Hence (?) we should expect every now and then a wild form to vary1; possibly this may be cause of some species varying more than others.

According to nature of new conditions, so we might expect all or majority of organisms born under them to vary in some definite way. Further we might expect that the mould in which they are cast would likewise vary in some small degree. But is there any means of selecting those offspring which vary in the same manner, crossing them and keeping their offspring separate and thus producing selected races: otherwise as the wild animals freely cross, so must such small heterogeneous varieties be constantly counter-balanced and lost, and a uniformity of character [kept up] preserved. The former variation as the direct and necessary effects of causes, which we can see can act on them, as size of body from amount of food, effect of certain kinds of food on certain parts of bodies &c. &c.; such new varieties may then become adapted to those external [natural] agencies which act on them. But can varieties be produced adapted to end, which cannot possibly influence their structure and which it is absurd to look (at) as effects of chance. Can varieties like some vars of domesticated animals, like almost all wild species be produced adapted by exquisite means to prey on one animal or to escape from another, or rather, as it puts out of question effects of intelligence and habits, can a plant become adapted to animals, as a plant which cannot be impregnated without agency of insect; or hooked seeds depending on animal's existence: woolly animals cannot have any direct effect on seeds of plant. This point which all theories about

1 When the author wrote this sketch he seems not to have been so fully convinced of the general occurrence of variation in nature as he afterwards became. The above passage in the text possibly suggests that at this time he laid more stress on sports or mutations than was afterwards the case

climate adapting woodpecker1 to crawl (?) up trees, (illegible) miseltoe, (sentence incomplete). But if every part of a plant or animal was to vary (illegible), and if a being infinitely more sagacious than man (not an omniscient creator) during thousands and thousands of years were to select all the variations which tended towards certain ends ([or were to produce causes (?) which tended to the same end]), for instance, if he foresaw a canine animal would be better off, owing to the country producing more hares, if he were longer legged and keener sight,— greyhound produced. If he saw that aquatic (animal would need) skinned toes. If for some unknown cause he found it would advantage a plant, which (?) like most plants is occasionally visited by bees &c.: if that plant's seed were occasionally eaten by birds and were then carried on to rotten trees, he might select trees with fruit more agreeable to such birds as perched, to ensure their being carried to trees; if he perceived those birds more often dropped the seeds, he might well have selected a bird who would (illegible) rotten trees or [gradually select plants which (he) had proved to live on less and less rotten trees]. Who, seeing how plants vary in garden, what blind foolish man has done3 in a few years, will deny an all-seeing being in thousands of years could effect (if the Creator chose to do so), either by his own direct foresight or by intermediate means, which will represent (?) the creator of this universe. Seems usual means. Be it remembered I have nothing to say about life and mind and all

1 The author may possibly have taken the case of the woodpecker from Buffon, Histoire Nat. des Oiseaux, T. vii. p. 3, 1780, where however it is treated from a different point of view. He uses it more than once, see for instance Origin, Ed. i. pp. 3, 60, 184, vi. pp. 3, 76, 220. The passage in the text corresponds with a discussion on the woodpecker and the mistletoe in Origin, Ed. i. p. 3, vi. p. 3.

2 This illustration occurs in the Origin, Ed. i. pp. 90, 91, vi. pp. 110, 111. 3 Sce Origin, Ed. i. p. 83, vi. p. 102, where the word Creator is replaced by Nature.

forms descending from one common type1. I speak of the variation of the existing great divisions of the organised kingdom, how far I would go, hereafter to be seen.

Before considering whether (there) be any natural means of selection, and secondly (which forms the 2nd Part of this sketch) the far more important point whether the characters and relations of animated (things) are such as favour the idea of wild species being races (?) descended from a common stock, as the varieties of potato or dahlia or cattle having so descended, let us consider probable character of [selected races] wild varieties.

Natural Selection. De Candolle's war of nature,seeing contented face of nature, may be well at first doubted; we see it on borders of perpetual cold. But considering the enormous geometrical power of increase in every organism and as (?) every country, in ordinary cases (countries) must be stocked to full extent, reflection will show that this is the case. Malthus on man,—in animals no moral [check] restraint (?)-they breed in time of year when provision most abundant, or season most favourable, every country has its seasons,-calculate robins,-oscillating from years of destruction3. If proof were wanted let any singular change of climate (occur) here (?), how astoundingly some tribes (?) increase, also introduced animals, the

1 Note in the original. "Good place to introduce, saying reasons hereafter to be given, how far I extend theory, say to all mammaliareasons growing weaker and weaker."

