New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
DARWIN ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES.


naturalist win challenge attention to this volume,
no less than the novelty and bOldness Of the views
which ii announces. His name lie familiar to the
students Of physical science BY his admirable mar
native Of the researches which be conducted whils
attached to the exploring expedition in the Beagle
under Capt FitzrOy, from 1882 to 1886, and other
writings in which fine vein Of philosophy is blend
cd with accurate and vigorous description.
On bis return from that voyage, nearly twenty.
I've years ago, he became convinced that certain
facts which he had observed, in the distribution of
the inhabitants of South America, and in the geo
logical relations of the present TO the past inhabi-
tans Of that continent might throw not little Light
on the mysterious question of the origin species.
After the lapse of FIVE years which appear to have
been mainly devoted to other labOrs, though In a
Himiar field, he took the subject in hand, and for
the last sixteen years has devoted to its investigation
the most diIigent inquiry, spread over vast rauge
of facts, and no common power Of minute analysis
and logical deduction. Nor does he regard his
work as yet in a state Of completion although Suf
fce1ty advanced to satisfy bis mind Of the correct
ness Of his theory. Tbs advice of such eminent
scientific men as Sir Charles Lyell and DR.. Hooker
has induced him to publish this volume in its present
form, altbOugh it elaine only to be an imperfect
abstract Of his researches and speeulAtiOns.
The cardinal doctrine Of the work, as set forth
Mr.. Darwin, is that the variOas Species into which
the animal and vegetable kingdoms have been d.
Vided BY EaturHlsts, are not immutable; that tn =
idea Of the separate and independent creation
each species il an error; and that those belonging
to the same genera are lineal descendants of some
other extinct species, in the same manner as tn
acknowledged varieties Of any ono species are the
descendants Of that species.
In order to verify bis conclusions by the study Of
a special group, DIR. Darwin selected that OF the
domestic pigeon as afOrding the mOst convenient
test and illustration Of his theory. His observations
on this class Of birds were profound aud curious.
Every breed which he cOuldPurchase or obtain was
brought into his dOyecOts. He procured an assort-
ment Of skins from several quarters Of the world
He studied treatSes PgeOnsin various languages,
became member Of London pigeon clubs, and the
associate Ofeminent pigeon fanciers The astOnish-
ing diversity Of breeds ia well known. Even the
names of the varieties demand special dictionary.
Look at the wonderful difsrencein the beaks Of the
EbgiiSh carrier and the shOrtfaced lumber and see
the corresponding differences entAiled upon the
skul. The barb ia allied TO the carrier, but instead
Of very long beSk, has one very short and very
bEvad. The pOuter has body, wings and legs Of
amazing length and its ludierOusly inflated crop is
matter of amusement. The turbithss very short
and eODical beak with line Of reversed feathers
down the breast; the jscObin has feathers 20
much reversed along the back of the neck that they
fam q hood; the trumpete- and Laughter have
peculiar COO; thefantail has thirty or even forty tail
feathers instead of twelve OrfOureen like the rest Of
the pigeon famiy several other less distinct breeds
might be specified. The differences in the skeleton
are DO less strongly marked than in the external
organization. the period at which the perfect
plumsge is acquired varies. So does the down with
which the nes,hDgs are clOthedw when Matched. The
shape and size Of the eggs vary. The manner of
fight Is peculiar in the different breeds; and 80 in
many of them, are the voices and disposition.
Eyery OrnithOlOgist would regard these breeds az
distinct, Wel-defned EPecies, if not indeed, as be-
longing to different genera. Now, maintains hr.
Darwin, great az are the differences between the
breeds Of pigeons, they have all descended, as most
paturalists, in fact admit from single stock, that
Of the rock pigeon. We need not here 90 into the
arguments by which he supports his position. The
case is mentioned as an illustration Of thu manner
in which be traces existing diTsrity to original
unity.
Starting, then, from common point, how are the
I'M umerable varieties to be accounted fort Some
effect nay be due to the external conditions Of life;
some, perhaps to habit; but such agencies are GER
ta'Dy not sufficient to explain the differences of
race.torse and csrt-hOrse, q greyhound and
bloodhound, carrier and tOmbler pigeon. The
power Of adaptation in our dOmeSticated races to
the use or fancy of man is no doubt wonderful.
Some variations Of this kind may have arisen sud-
deD.y, and by srgle step, as in the tarnspt dog
the srcoD sheep; but this does not tell the whole
story. AL the breeds were not at once produced in
their present improved forms; the secret is to be
found in mans power of aceumulativs selection.
Nature gives successive variations; man integrates
them 10 certain directions, for convenience and
utility; and in this sense he may be said to make
for bimseIf useful breeds. TIE same principles are
followed BY hOrticulturists; but the variations
here often more abrupt. No one suPPOses that our
chOieest productions have been established by
single variation from the OrignSl stock. The
steadily increasing size of the common gOOseberry
for instance has been the result Of successive e1-
Derimenta. The continued selection of Alight varia-
tOns ether in the leaves, the aowerS or the fruit,
will produce races different from each other chiefly
in these characters. But the effect of what may