RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. One of the most Distinguished Pal. in Europe Prof Pictet, admits. CUL-DAR205.9.358. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2021. 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].

Pictet, F. J. 1860. Sur l'origine de l'espèce par Charles Darwin. Archives des Sciences, Bibliotheque Universelle (Ser. 2) 7 (March): 233-255. A61

The brown crayon number '22' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Palaeontology: extinction.


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One of the most Distinguished Pal. in Europe Prof Pictet, admits (Bibliotheque Universelle beginning of 1860 in Review of Origin) the action of N. S. is in itself probable & that it accounts for origin of every reputed sp. - He admits that it accounts admirably (see [illeg]) for many pal. facts &c &c &c, yet he rejects the theory chiefly on account of (enumerate) facts what would all necessarily follow as imperfection of Record - I might ask why does he assume the record to be so perfect? What grounds except being educated in these views in accordance

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with common belief? He admits very wide gaps why not more. I suppose most geologists will admit that more areas are stationary than rising or sinking - probably ten times as long. It seems highly improbable that each rising & sinking shd follow each other without a stationary interval - if so so certain of station - 1 of rising 10 of stationary, 1 of sinking = 22 period of time for one of sinking ∴ 1/22 of organisms wd be preserved but only when sediment forming is sufficient quantity & area.

Thrust of west coast of S. America since secondary period! I can easily believe Europe may have sunk too much several times so that no sediment deposited.

[Left margin:] Quote Lyell (Good!)

[Right margin:] This argument applied only to each strata & not to all Europe


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

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