RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Struggle for existence. CUL-DAR46.1.15. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2022. 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-DAR46.1 contains Notes for Natural selection chap. 5 'Struggle for existence'.

Darwin refers to his note in Spencer's book: "p399-473 Rate of Increase & Struggle for existence / The conclusion is that fertility is increased on demand by N. selection, according as wanted too great an increase being an evil to the species - producing more than can take, but that will not injure individuals, but each mother expends more than is necessary. She who produces few eggs will produce better eggs - But there is limit to possible amount of fertility going on by individuation of organism & expenditure in vital actions & growth.- (I think there is error, the individuals who produce much young, wd not be themselves or offspring injured, & them that produce few wd not profit.-)" Di Gregorio, M. with the assistance of N. W. Gill. 1990. Charles Darwin's marginalia, p. 772 (F3275).

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

File last updated 28 August, 2023