The Project Gutenberg EBook of On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin

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Title: On the Origin of Species
1st Edition

Author: Charles Darwin

Release Date: Release Date: March, 1998 [EBook #1228]
Posting Date: November 23, 2009

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES ***

Produced by Sue Asscher

ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES.

OR THE PRESERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

By Charles Darwin, M.A.,

Fellow Of The Royal, Geological, Linnaean, Etc., Societies;

Author Of 'Journal Of Researches During H.M.S. Beagle's Voyage Round The
World.'

LONDON:

JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.

1859.

Down, Bromley, Kent,

October 1st, 1859.

"But with regard to the material world, we can at least go so far as
this--we can perceive that events are brought about not by insulated
interpositions of Divine power, exerted in each particular case, but by
the establishment of general laws."

W. Whewell: Bridgewater Treatise.

"To conclude, therefore, let no man out of a weak conceit of sobriety,
or an ill-applied moderation, think or maintain, that a man can search
too far or be too well studied in the book of God's word, or in the book
of God's works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an
endless progress or proficience in both."

Bacon: Advancement of Learning.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER 1. VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION.

Causes of Variability.
Effects of Habit.
Correlation of Growth.
Inheritance.
Character of Domestic Varieties.
Difficulty of distinguishing between Varieties and Species.
Origin of Domestic Varieties from one or more Species.
Domestic Pigeons, their Differences and Origin.
Principle of Selection anciently followed, its Effects.
Methodical and Unconscious Selection.
Unknown Origin of our Domestic Productions.
Circumstances favourable to Man's power of Selection.

CHAPTER 2. VARIATION UNDER NATURE.

Variability.
Individual Differences.
Doubtful species.
Wide ranging, much diffused, and common species vary most.
Species of the larg