物種起源

內(nèi)容概要

WItEN ON board H.M.S. Beagle, as naturalist, Lwas much struck
with certainfacts in the distribution of the organic beings
inhabiting South America. and in thegeological relations of the
present to the past inhabitants of that continent. Thesefacts, as
will be seen in the latter chapters of this volume, seemed to throw
somelight on the origin of species--that mystery of mysteries, as
it h~as been called byone of our greatest philosophers. On my
return home. it occurred to me. in I837,that something might
perhaps be made out on this question by'pxatientlyaccumulating and
reflecting on all sorts of facts which could possibly have
anybearing on it. After five years' work 1 allowed myself to
speculate on the subject.and drew up some short notes; these I
enlarged in I844 into a sketch of theconclusions, which then seemed
to me probable: from that period to the presentday I have steadily
pursued the same object. I hope that I may be excused forentering
on these personal details, as I give them to show that I have not
beenhasty in coming to a decision.

作者簡(jiǎn)介

1809年2月12日，達(dá)爾文出生于英國(guó)一座古老城市施魯斯伯里的一個(gè)醫(yī)生家庭。
    1818年，達(dá)爾文進(jìn)入一所舊式學(xué)校學(xué)習(xí)，寄宿七年。從小就熱愛大自然的他，非常喜歡采集礦物和制作動(dòng)植物標(biāo)本，觀察各種鳥類，到城外郊游。
    1831年5月，達(dá)爾文從劍橋大學(xué)畢業(yè)。
    1831年12月，英國(guó)政府組織了“貝格爾號(hào)”軍艦的環(huán)球考察，達(dá)爾文經(jīng)人推薦，以“博物學(xué)者”的身份，自費(fèi)搭船，開始了漫長(zhǎng)而又艱苦的環(huán)球考察活動(dòng)。
    每到一地，達(dá)爾文總要進(jìn)行認(rèn)真的考察研究，采訪當(dāng)?shù)氐木用?，有時(shí)請(qǐng)他們當(dāng)向?qū)АＫ晦o辛苦，爬山涉水，采集礦物和動(dòng)植物標(biāo)本，挖掘生物化石，發(fā)現(xiàn)了許多原來沒有記載的新物種。他白天收集資料，晚上又忙著記錄觀察日記。
    達(dá)爾文隨船橫渡太平洋，經(jīng)過澳大利亞，越過印度洋，繞過好望角，于1836年1O月回到英國(guó)。在歷時(shí)五年(1831—1836)的環(huán)球考察中，達(dá)爾文積累了大量的資料。
    回國(guó)后，他一面整理這些資料，一面查閱大量書籍，為他的生物進(jìn)化理論尋找根據(jù)，開始對(duì)物種起源問題進(jìn)行全面的系統(tǒng)研究。
    1859年11月，科學(xué)巨著《物種起源》一書出版了。這是達(dá)爾文一生中最光輝的年代。他關(guān)于生物進(jìn)化的基本思想，是在他乘“貝格爾”號(hào)作環(huán)球旅行時(shí)產(chǎn)生的。經(jīng)過二十年的深思熟慮和艱苦勞動(dòng)，通過對(duì)大量事實(shí)的研究和收集，達(dá)爾文終于在僻靜的唐恩小鎮(zhèn)，將這些思想整理成文。
    《物種起源》的出版，在歐洲乃至整個(gè)世界都引起轟動(dòng)。它的出版標(biāo)志著在十九世紀(jì)人們對(duì)生物界和人類在生物界中的地位的看法發(fā)生了深刻的變化——這種觀念變化就像哥白尼在十六世紀(jì)指出地球在宇宙中的位置而引起的變化一樣。這引起了當(dāng)時(shí)保守的科學(xué)家們(而這些人卻是占絕大多數(shù))對(duì)達(dá)爾文學(xué)說的猛烈攻擊。   
    因此，為捍衛(wèi)進(jìn)化論學(xué)說，他不得不同各種流派和言論進(jìn)行了十幾年的理論斗爭(zhēng)。
    1868年達(dá)爾文發(fā)表了《動(dòng)物和植物在家養(yǎng)下的變異》等巨著，以不可爭(zhēng)辯的事實(shí)和嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)?shù)目茖W(xué)論斷，進(jìn)一步闡述了他的進(jìn)化論觀點(diǎn)，提出物種的變異和遺傳、生物的生存斗爭(zhēng)和自然選擇的重要論點(diǎn)。
    l868年2月，達(dá)爾文開始撰寫《人類起源及性的選擇》等著作——雖然這時(shí)候的他體弱而多病。
    1882年4月19日，這位偉大的科學(xué)家因病逝世。
    由于達(dá)爾文一生對(duì)生物科學(xué)做出了劃時(shí)代的貢獻(xiàn)，人們將他葬在倫敦的威斯敏斯特寺院中堂的北廊，和杰出的科學(xué)家牛頓葬在同一個(gè)地方。

