DURATION AND ORIGINATION OF RACE AND SPECIES, PART I-Do Varieties in Plants wear out, or tend to wear out ?— The Question considered in the Light of Facts, and in that of the Darwinian Theory.-Conclusion that Races sexually propa. gated need not die of Old Age.-This Conclusion inferred from the Provisions and Arrangements in Nature to secure Cross-Fertilization of Individuals.-Reference to Mr. Darwin's PART II.-Do Species wear out, and, if not, why not ?—Implication .847 The Opposition between Morphology and Teleology reconciled by nato Variations; these not a Product of, but a Response to, INDEX PAGE '856 . 801 DARWINIANA. I. THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION.' (American Journal of Sciench and Arts, Muroh, 1800,) Tuis book is already exciting much attention. Two American editions are announced, through which it will become familiar to many of our readers, before these pages are issued. An abstract of the argument -for "the whole volume is one long argument," as the author states-is unnecessary in such a case; and it would be difficult to givo by detached extracts. For the volume itself is an abstract, a prodromus of a detailed work upon which the author has been laboring for twenty years, and which "will take two or three more years to complete." It is exceedingly compact; and although useful summaries are appended to the several chapters, and a general recapitulation con "On the Origin of Speeles by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life," by Charles Darwin, M. A., Fellow of the Royal, Geological, Linnæan, etc., Societies, Author of "Journal of Researches during H. M. S. Beagle's Voyage round the World." London: John Murray, 1859. 502 pp., post 8vo. tains the essence of the whole, yot much of the aroma escapes in the treblo distillation, or is so concentrated that the flavor is lost to the general or even to the scientific reader. The volumo itself-the proof-spirit -is just condensed enough for its purpose. It will be far more widely read, and perhaps will make deeper impression, than the elaborate work might have done, with all its full details of the facts upon which the author's sweeping conclusions have been grounded. At least it is a more readable book: but all the facts that can be mustered in favor of tho theory are still likely to be needed. Who, upon a single perusal, shall pass judgment upon a work like this, to which twenty of the best years of the life of a most able naturalist have been devoted? And who among those naturalists who hold a position that entitles them to pronounce summarily upon the subject, can be expected to divest himself for the nonce of the influence of received and favorite systems? In fact, the controversy now opened is not likely to be settled in an off-hand way, nor is it desirable that it should be. A spirited conflict among opinions of every grade must ensue, whichto borrow an illustration from the doctrine of the book before us-may be likened to the conflict in Naturo among races in the struggle for life, which Mr. Darwin describes; through which the views most favored by facts will be developed and tested by "Natural Selection," the weaker ones bo destroyed in the process, and the strongest in the long-run alone survive. The duty of reviewing this volume in the American Journal of Science would naturally devolve upon the principal editor, whoso wide observation and profound knowledge of various departinents of natural history, as well as of geology, particularly qualify him for the task. But he has been obliged to lay asido his pen, and to seek in distant lands the entire repose from scientific labor so essential to the restoration of his health-a consummation devoutly to be wished, and confidently to be expected. Interested as Mr. Dana would be in this volume, he could not be cxpected to accept its doctrine. Views so idealistic as those upon which his "Thoughts upon Species" are grounded, will not harmonize readily with a doctrino so thoroughly naturalistic as that of Mr. Darwin. Though it is just possible that one who regards the kinds of elementary matter, such as oxygen and hydrogen, and the definito compounds of these elementary matters, and their compounds again, in tho mineral kingdom, as constituting species, in the samo sense, fundamentally, as that of animal and vegetable species, might admit an evolution of one species from another in the latter as well as the former case. Between the doctrines of this volume and those of the other great naturalist whose name adorns the titlepage of this journal [Mr. Agassiz], the widest diver gence appears. It is interesting to contrast the two, and, indeed, is necessary to our purpose; for this contrast brings out most prominently, and sets in strongest light and shade, the main features of the theory of the origination of species by means of Natural Selection. The ordinary and generally-received view assumes the independent, specific creation of each kind of plant Article in this Journal, vol. xxiv., p. 305. |