达尔文的这本《物种起源》利用古生物学、地质学、生理地理学、比较解剖学、胚胎学、形态学和分类学等方面的知识,以及他在环球旅行和研究家养动植物时获得的大量第一手材料,论证了现存各种各样的生物是由一个或几个原始类型逐渐进化而来的,揭示出各种生物之间的亲缘关系,证明了自然选择是生物进化的真正动因。自然选择的内容主要是变异和遗传、生存竞争和选择等。变异是选择的原材料,在生存竞争中,不具有有利变异的个体趋于绝灭,具有有利变异的个体则被选择而保存下来。有利变异在种内经过一代代选择的长期积累,形成新的物种,生物就是这样通过。
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I VARIATION UNDER DOMESTICATION
Causes of variability
Effects of habit and of the use or disuse of parks;Correlated variation;Inheritance
Character of domestic varieties, Difficulty of distinguishing
between varieties and species; Origin of domestic varieties
from one or more species
Breeds of the domestic pigeon, Their differences and origin
Principles of selection anciently followed, and their effects Unconscious selection
Circumstances favourable to man's power of selection
CHAPTER II VARIATION UNDER NATURE
Causes of variability
Effects of habit and of the use or disuse of parks;Correlated variation;Inheritance
Character of domestic varieties, Difficulty of distinguishing
between varieties and species; Origin of domestic varieties
from one or more species
Breeds of the domestic pigeon, Their differences and origin
Principles of selection anciently followed, and their effects Unconscious selection
Circumstances favourable to man's power of selection
Individual differences
Doubtful species
Wide-ranging, much diffused, and common species vary most
Species of the larger genera in each country vary more
frequently than the species of the smaller genera
Many of the species included within the larger genera
resemble varieties in being very closely, but unequally,
related to each other, and in having restricted ranges Summary
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