The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Embryology / No fish has larval stage. CUL-DAR205.6.64. 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 '12' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Embryology.

[64]

Embryology

No fish has larval stages. Frogs higher have - Toad either tadpole or not - In either metamorphosis or not - Yet broadly lower animals undergo metamorphoses - Cephalopods & spiders not - Plants not or barely - Must depend chiefly whether can get food better.

(No higher animals really go the greatest metamorphosis as in man but in higher animals, the stages do not live an independent life. Why is no metamorphosis visible in Spiders? has the development not departed greatly from original plan. Why not in Ceplopodæ? Great divergence in habits & nature of conditions Air & water wd cause more metamorphosis either in embryo or in larva.

Frogs bear on this

If it provides for itself at birth independently & in same manner as parent (apple to plant)? wd prevent Metamorphosis.

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