1861 1866

→ namely— that, though we find in our geological formations many 1866 1869 1872

namely our not finding in the successive formations infinitely numerous transitional 1859 1860

namely— that though we find in our geological formations many 1861

→ and which formerly existed, we do not find infinitely numerous fine transitional forms closely joining them all together;— 1869 1872

or have existed; 1859 1860

and have existed, 1861 1866

→ the 1859 1860 1869 1872

we do not find infinitely numerous fine transitional forms closely joining them all together;— the 1861 1866

→ rich in fossils beneath the Cambrian strata,— 1869 1872

beneath the Silurian strata, 1859 1860

beneath the Silurian strata,— 1861

rich in fossils beneath the Silurian strata,— 1866

→ OMIT 1861 1866 1869 1872

plainest manner by the 1859 1860

→ OMIT 1869 1872

I have reason to believe that one great authority, 1859 1860 1861

it is evident from the recent works of 1866

→ now gives the support of his high authority to the opposite side; and most geologists and palæontologists are much shaken in their former belief. 1872

from further reflexion entertains grave doubts on this subject. 1859 1860

from further reflection entertains grave doubts on this subject. 1861

that he now almost gives up this view; and some other great geologists and palæontologists are much shaken in their confidence. 1866

now gives the support of his high authority to the opposite side; and most other geologists and palæontologists are much shaken in their former belief. 1869

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

I feel how rash it is to differ from these great authorities, to whom, with others, we owe all our knowledge.

→ believe that the 1866 1869 1872

think the natural 1859 1860 1861

→ OMIT 1866 1869 1872

and who do not attach much weight to the facts and arguments of other kinds given in this volume, 1859 1860 1861

→ OMIT 1869 1872

in which the history is supposed to be written, being 1859 1860

in which the history is written, being 1861

being 1866

→ OMIT 1866 1869 1872

apparently abruptly changed 1859 1860 1861

→ which are entombed 1869 1872

entombed 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ formations, and which falsely appear to us to have been abruptly introduced. 1869 1872

but widely separated formations. 1859

but widely separated, formations. 1860 1861

but widely separated formations, which falsely appear to have been abruptly transformed. 1866

we should there find →sedimentary formations in a recognisable condition older than the

silurian

Silurian

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

bare

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

silurian

Silurian

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

many

....

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

whole

several whole

several

groups of species

appear

first appeared

first appear

in our European

formations;

formations;—

the almost entire absence, as at present known, of

fossiliferous

....

formations →rich in fossils beneath the Cambrian strata,— are all undoubtedly of the

gravest

most serious

nature. We see this in the →OMIT fact that

all

....

the most eminent palæontologists,

namely

namely,

Cuvier,

Owen,

....

Agassiz, Barrande,

Falconer,

Pictet, Falconer,

E. Forbes ,

&c,

&c.,

and all our greatest geologists, as Lyell, Murchison, Sedgwick,

&c.,

have unanimously, often vehemently, maintained the immutability of species. But →OMIT Sir Charles

Lyell,

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, →OMIT will undoubtedly at once reject

the

theory. For my part, following out

Lyells

Lyell's

metaphor, I look at the

natural

....

geological

record,

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

language,

→OMIT more or less different in the

interrupted

....

succession

successive

....

chapters, may represent the →OMIT forms of life, →which are entombed in our

consecutive,

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.