APPENDIX A 



CHARLES DARWIN AND THE 

 HYPOTHESIS OF MULTIPLE ORIGINS 



I HAVE thought it of interest to consider in 

 some detail Darwin's attitude towards a single 

 one of the examples (pp. 45, 46) in which his 

 sure judgement shines forth so conspicuously 

 among his seniors, contemporaries and successors 

 alike. 



I select the idea that species or groups of 

 species had arisen from * multiple ' (or ' polyphyl- 

 etic ' ) origins a hypothesis very fashionable, 

 during one brief period, both in America and 

 on the Continent. 



According to this hypothesis, two or more 

 groups of animals were supposed to have arisen 

 independently, perhaps in different countries, 

 and subsequently by * convergence ' to have be- 

 come one. The most extreme development of 

 this view would be the incredible belief that 

 a single species might be formed from separate 

 bodies of individuals, arising independently from 

 very different lines of descent, but subsequently 

 fusing into an interbreeding community. Long 

 before this idea became popular, it had been 

 thought over by Darwin and seen to be worth- 



