From F. S. Arnold [2]6 December 18781
Oxford
⟨2⟩6/12/78
Sir
I cannot see how the following passages ⟨w⟩hich appear in the Origin of Species on pages 86 & 89 respectively of the six⟨th⟩ Edition, can be reconciled.2
1 p. 86 And we have seen that it is the most closely allied forms— varieties of the same species, & species ⟨of the sa⟩me genus or of re⟨lat⟩ed genera,—which from having nearly the same structure, constitution & habits, gener⟨a⟩lly come into the severest competition with each other.3
2. p. 89. But it ⟨is seen⟩, that where they come into the ⟨clo⟩sest competition the advantages of diversification of the structure, with the accompanying differences of habit & consti⟨tution⟩ determine that the inhabitants, which thus jostle each other most closely, shall, as ⟨a⟩ general rule belong to what we ⟨ca⟩ll different genera & orders.
I suppose you have not time ⟨to⟩ reply to this.
Yrs. obediently | F. S. Arnold
C. D⟨arw⟩in Esqr. M.A.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Origin 6th ed.: The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
Would like CD to explain how he reconciles two passages in 6th ed. of Origin.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11775
- From
- Francis Sorell Arnold
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Oxford
- Source of text
- DAR 159: 148
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11775,” accessed on 29 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11775.xml