The Origin of SpeciesP. F. Collier & son, 1909 - 552 páginas First published in 1859, this landmark book on evolutionary biology was not the first to deal with the subject, but it went on to become a sensation—and a controversial one for many religious people who could not reconcile Darwin’s science with their faith. Darwin worked on the book for over 20 years before its publication. The radical crux of his scientific theory was the idea of natural selection, which meant that chance, not a divine Creator, played a great role in humanity's advancement and that individuals who weren't physically able to adapt with the greater populace died off. |
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adapted admit affinities allied species America ancient appear beak become bees believe belonging birds breeds cause cells characters cirripedes climate closely allied colour common continent crossed crustaceans degree developed difficulty distinct species domestic doubt effects eggs embryo existing extinct extremely facts favourable fertilised fertility flowers formation forms fossil Fritz Müller genera genus geological geological period Glacial period gradations greater number groups of species habits Hence hybrids important increase individuals inhabitants inherited insects instance instincts intercrossing intermediate kind lamellæ larvæ less living male mammals manner Marsupials migration modified descendants natural selection naturalists nearly nest occasionally offspring organisation organs parent peculiar perfect pigeons pistil pollen present principle probably produced progenitor quadrupeds ranked reciprocal crosses remarked resemblance rudimentary seeds sexual selection slight South America stamens sterility structure successive supposed tend theory tion variability variations varieties vary whilst whole wings young
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Página 73 - I have taken some pains to estimate its probable minimum rate of natural increase; it will be safest to assume that it begins breeding when thirty years old, and goes on breeding till ninety years old, bringing forth six young in the interval, and surviving till one hundred years old; if this
Página 236 - development will probably appear to the reader a difficulty sufficient to overthrow my whole theory. I may here premise, that I have nothing to do with the origin of the mental powers, any more than I have with that of life itself. We are concerned only with the diversities of instinct and of the other mental faculties in
Página 78 - in several parts of the world insects determine the existence of cattle. Perhaps Paraguay offers the most curious instance of this; for here neither cattle nor horses nor dogs have ever run wild, though they swarm southward and northward in a feral state; and
Página 147 - a more general principle, namely, that natural selection is continually trying to economise every part of the organisation. If under changed conditions of life a structure, before useful, becomes less useful, its diminution will be favoured, for it will profit the individual not to have its nutriment wasted in building up an useless
Página 345 - in character. The inhabitants of the world at each successive period in its history have beaten their predecessors in the race for life, and are, in so far, higher in the scale, and their structure has generally become more specialised; and this may
Página 269 - feeding within the live bodies of caterpillars,—not as specially endowed or created instincts, but as small consequences of one general law leading to the advancement of all organic beings,—namely, multiply, vary, let the strongest live and the weakest die.
Página 450 - of modification, the slight differences characteristic of varieties of the same species, tend to be augmented into the greater differences characteristic of the species of the same genus. New and improved varieties will inevitably supplant and exterminate the older, less improved, and intermediate varieties ; and thus species are rendered to a large extent
Página 27 - change may be safely attributed to the domestic duck flying much less, and walking more, than its wild parents. The great and inherited development of the udders in cows and goats in countries where they are habitually milked, in
Página 74 - each generation or at recurrent intervals. Lighten any check, mitigate the destruction ever so little, and the number of the species will almost instantaneously increase to any amount. NATURE OF THE CHECKS TO INCREASE The
Página 88 - which she tends. Every selected character is fully exercised by her, as is implied by the fact of their selection. Man keeps the natives of many climates in the same country; he seldom exercises each