ginal.> Is this the Galeopithecus? I forget.
<_Galeopithecus_ "or the flying Lemur" is mentioned in the
corresponding discussion in the _Origin_, Ed. i. p. 181, vi. p. 217,
as formerly placed among the bats. I do not know why it is described
as partly aquatic in its habits.>

{302} In the _Origin_, Ed. vi. p. 221, the author modified the
statement that it _never_ climbs trees; he also inserted a sentence
quoting Mr Hudson to the effect that in other districts this
woodpecker climbs trees and bores holes. See Mr Darwin's paper,
_Zoolog. Soc. Proc._, 1870, and _Life and Letters_, iii. p. 153.

{303} Note by the late Alfred Newton. Richardson in _Fauna
Boreali-Americana_, i. p. 49.

{304} <Note in original.> See Richardson a far better case of a
polecat animal <_Mustela vison_>, which half-year is aquatic.
<Mentioned in _Origin_, Ed. i. p. 179, vi. p. 216.>

PART II{305}

ON THE EVIDENCE FAVOURABLE AND OPPOSED TO THE VIEW THAT SPECIES ARE
NATURALLY FORMED RACES, DESCENDED FROM COMMON STOCKS

{305} In the _Origin_ the division of the work into Parts I and II
is omitted. In the MS. the chapters of Part II are numbered afresh,
the present being Ch. I of Pt. II. I have thought it best to call
it Ch. IV and there is evidence that Darwin had some thought of
doing the same. It corresponds to Ch. IX of _Origin_, Ed. i., Ch. X
in Ed. vi.

CHAPTER IV

ON THE NUMBER OF INTERMEDIATE FORMS REQUIRED ON THE THEORY OF COMMON
DESCENT; AND ON THEIR ABSENCE IN A FOSSIL STATE

I must here premise that, according to the view ordinarily received, the
myriads of organisms, which have during past and present times peopled
this world, have been created by so many distinct acts of creation. It
is impossible to reason concerning the will of the Creator, and
therefore, according to this view, we can see no cause why or why not
the individual organism should have been created on any fixed scheme.
That all the organisms of this world have been produced on a scheme is
certain from their general affinities; and if this scheme can be shown
to be the same with that which would result from allied organic beings
descending from common stocks, it becomes highly improbable that they
have been separately created by individual acts of the will of a
Creator. For as well might it be said that, although the planets move in
courses conformabl