[337]

22 & 11

(1

Looking at Philippines Table in Eding. New. Phil Journal, no. I was much struck with difficulty of not producing gradation of variation (size does differ). First take case of plant on very small isld varying & slowly changing its specific form: then if fossils taken pretty often must be a gradation, thought it may be 1st point of ignorance that variation, though slow in years is rapid compared with intervals when not varying. Mem. Madeira land-shells. In a very small spot, if any crossing is possible, (& indeed if now crossing is possible, then by beating out) I shd think whole mass of forms wd be modified together; but it may be even in this case, that var is produced - coexisting with parent-forms.

 

[338]

(2

But we know that organisms widely extended vary most - that isolation in some degree, is favourable to them; therefore I presume the general rule is that species found at different spots & occasionally spread & fight together & so abruptly take each other's place. Now looking to Sicily, the shells which will vary & give birth to new species, are just those which range widest & will have increase area to vary in, thence to spread from, & come to Sicily. A few will vary in Sicily; & if the geolog records perfect, we shd have a series in these few cases:- Yet some instances with British shells of doubtful species. Never forget that the apparent definition of species includes a [joining] between species & var. which does not hold in nature

 

[338v]

(3

How many doubtful plants in England & U. States. Look to mammals of Ireland & England. All not vars. amongst Plants generally local – where vars. coincide; unfortunately we do not know whether they may not have origin on different points.

When a species has wide home, the same variations are not likely to occur in several spots – all variation may be effected by new variation (not species, [illeg] from other [reasons] & spreading. But was also too ignorant.

In Book the var. may be the old form & the type the increasing new form.

(Look to Chapter 6)