RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1857.3-9]. [early draft title for Natural selection] On the mutability of species [& other notes]. CUL-DAR205.1.70. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Kees Rookmaaker, edited by John van Wyhe 9.2014. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.1 contains notes on rudimentary organs.
The brown crayon number '10' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Rudimentary & abortive organs.
[70]
On the
Mutability of Species
" Whewell"
by
C. Darwin, M. A. F.R.S.
John Murray. . - . - 1860!!
10
"Nascent" wd be good term applied to organs in contradistinction to "rudimentary" "aborted" — How hard to say, though utility forms the clear criterion which is nascent & which rudimentary, though we can say positively that some many parts are rudimentary — are penguins paddles
[70v]
Penguins wings possibly may be nascent — Steamer Duck (judging from affinity to other) & Apteryx certainly rudimentary.—
Swim bladder of Ameiva a nascent organ
nascent or rudimentary.—
We can perceive, that though in the formation of wings, all gradations may & must be useful to individuals (as we now see in penguins, steamers &c) yet that when wing once a flying organ, the numbers of species in this type wd immensely increase & so extinguish, numbers of animals in other types.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 20 November, 2022