Origin of Species Variorum

→ fresh-water 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872

the same fresh-water 1869

→ unstocked ponds and streams, situated at very distant points. 1869 1872

vast distances, and if consequently the range of these plants was not very great. 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ many hours afterwards in pellets or in the excrement. 1872

in pellets or in excrement, many hours afterwards. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ the distribution of this 1872

this 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ the means of its dispersal 1872

its distribution 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ Now this bird must often have flown with its stomach thus well stocked to distant ponds, and then 1872

although I do not know the fact, yet analogy makes me believe that a heron flying to another pond and 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ analogy makes me believe that it would have rejected 1872

would probably reject from its stomach a pellet containing 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ in a pellet in a fit state for germination. 1872

of the Nelumbium undigested; or the seeds might be dropped by the bird whilst feeding its young, in the same way as fish are known sometimes to be dropped. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ in kind, 1869 1872

already occupying any pond, 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ even in a well-stocked pond 1869 1872

of kinds 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ in comparison with the number of species inhabiting an equal area of 1869 1872

compared with those on the 1859 1860 1861 1866

→ between them will 1872

will 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ OMIT 1872

average for the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ OMIT 1872

as fresh-water productions ever can range, 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869

contained in a breakfast cup! Considering these facts, I think it would be an inexplicable circumstance if water-birds did not transport the seeds of →fresh-water plants to →unstocked ponds and streams, situated at very distant points. The same agency may have come into play with the eggs of some of the smaller fresh-water animals.

Other and unknown agencies probably have also played a part. I have stated that fresh-water fish eat some kinds of seeds, though they reject many other kinds after having swallowed them; even small fish swallow seeds of moderate size, as of the yellow water-lily and Potamogeton. Herons and other birds, century after century, have gone on daily devouring fish; they then take flight and go to other waters, or are blown across the sea; and we have seen that seeds retain their power of germination, when rejected →many hours afterwards in pellets or in the excrement. When I saw the great size of the seeds of that fine water-lily, the Nelumbium, and remembered Alph. de

Candolles

Candolle's

remarks on →the distribution of this plant, I thought that →the means of its dispersal must remain

quite

....

inexplicable; but Audubon states that he found the seeds of the great southern water-lily (probably, according to Dr. Hooker, the Nelumbium luteum) in a

herons

heron's

stomach;

stomach.

→Now this bird must often have flown with its stomach thus well stocked to distant ponds, and then getting a hearty meal of fish, →analogy makes me believe that it would have rejected the seeds →in a pellet in a fit state for germination.

In considering these several means of distribution, it should be remembered that when a pond or stream is first formed, for instance, on a rising islet, it will be unoccupied; and a single seed or egg will have a good chance of succeeding. Although there will always be a struggle for life between the

individuals

inhabitants

of the

species,

same pond,

however

few,

few

→in kind,

yet,

yet

as the number →even in a well-stocked pond is