書籍目錄

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I VARIATION UNDER　DOMESTICATION
CHAPTER II VARIATION UNDER NATURE
CHAPTER III STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE
CHAPTER IV NATURAL SELECTION;OR THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
CHAPTER V LAWS OF VARIATION
CHAPTER VI DIFFICULTIES OF THE THEORY
CHAFrER VIII INSTINCT
CHAPTER IX HYBRIDISM
CHAPTER X ON THE IMPERFECTION OF THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD
CHAPTER XI ON THE GEOLOGICAL
SUCCESSION OF ORGANIC BEINGS
CHAPTER XlI GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
CHAPTER XIII GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION--CONTINUED
CHAPTER XIV MUTUAL AFFINITIES OF
ORGANIC BEINGS MORPHOLOGY
EMBRYOLOGY--RUDIMENTARY ORGANS
CHAPTER XV RECAPITULATION
AND CONCLUSION
APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF THE
PRINCIPAL SCIENTIFIC TERMS USED
IN THE PRESENT VOLUME

章節(jié)摘錄

　　The same law which has determined the relationship between the inhabitants of islands and the nearest mainland, is sometimes displayed on a small scale, but in a most interesting manner, within the limits of the same archipelago. Thus each separate island of the Galapagos Archipelago is tenanted, and the fact is a marvellous one, by many distinct species; but these species are related to each other in a very much closer manner than to the inhabitants of the American continent, or of any other quarter of the world. This is what might have been expected, for islands situated so near to each other would almost necessarily receive immigrants from the same original source, and from each other. But how is it that many of the immigrants have been differently modified, though only in a small degree, in islands situated within sight of each other, having the same geological nature, the same height, climate,etc.? This long appeared to me a great difficulty: but it arises in chiefpart from the deeply-seated error of considering the physical conditions ofa country as the most important; whereas it cannot be disputed that the nature of the other species with which each has to compete, is at least as important, and generally a far more important element of success. Nowifwe look to the species which inhabit the Galapagos Archipelago, and are likewise found in other parts of the world, we Fmd that they differ considerably in the several is lands. This difference might indeed have been expected if the islands have been stocked by occasional means of transport-a seed, for instance, of one plant having been brought to one island, and that of another plant to another island, though all proceeding from the same general source. Hence, when in former times an immigrant first settled on one of the islands, or when it subsequently spread from one to another, it would undoubtedly be exposed to different conditions in the different islands, for it would have to compete with a different set of organisms; a plant, for instance,would find the ground best-fitted for it occupied by somewhat different species in the different islands, and would be exposed to the attacks of somewhat different enemies. If, then, it varied, natural selection would probably favour different varieties in the different islands. Some species, however, might spread and yet retain the same character throughout the group, just as we see some species spreading widely throughout a continent and remaining the same.　　The really surprising fact in this case of the Galapagos Archipelago, and in a lesser degree in some analogous cases, is that each new species after being formed in any one island, did not spread quickly to the other islands. But the islands, though in sight of each other, are separated by deep arms of the sea, in most cases wider than the British Channel, and there is no reason to suppose that they have at any former period been continuously united. The currents of the sea are rapid and deep between the islands, and gales of wind are extraordinarily rare; so that the islands are far more effectually separated from each other than they appear on a map. Nevertheless, some of the species, both of those found in other parts of the world and of those confined to the archipelago, are common to the several is lands; and we may infer from the present manner of distribution that they have spread from one island to the others. But we often take, I think, an erroneous view of the probability