The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1851.12.04. It makes not the slightest difference in considering [Fuliala], or Stylops, or Sagitta, or Ornithorhynchus aberrant. CUL-DAR205.9.243. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. 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-DAR205.9 contains notes on palaeontology and geology [regarding theory of evolution].

[243]

Dec 4 /50/

It makes not the slightest difference in considering [Fuliala], or Stylops, or Sagitta, or Ornithorhynchus aberrant, whether there 1 or a dozen species - a naturalist makes a Form either new genus, Family or order according to amount of difference. So that if we take a Form

[243v]

which in any class has been under either a Family, or order to itself: it will be sure to differ considerably from others of class; & then let us see what species it has; if we take the average number of species or genus we take lowest & fairest scale, is of lower family or order has on average the greatest no of species.

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