RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1861.06.06. The case of Primula just opposite to species. CUL-DAR205.7.155. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2023. 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-DAR205.7 contains notes on hybridism, sterility and pigeons.


[155]

June 6 61/ The case of Primula just opposite to species; similar forms are here fully fertile dissimilar sterile; with Primula the similar are sterile & the dissimilar fertile.

Keep in Hybrid Chapt

As was seen sterility acquired merely to prevent intermarriage, & this can hardly be disputed by those who consider all above facts & who believe in change of species; so may we not ask whether sterility may not have been acquired to prevent blending of two incipiently divergent forms. As one became adapted for aquatic life would it not have been an advantage that it shd not have become blended with the truly terrestrial form— The first change may have been infinitely slight, the degree which

[155v]

My facts on Primula perhaps explain Gærtners ill-success in crossing Primrose & Cowslip. — Did not Lecoq succeed. I have succeeded with greatest ease.—

If we take broad view of good of Divergence— good of sterility follows —

In neuter insects sterility from loss of sexual instinct


Return to homepage

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

File last updated 9 May, 2023