RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1852. The accidental variations in a limb &c not seen in embryo. CUL-DAR205.6.46. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by John van Wyhe 11.2021. RN2
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 '12' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Embryology.
[46]
(12
Dec. /52/.
The accidental variations in a limb &c not seen in embryo, therefore we could make a class for an ornithorhynchus without affecting the organisation of its embryo: hence great law of similarity of embryos in same class.
In peculiarities appearing at same age, (if varied) would, as soon as young protected by old, account for very existence of embryonic structure: the embryo being parent unaltered form
[46v]
p iv.
p. 79
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 14 January, 2026