it can act only by
....... 1869 1872 | very 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
short and slow steps.
Hence, Hence, 1872 | Hence 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
the canon of "Natura non facit saltum," which every fresh addition to our knowledge tends to
confirm, confirm, 1872 |
make more strictly correct, 1859 |
make truer, 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
is on this theory
....... 1869 1872 | simply 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
intelligible. We can see why throughout nature the same general end is gained by an almost infinite diversity of
means, means, 1872 | means; 1866 1869 |
for every peculiarity when once acquired is long inherited, and structures already
modified modified 1872 | diversified 1866 1869 |
in many
different ways different ways 1872 | ways 1866 1869 |
have to be adapted for the same general purpose. We
can, can, 1866 1869 1872 | can 1859 1860 1861 |
in short, in short, 1866 1869 1872 | plainly 1859 1860 1861 |
see why nature is prodigal in variety, though niggard in innovation. But why this should be a law of nature if each species
has has 1859 1860 1861 1872 | had 1866 1869 |
been
independently independently 1859 1860 1866 1869 1872 | in dependently 1861 |
created, no man can explain. |
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Many other facts are, as it seems to me, explicable on this theory. How strange it is that a bird, under the form of
a woodpecker, should a woodpecker, should 1872 |
woodpecker, should have been created to 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
prey on insects on the ground; that upland
geese geese 1869 1872 | geese, 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
which
rarely rarely 1872 | never 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
or
never never 1872 | rarely 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
swim, should
possess possess 1872 |
have been created with 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
webbed feet; that a
thrush-like bird should thrush-like bird should 1872 |
thrush should have been created to 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
thrush-like bird should have been created to 1869 |
dive and feed on sub-aquatic insects; and that a petrel should have
the the 1872 |
been created with 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
habits habits 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872 | the habits 1869 |
and structure fitting it for the life of an
auk! auk! 1861 1866 1869 1872 | auk 1859 1860 |
....... 1861 1866 1869 1872 | or grebe! 1859 1860 |
and so
....... 1869 1872 | on 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
in endless other cases. But on the view of each species constantly trying to increase in number, with natural selection always ready to adapt the slowly varying descendants of each to any unoccupied or
ill-occupied ill-occupied 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872 | ill-occu- pied 1869 |
place in nature, these facts cease to be strange, or
....... 1869 1872 | perhaps 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
might even have been anticipated. |
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We can
to a certain extent understand to a certain extent understand 1872 |
understand 1866 1869 |
how it is that
there is so much beauty there is so much beauty 1872 |
such harmonious beauty generally prevails 1866 1869 |
throughout
nature: for this may be largely attributed to the agency of selection. nature: for this may be largely attributed to the agency of selection. 1872 |
nature. 1866 1869 |
That
beauty, beauty, 1872 |
there are exceptions 1866 1869 |
according to our
sense sense 1872 | ideas 1866 1869 |
of
it, is not universal, must be admitted by every one it, is not universal, must be admitted by every one 1872 |
beauty, no one will doubt 1866 1869 |
who will look at some
....... 1872 | of the 1866 1869 |
venomous snakes, at some
fishes, fishes, 1872 | fish, 1866 1869 |
and at certain hideous bats with a distorted resemblance to the human face. Sexual selection has
given given 1869 1872 | given, 1866 |
...OMIT 1872 |
generally to the males alone but sometimes to both sexes, 1866 |
the most brilliant colours and other ornaments to the males, but sometimes to both sexes 1869 |
the most brilliant colours, elegant patterns, and other ornaments to the males, and sometimes to both sexes of many the most brilliant colours, elegant patterns, and other ornaments to the males, and sometimes to both sexes of many 1872 |
the most brilliant and beautiful colours, as well as other ornaments, to our 1866 |
of many 1869 |
birds, butterflies, and
....... 1872 | a few 1866 1869 |
other animals.
With birds it has often With birds it has often 1869 1872 |
It has 1866 |
rendered the
voice voice 1869 1872 | voices 1866 |
of
the
male
....... 1869 1872 | birds 1866 |
musical to
the
female, female, 1869 1872 | females, 1866 |
as well as to our ears. Flowers and fruit have been rendered conspicuous by
brilliant brilliant 1872 | gaudy 1866 1869 |
colours in contrast with the green foliage, in order that the flowers
may
be easily seen, visited, and fertilised by insects, and the
...OMIT 1869 1872 |
fruit have their 1866 |
seeds disseminated by birds. How it comes that certain colours, sounds, and forms should give pleasure to man and the lower animals,— that is, how the sense of beauty in its simplest form was first acquired,— we do not know any more than how certain odours and flavours were first rendered agreeable. ↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1872; present in 1866 1869 | And
lastly,
some living objects have become beautiful through mere symmetry of growth.
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|
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As natural selection acts by competition, it
adapts adapts 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872 | renders 1869 |
and improves the and improves the 1872 |
the 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869 |
inhabitants of each country
only only 1859 1860 1861 1866 1872 | perfect only 1869 |
in relation to
their co-inhabitants; their co-inhabitants; 1872 |
the degree of perfection of their associates; 1859 1860 1861 1866 |
the other inhabitants; 1869 |
so that we need feel no surprise at the
|