See Origin, Ed. i. pp. 62, 63, vi. p. 77, where similar reference is made to De Candolle; for Malthus see Origin, p. 5.

3 This may possibly refer to the amount of destruction going on. See Origin, Ed. i. p. 68, vi. p. 84, where there is an estimate of a later date as to death-rate of birds in winter. "Calculate robins" probably refers to a calculation of the rate of increase of birds under favourable conditions.

In the Origin, Ed. i. pp. 64, 65, vi. p. 80, he instances cattle and horses and certain plants in S. America and American species of plants in India, and further on, as unexpected effects of changed conditions, the enclosure of a heath, and the relation between the fertilisation of clover and the presence of cats (Origin, Ed. i. p. 74, vi. p. 91).

pressure is always ready,-capacity of alpine plants to endure other climates,-think of endless seeds scattered abroad,-forests regaining their percentage1,-a thousand wedges2 are being forced into the œconomy of nature. This requires much reflection; study Malthus and calculate rates of increase and remember the resistance,-only periodical.

The unavoidable effect of this (is) that many of every species are destroyed either in egg or [young or mature (the former state the more common)]. In the course of a thousand generations infinitesimally small differences must inevitably tell3; when unusually cold winter, or hot or dry summer comes, then out of the whole body of individuals of any species, if there be the smallest differences in their structure, habits, instincts [senses], health &c., (it) will on an average tell; as conditions change a rather larger proportion will be preserved: so if the chief check to increase falls on seeds or eggs, so will, in the course of 1000 generations or ten thousand, those seeds (like one with down to fly1) which fly furthest and get scattered most ultimately rear most plants, and such small differences tend to be hereditary like shades of expression in human countenance. So if one parent (?) fish deposits its egg in infinitesimally different circumstances, as in rather shallower or deeper water &c., it will then (?) tell.

Let hares increase very slowly from change of climate affecting peculiar plants, and some other (illegible) rabbit decrease in same proportion [let this unsettle organisation of], a canine animal, who

1 Origin, Ed. i. p. 74, vi. p. 91. "It has been observed that the trees now growing on...ancient Indian mounds...display the same beautiful diversity and proportion of kinds as in the surrounding virgin forests."

The simile of the wedge occurs in the Origin, Ed. i. p. 67; it is deleted in Darwin's copy of the first edition: it does not occur in Ed. vi.

3 In a rough summary at the close of the Essay, occur the words "Every creature lives by a struggle, smallest grain in balance must tell" 4 Cf. Origin, Ed. i. p. 77, vi. p. 94.

5 This is a repetition of what is given at p. 6.

formerly derived its chief sustenance by springing on rabbits or running them by scent, must decrease too and might thus readily become exterminated. But if its form varied very slightly, the long legged fleet ones, during a thousand years being selected, and the less fleet rigidly destroyed must, if no law of nature be opposed to it, alter forms.

Remember how soon Bakewell on the same principle altered cattle and Western, sheep,-care-pure fully avoiding a cross (pigeons) with any breed. We cannot suppose that one plant tends to vary in fruit and another in flower, and another in flower and foliage,-some have been selected for both fruit and flower: that one animal varies in its covering and another not,-another in its milk. Take any

organism and ask what is it useful for and on that point it will be found to vary,-cabbages in their leaf,-corn in size (and) quality of grain, both in times of year,-kidney beans for young pod and cotton for envelope of seeds &c. &c.: dogs in intellect, courage, fleetness and smell (?): pigeons in peculiarities approaching to monsters. This requires consideration, should be introduced in first chapter if it holds, I believe it does. It is hypothetical at best1.

Nature's variation far less, but such selection far more rigid and scrutinising. Man's races not [even so well] only not better adapted to conditions than other races, but often not (?) one race adapted to its conditions, as man keeps and propagates some alpine plants in garden. Nature lets (an) animal live, till on actual proof it is found less able to do the required work to serve the desired end, man judges solely by his eye, and knows not whether

1 Compare Origin, Ed. i. p. 41, vi. p. 47. "I have seen it gravely remarked, that it was most fortunate that the strawberry began to vary just when gardeners began to attend closely to this plant. No doubt the strawberry had always varied since it was cultivated, but the slight varieties had been neglected."