CONTEXTS 
CHAPTER I 
WHAT ARE “ SPECIES ” AND WHAT IS MEANT BY THEIR 
“ORIGIN ” 
Definition of Bpecies — Special creation — The early transmutation ists — 
Scientific opinion before Darwin — The problem before Darwin — The 
change of opinion effected by Darwin—The Darwinian theory — Pro¬ 
posed mode of treatment of the subject . . . Pages 1-13 
CHAPTER II 
THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 
Its importance — The struggle among plants — Among animals — Illustrative 
cases — Succession of trees in forests of Denmark — The struggle for 
existence on the Pampas—Increase of organisms in a geometrical 
ratio — Examples of rapid increase of animals — Rapid increase and 
wide spread of plants—Great fertility not essential to rapid increase 
— Struggle between closely allied species most severe — The ethical 
aspect of the struggle for existence . . . 14-40 
CHAPTER III 
THE VARIABILITY OF SPECIES IN A STATE OF NATURE 
Importance of variability — Popular ideas regarding it — Variability of the 
lower animals — The variability of insects — Variation among lizards— 
