CONTENTS. VOL. II.
CHAPTER I : PAGE 1
Changes of the Organic World now in progress - Division of the Subject -
Examination of the question, Whether Species have a real existence in Nature ? -
Importance of this question in Geology - Sketch of Lamarck's arguments in favour
of the Transmutation of Species, and his conjectures respecting the Origin of
existing Animals and Plants - His Theory of the transformation of the Orang
Outang into the Human Species
CHAPTER II : PAGE 18
Recapitulation of the arguments in favour of the theory of transmutation of
species - Their insufficiency - The difficulty of discriminating species mainly
attributable to a defective knowledge of their history - Some mere varieties
possibly more distinct than certain individuals of distinct species -
Variability in a species consistent with a belief that the limits of deviation
are fixed - No facts of transmutation authenticated - Varieties of the Dog - The
Dog and Wolf distinct species - Mummies of various animals from Egypt identical
in character with living individuals - Seeds and plants from the Egyptian tombs
- Modifications produced in plants by agriculture and gardening
CHAPTER III : PAGE 36
Variability of a species compared to that of an individual - Species which are
susceptible of modification may be altered greatly in a short time, and in a few
generations ; after which they remain stationary - The animals now subject to
man had originally an aptitude to domesticity - Acquired peculiarities which
become hereditary have a close connexion with the habits or instincts of the
species in a wild state - Some qualities in certain animals have been conferred
with a view of their relation to man - Wild elephant domesticated in a few
years, but its faculties incapable of further development
CHAPTER IV : PAGE 49
Consideration of the question whether species have a real existence in nature,
continued - Phenomena of hybrids - Hunter's opinions as to mule animals - Mules
not strictly intermediate between the parent species – Hybrid
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