Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection: A Series of EssaysMacmillan and Company, 1870 - 384 pages |
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Page viii
... Geological Time and the Origin of Species , " which appeared in the " Quarterly Review , " for April , 1869. I have here ventured to touch on a class of problems which are usually consi- dered to be beyond the boundaries of science ...
... Geological Time and the Origin of Species , " which appeared in the " Quarterly Review , " for April , 1869. I have here ventured to touch on a class of problems which are usually consi- dered to be beyond the boundaries of science ...
Page xiii
... Geologic Changes A Law deduced from well - known Geographical and Geological facts - The form of a true system of Classification determined by this Law - Geo- graphical Distribution of Organisms - Geological Distribution of the forms of ...
... Geologic Changes A Law deduced from well - known Geographical and Geological facts - The form of a true system of Classification determined by this Law - Geo- graphical Distribution of Organisms - Geological Distribution of the forms of ...
Page 1
... Geologic Changes . EVERY naturalist who has directed his attention to the subject of the geographical distribution of ... geological investigations , which have shown that the present state of the earth and of the organisms now * Written ...
... Geologic Changes . EVERY naturalist who has directed his attention to the subject of the geographical distribution of ... geological investigations , which have shown that the present state of the earth and of the organisms now * Written ...
Page 2
... geology are briefly these : — That during an immense , but unknown period , the surface of the earth has undergone ... geological epochs to the present or historical epoch , the change of organic life has been gradual : the first ...
... geology are briefly these : — That during an immense , but unknown period , the surface of the earth has undergone ... geological epochs to the present or historical epoch , the change of organic life has been gradual : the first ...
Page 3
... geological periods . We may therefore safely infer a like gradation and natural sequence from one geological epoch to another . Now , taking this as a fair statement of the results of geological inquiry , we see that the present geo ...
... geological periods . We may therefore safely infer a like gradation and natural sequence from one geological epoch to another . Now , taking this as a fair statement of the results of geological inquiry , we see that the present geo ...
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Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection: A Series of Essays ... Alfred Russel Wallace No preview available - 2018 |
Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection: A Series of Essays Alfred Russel Wallace No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
abundant action adapted affinity animals antennæ antitypes appear beautiful become beetles birds Borneo brain brilliant build butterflies carnivora caterpillars causes Celebes changes character closely allied species colour concealed consider conspicuous curious Danaidæ Darwin Diphilus distinct earth eggs epoch evidence exactly existence explained extinct facts faculties favourable female birds flowers genera genus geological geological periods groups habits Heliconidæ imitation increase India individuals inhabiting insects instinct islands Java larvæ Lepidoptera less Malayan male mimic mimicry mode modified Moluccas moths natural selection nectary nest never nidification number of species observations occur organic world Origin of Species Ormenus Pammon Papilio Papilio Ulysses Papilionidæ peculiar period phenomena Polydorus possess present probably produced protection race regions remarkable render resemble result savage sexes sexual sexual selection shown structure Sumatra supposed tail theory of natural Theseus tints tion trees tropical variation varied varieties whole wings
Popular passages
Page 361 - Were our minds and senses so expanded, strengthened, and illuminated, as to enable us to see and feel the very molecules of the brain ; were we capable of following all their motions, all their groupings, all their...
Page 325 - ... to capture or overcome both. Though less capable than most other animals of living on the herbs and the fruits that unaided nature supplies, this wonderful faculty taught him to govern and direct nature to his own benefit, and make her produce food for him, when and where he pleased. From...
Page 368 - God of the Granite and the Rose! Soul of the Sparrow and the Bee! The mighty tide of Being flows Through countless channels, Lord, from thee. It leaps to life in grass and flowers, Through every grade of being runs, Till from Creation's radiant towers Its glory flames in stars and suns.
Page 38 - ... to high numbers, the results come nearer to what theory demands, and, as we approach to an infinity of examples, become strictly accurate. Now the scale on which nature works is so vast— the numbers of individuals and...
Page 26 - One of the strongest arguments which have been adduced to prove the original and permanent distinctness of species is, that varieties produced in a state of domesticity are more or less unstable, and often have a tendency, if left to themselves, to return to the normal form of the parent species; and this instability is considered to be a distinctive peculiarity of all varieties, even of those occurring among wild animals in a state of nature, and to constitute a provision for preserving unchanged...
Page 41 - ... but the view here developed renders such an hypothesis quite unnecessary, by showing that similar results must be produced by the action of principles constantly at work in nature.
Page 39 - ... dangers, in procuring shelter from the inclemency of the seasons, and in providing for the subsistence and safety of its offspring. There is no muscle of its body that is not called into daily and hourly activity ; there is no sense or faculty that is not strengthened by continual exercise. The domestic animal, on the other hand, has food provided for it, is sheltered, and often confined, to guard it against the vicissitudes of the seasons, is carefully secured from the attacks of its natural...
Page 343 - ... prepared in advance, only to be fully utilized as he progresses in civilization. A brain slightly larger than that of the gorilla would, according to the evidence before us, fully have sufficed for the limited mental development of the savage ; and we must therefore admit, that the large brain he actually possesses could never have been solely develope.d by any of those laws of evolution, whose essence is, that they lead to a degree of organization exactly proportionate to the wants of each species,...
Page 336 - And assuredly, there is no mark of degradation about any part of its structure. It is, in fact, a fair average human skull, which might have belonged to a philosopher, or might have contained the thoughtless brains of a savage.
Page iv - Far abler men than myself may confess that they have not that untiring patience in accumulating, and that wonderful skill in using, large masses of facts of the most varied kind...