友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the origin of species(物种起源)-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



es linking two other varieties together have generally existed in lesser numbers than the forms which they connect; then; I think; we can understand why intermediate varieties should not endure for very long periods; why as a general rule they should be exterminated and disappear; sooner than the forms which they originally linked together。 
For any form existing in lesser numbers would; as already remarked; run a greater chance of being exterminated than one existing in large numbers; and in this particular case the intermediate form would be eminently liable to the inroads of closely allied forms existing on both sides of it。 But a far more important consideration; as I believe; is that; during the process of further modification; by which two varieties are supposed on my theory to be converted and perfected into two distinct species; the two which exist in larger numbers from inhabiting larger areas; will have a great advantage over the intermediate variety; which exists in smaller numbers in a narrow and intermediate zone。 For forms existing in larger numbers will always have a better chance; within any given period; of presenting further favourable variations for natural selection to seize on; than will the rarer forms which exist in lesser numbers。 Hence; the more common forms; in the race for life; will tend to beat and supplant the less common forms; for these will be more slowly modified and improved。 It is the same principle which; as I believe; accounts for the common species in each country; as shown in the second chapter; presenting on an average a greater number of well…marked varieties than do the rarer species。 I may illustrate what I mean by supposing three varieties of sheep to be kept; one adapted to an extensive mountainous region; a second to a comparatively narrow; hilly tract; and a third to wide plains at the base; and that the inhabitants are all trying with equal steadiness and skill to improve their stocks by selection; the chances in this case will be strongly in favour of the great holders on the mountains or on the plains improving their breeds more quickly than the small holders on the intermediate narrow; hilly tract; and consequently the improved mountain or plain breed will soon take the place of the less improved hill breed; and thus the two breeds; which originally existed in greater numbers; will come into close contact with each other; without the interposition of the supplanted; intermediate hill…variety。 
To sum up; I believe that species come to be tolerably well…defined objects; and do not at any one period present an inextricable chaos of varying and intermediate links: firstly; because new varieties are very slowly formed; for variation is a very slow process; and natural selection can do nothing until favourable variations chance to occur; and until a place in the natural polity of the country can be better filled by some modification of some one or more of its inhabitants。 And such new places will depend on slow changes of climate; or on the occasional immigration of new inhabitants; and; probably; in a still more important degree; on some of the old inhabitants becoming slowly modified; with the new forms thus produced and the old ones acting and reacting on each other。 So that; in any one region and at any one time; we ought only to see a few species presenting slight modifications of structure in some degree permanent; and this assuredly we do see。 
Secondly; areas now continuous must often have existed within the recent period in isolated portions; in which many forms; more especially amongst the classes which unite for each birth and wander much; may have separately been rendered sufficiently distinct to rank as representative species。 In this case; intermediate varieties between the several representative species and their common parent; must formerly have existed in each broken portion of the land; but these links will have been supplanted and exterminated during the process of natural selection; so that they will no longer exist in a living state。 
Thirdly; when two or more varieties have been formed in different portions of a strictly continuous area; intermediate varieties will; it is probable; at first have been formed in the intermediate zones; but they will generally have had a short duration。 For these intermediate varieties will; from reasons already assigned (namely from what we know of the actual distribution of closely allied or representative species; and likewise of acknowledged varieties); exist in the intermediate zones in lesser numbers than the varieties which they tend to connect。 From this cause alone the intermediate varieties will be liable to accidental extermination; and during the process of further modification through natural selection; they will almost certainly be beaten and supplanted by the forms which they connect; for these from existing in greater numbers will; in the aggregate; present more variation; and thus be further improved through natural selection and gain further advantages。 
Lastly; looking not to any one time; but to all time; if my theory be true; numberless intermediate varieties; linking most closely all the species of the same group together; must assuredly have existed; but the very process of natural selection constantly tends; as has been so often remarked; to exterminate the parent forms and the intermediate links。 Consequently evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains; which are preserved; as we shall in a future chapter attempt to show; in an extremely imperfect and intermittent record。 
On the origin and transitions of organic beings with peculiar habits and structure。 It has been asked by the opponents of such views as I hold; how; for instance; a land carnivorous animal could have been converted into one with aquatic habits; for how could the animal in its transitional state have subsisted? It would be easy to show that within the same group carnivorous animals exist having every intermediate grade between truly aquatic and strictly terrestrial habits; and as each exists by a struggle for life; it is clear that each is well adapted in its habits to its place in nature。 Look at the Mustela vison of North America; which has webbed feet and which resembles an otter in its fur; short legs; and form of tail; during summer this animal dives for and preys on fish; but during the long winter it leaves the frozen waters; and preys like other polecats on mice and land animals。 If a different case had been taken; and it had been asked how an insectivorous quadruped could possibly have been converted into a flying bat; the question would have been far more difficult; and I could have given no answer。 Yet I think such difficulties have very little weight。 
Here; as on other occasions; I lie under a heavy disadvantage; for out of the many striking cases which I have collected; I can give only one or two instances of transitional habits and structures in closely allied species of the same genus; and of diversified habits; either constant or occasional; in the same species。 And it seems to me that nothing less than a long list of such cases is sufficient to lessen the difficulty in any particula
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!