RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1843.07. As all groups by my theory blend into each other there could be no genera. CUL-DAR205.5.90. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 1.2023. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.5 contains notes on the principle of divergence, transitional organs and instincts.

[90]

July /43/

As all groups by my theory blend into each other, there could be no genera or orders in same sense that no part or branch of a tree can be said to be distinct in a perfect systema naturæ fossil & recent — but for the existing ones at any one period— these terms useful implying not separation, but that the species of one genus are more closely related to each other, than to the species of another genus.— not that any barrier exists between these two series of species (over

[90v]

a tree not good simile — endless pieceof see weed dividing

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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 5 March, 2023