4 VARIATION UNDER 



[knowledge] power of selecting according to in- 

 ternal variations, can hardly keep his conditions 

 uniform, [cannot] does not select those best 

 adapted to the conditions under which (the) form (?) 

 lives, but those most useful to him. This might all 

 be otherwise. 



n. (ON VARIATION IN A STATE OF NATURE AND 

 ON THE NATURAL MEANS OF SELECTION.) 



Let us see how far above principles of variation 

 apply to wild animals. Wild animals vary exceed- 

 ingly little yet they are known as individuals 1 . 

 British Plants, in many genera number quite 

 uncertain of varieties and species : in shells chiefly 

 external conditions 2 . Primrose and cowslip. Wild 

 animals from different [countries can be recognized]. 

 Specific character gives some organs as varying. 

 Variations analogous in kind, but less in degree 

 with domesticated animals chiefly external and 

 less important parts. 



Our experience would lead us to expect that 

 any and every one of these organisms would vary 

 if {the organism were) taken away (?) and placed 

 under new conditions. Geology proclaims a con- 

 stant round of change, bringing into play, by every 

 possible (?) change of climate and the death of 

 pre-existing inhabitants, endless variations of new 

 conditions. These (?) generally very slow, doubtful 

 though (illegible) how far the slowness (?) would 

 produce tendency to vary. But Geolog(ists) show 

 change in configuration which, together with the 

 accidents of air and water and the means of 

 transportal which every being possesses, must 

 occasionally bring, rather suddenly, organism to new 

 conditions and (?) expose it for several generations. 



1 i.e. they are individually distinguishable. 



2 See Origin, Ed. i. p. 133, vi. p. 165. 