of closely allied species invading each other's territory, when put into free intercommunication. Undoubtedly, if one species has any advantage over another, it will in a very brief time wholly or in part supplant it; but if both are equally well fitted for their own places, both will probably hold their separate places for almost any length of time. Being familiar with the fact that many species, naturalised through man's agency, have spread with astonishing rapidity over wide areas, we are apt to infer that most species would thus spread; but we should remember that the species which become naturalised in new countries are not generally closely allied to the aboriginalinhabitants, but are very distinct　forms, belonging in a large proportion of cases, as shown by Alph. de Candolle, to distinct genera　In the Galapagos Archipelago, many even of the birds, though so well adapted for flying from island to island, differ on the different islands;thus there are three closely allied species ofmocking-thrush, each confined to　its own island. Now let us suppose the mocking-thrush of Chatham Island to be blown to Charles Island, which has its own mocking-thrush; why should it succeed in establishing itself there? We may safelyinfer that Charles Island is well stocked with its own species, for annually more eggs are laid and young birds hatched than can possibly be reared; and we may infer that the mocking-thrush peculiar to Charles Island is at least as well fitted for its home as is the species peculiar to Chatham Island. Sir C. Lyell and Mr. Wollaston have communicated to me a remarkable fact bearing on this subject; namely, that Madeira and the adjoirung islet of Porto Santo possess many distinct but representative species ofland-shells, some ofwhich live in crevices of stone; and although large quantities of stone are annually transported from Porto Santo to Madeira, yet this latter island has not become colonised by the Porto Santo species: nevertheless, both islands have been colonised by some European land-shells, which no doubt had some advantage over the indigenous species. From these considerations I think we need not greatly marvel at the endemic species which inhabit the several islands of the Galapagos Archipelago not having all spread from island to island. On the same continent, also, pre-occupation has probably played an important part in checking the commingling of the species which inhabit different districts with nearly the same physical conditions. Thus, the south-east and south-west corners of Australia have nearly the same physical conditions, and are united by continuous land, yet they are inhabited by a vast number of distinct mammals, birds, and plants; so it is, according to Mr. Bates, with the butterflies and other animalsinhabiting the great, open, and continuous valley of the Amazons.　　The same principle which governs the general character of the inhabitants of oceanic islands, namely, the relation to the source whence colonists could have been most easily derived, together with their subsequent modification, is of the widest application throughout nature. We see this on every mountain-summit,in every lake and marsh. For Alpine species, excepting in as far as the same species have become widely spread during the Glacial epoch, are related to those of the surrounding lowlands; thus we have in South America, Alpine humming-birds, Alpine rodents, Alpine plants, etc., all strictly belonging to American forms; and it is obvious that a mountain, as it became slowly upheaved, would be colonised from the surrounding lowlands. So it is with the inhabitants oflakes and marshes, exceptingin so far as great facility oftransport has allowed the same forms to prevail throughout large portions of the world. We see the same principle in the character of most of the blind animals inhabiting the caves of America and of Europe. Other analogous facts could be given. It will, I believe, be found universally true, that wherever in two regions, let them be ever so distant, many closely allied or representative species occur, there will likewise be found some identical species; and wherever many closely-allied species occur, there will be found many forms which some naturalists rank as distinct species, and others as mere varieties; these doubtful forms showing us the steps in the process of modification.　　……

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