I can answer these questions and objections only on the supposition that
the geological record is far more imperfect than most geologists believe.
The number of specimens in all our museums is absolutely as nothing
compared with the countless generations of countless species which have
certainly existed. The parent form of any two or more species would not be
in all its characters directly intermediate between its modified offspring,
any more than the rock-pigeon is directly intermediate in crop and tail
between its descendants, the pouter and fantail pigeons. We should not be
able to recognise a species as the parent of another and modified species,
if we were to examine the two ever so closely, unless we possessed most of
the intermediate links; and owing to the imperfection of the geological
record, we have no just right to expect to find so many links. If two or
three, or even more linking forms were discovered, they would simply be
ranked by many naturalists as so many new species, more especially if found
in different geological substages, let their differences be ever so slight.
Numerous existing doubtful forms could be named which are probably
varieties; but who will pretend that in future ages so many fossil links
will be discovered, that naturalists will be able to decide whether or not
these doubtful forms ought to be called varieties? Only a small portion of
the world has been geologically explored.
Pages:
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750