RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1852.02. When I see that species even in a state of nature do vary a little & seeing how much they vary when domesticated. CUL-DAR205.6.45. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2021. 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-DAR205.6 contains notes on embryology [pigeons].
The brown crayon number '21' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Palaeontology: extinction.
[45]
Feb. 54
21
When I see that species even in a state of nature do vary a little & seeing how much they vary when domesticated, I look with astonishment at a species which has existed since one of the earlier Tertiary period, & which has suffered great changes of climate or great migrations, which has survived most of its [illeg], probably preys on or is preyed on by different creatures as keeping absolutely the same. This identity it seems to me far more wonderful than that some changes shd have supervened. So again it is wonderful that the same
45v]
2)
species shd be identical on distant shores, without any crossing seeing how long ago it must have been since there cd have been any communication between the two countries. The fixity of characters is marvellous. Identity is the law & a great effort is required to produce any change
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022