Origin of Species Variorum

→ OMIT 1861 1866 1869 1872

germinal vesicles, their 1859 1860

→ their liability to injurious influences. 1861 1866 1869 1872

reproduction. 1859 1860

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

In all organic beings the union of a male and female elemental cell seems occasionally to be necessary for the production of a new being.

→ as far as is at present known, the germinal vesicle is the same; 1872

as far as is at present known, the germinal vesicle is the same. 1861 1866

organic beings sexual reproduction seems to be essentially similar. 1869

→ so that all organisms 1872

So that every individual organic being 1861 1866

With all, as far as is at present known, the germinal vesicle is the same; so that all organisms 1869

→ on the principle of natural selection with divergence of character, it does not seem incredible that, 1861 1866 1869 1872

I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended 1859 1860

→ such low and intermediate form, both animals and plants may have been developed; and, if we admit this, we must likewise admit that all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth may be descended from some one 1869 1872

one 1859 1860

such low and intermediate form, both animals and plants may have been developed; and, if we admit this, we must admit that all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth may have descended from some one 1861 1866

→ OMIT 1861 1866 1869 1872

breathed. 1859

breathed by the Creator. 1860

→ the members are 1872

are 1869

→ advanced by me 1860 1861 1866 1869 1872

entertained 1859

→ and by Mr. Wallace, 1872

on the origin of species, 1859

and by Mr. Wallace in the Linnean Journal, 1860 1861 1866 1869

→ on the origin of species are 1860 1861 1866 1869 1872

are 1859

→ a true 1869 1872

in essence a 1859 1860 1861 1866

things have much in

common,—

common,

in their chemical composition, their →OMIT cellular structure,

and

....

their laws of

growth

growth,

and →their liability to injurious influences. We see this even in so trifling a

circumstance

fact

as that the same poison often similarly affects plants and animals; or that the poison secreted by the

gallfly

gall-fly

produces monstrous growths on the wild rose or oak-tree. ↑ With all organic beings, excepting perhaps some of the very lowest, sexual reproduction seems to be essentially similar.

With

all

all,

→as far as is at present known, the germinal vesicle is the same; →so that all organisms

starts

start

from a common origin. If we look even to the two main divisions— namely, to the

animal,

animal

and vegetable kingdoms— certain low forms are so far intermediate in character that naturalists have disputed to which kingdom they should be

referred,

referred.

and, as

Professor Asa Gray has remarked, "the spores and other reproductive bodies of many of the lower

algæ?

algæ

may claim to have first a characteristically animal, and then an unequivocally vegetable existence."

Therefore

Therefore,

→on the principle of natural selection with divergence of character, it does not seem incredible that, from some →such low and intermediate form, both animals and plants may have been developed; and, if we admit this, we must likewise admit that all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth may be descended from some one primordial

form,

into

which

life

was

first

→OMIT But this inference is chiefly grounded on analogy, and it is immaterial whether or not it be accepted. No doubt it is possible, as Mr. G. H. Lewes has urged, that at the first commencement of life many different forms were evolved; but if so, we may conclude that only a very few have left modified descendants. For, as I have recently remarked in regard to the members of each great

class,

kingdom,

such as the Vertebrata, Articulata, &c., we have distinct evidence in their embryological,

homologous

homologous,

and rudimentary structures, that within each

class

kingdom

all →the members are descended from a single progenitor.

When the views →advanced by me in this

volume

volume,

→and by Mr. Wallace, or when analogous views →on the origin of species are generally admitted, we can dimly foresee that there will be a considerable revolution in natural history. Systematists will be able to pursue their labours as at present; but they will not be incessantly haunted by the shadowy doubt whether this or that form be →a true species.

This

This,

I feel

sure,

sure

and I speak after experience, will be no slight relief. The endless disputes whether or not some fifty species of British brambles are

true

good

species will cease. Systematists will have only to decide (not that this will be easy) whether any form be sufficiently constant and distinct from other forms,