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ose parts of their structure which have varied within a moderately recent period； and which have thus come to differ。 Or to state the case in another manner： the points in which all the species of a genus resemble each other； and in which they differ from the species of some other genus； are called generic characters； and these characters in common I attribute to inheritance from a common progenitor； for it can rarely have happened that natural selection will have modified several species； fitted to more or less widely…different habits； in exactly the same manner： and as these so…called generic characters have been inherited from a remote period； since that period when the species first branched off from their common progenitor； and subsequently have not varied or come to differ in any degree； or only in a slight degree； it is not probable that they should vary at the present day。 On the other hand； the points in which species differ from other species of the same genus； are called specific characters； and as these specific characters have varied and come to differ within the period of the branching off of the species from a common progenitor； it is probable that they should still often be in some degree variable； at least more variable than those parts of the organisation which have for a very long period remained constant。
In connexion with the present subject； I will make only two other remarks。 I think it will be admitted； without my entering on details； that secondary sexual characters are very variable； I think it also will be admitted that species of the same group differ from each other more widely in their secondary sexual characters； than in other parts of their organisation； compare； for instance； the amount of difference between the males of gallinaceous birds； in which secondary sexual characters are strongly displayed； with the amount of difference between their females； and the truth of this proposition will be granted。 The cause of the original variability of secondary sexual characters is not manifest； but we can see why these characters should not have been rendered as constant and uniform as other parts of the organisation； for secondary sexual characters have been accumulated by sexual selection； which is less rigid in its action than ordinary selection； as it does not entail death； but only gives fewer offspring to the less favoured males。 Whatever the cause may be of the variability of secondary sexual characters； as they are highly variable； sexual selection will have had a wide scope for action； and may thus readily have succeeded in giving to the species of the same group a greater amount of difference in their sexual characters； than in other parts of their structure。
It is a remarkable fact； that the secondary sexual differences between the two sexes of the same species are generally displayed in the very same parts of the organisation in which the different species of the same genus differ from each other。 Of this fact I will give in illustration two instances； the first which happen to stand on my list； and as the differences in these cases are of a very unusual nature； the relation can hardly be accidental。 The same number of joints in the tarsi is a character generally common to very large groups of beetles； but in the Engidae； as Westwood has remarked； the number varies greatly； and the number likewise differs in the two sexes of the same species： again in fossorial hymenoptera； the manner of neuration of the wings is a character of the highest importance； because common to large groups； but in certain genera the neuration differs in the different species； and likewise in the two sexes of the same species。 This relation has a clear meaning on my view of the subject： I look at all the species of the same genus as having as certainly descended from the same progenitor； as have the two sexes of any one of the species。 Consequently； whatever part of the structure of the common progenitor； or of its early descendants； became variable； variations of this part would it is highly probable； be taken advantage of by natural and sexual selection； in order to fit the several species to their several places in the economy of nature； and likewise to fit the two sexes of the same species to each other； or to fit the males and females to different habits of life； or the males to struggle with other males for the possession of the females。
Finally； then； I conclude that the greater variability of specific characters； or those which distinguish species from species； than of generic characters； or those which the species possess in common； that the frequent extreme variability of any part which is developed in a species in an extraordinary manner in comparison with the same part in its congeners； and the not great degree of variability in a part； however extraordinarily it may be developed； if it be common to a whole group of species； that the great variability of secondary sexual characters； and the great amount of difference in these same characters between closely allied species； that secondary sexual and ordinary specific differences are generally displayed in the same parts of the organisation； are all principles closely connected together。 All being mainly due to the species of the same group having descended from a common progenitor； from whom they have inherited much in common； to parts which have recently and largely varied being more likely still to go on varying than parts which have long been inherited and have not varied； to natural selection having more or less completely； according to the lapse of time； overmastered the tendency to reversion and to further variability； to sexual selection being less rigid than ordinary selection； and to variations in the same parts having been accumulated by natural and sexual selection； and thus adapted for secondary sexual； and for ordinary specific purposes。
Distinct species present analogous variations； and a variety of one species often assumes some of the characters of an allied species； or reverts to some of the characters of an early progenitor。
These propositions will be most readily understood by looking to our domestic races。 The most distinct breeds of pigeons； in countries most widely apart； present sub…varieties with reversed feathers on the head and feathers on the feet； characters not possessed by the aboriginal rock…pigeon； these then are analogous variations in two or more distinct races。 The frequent presence of fourteen or even sixteen tail…feathers in the pouter； may be considered as a variation representing the normal structure of another race； the fantail。 I presume that no one will doubt that all such analogous variations are due to the several races of the pigeon having inherited from a common parent the same constitution and tendency to variation； when acted on by similar unknown influences。 In the vegetable kingdom we have a case of analogous variation； in the enlarged stems； or roots as commonly called； of the Swedish turnip and Ruta baga； plants which several botanists rank as varieties produced by cultivation from a common parent： if this be not so； the case will then be one of analogous variation in two so…called distinct species；