Evolution and Wonder: Understanding Charles Darwin

About the Image

This elevation map of a coral reef island is a hand-drawn water-color sketch by Charles Darwin, date unknown.

+ (photo: Cambridge University Library)

On Being OnDemand:

» Download (mp3, 52:08) ¦ » Listen Now (RealAudio, 52:08)

Read more on the show's main page.

(Reprinted with permission of Syndics of Cambridge University Library, DAR 123:18-19)

» listen (mp3, 1:42) to David Kohn provide a broader context to this passage and why Darwin wrote it

Image transcription ↑

Hence mutilations not heredetary,, but size of particular Muscles— When two animals cross. each sends his own likeness, & the union makes hybrid, in fact the parents beget child like themselves. expression of countenances, organic diseases, mental disposition, stature, are slowly obtained & hereditary; ~~but if~~ if the change be congenital (that is most slowly obtained with respect to that individual) it is more easily inherited.— but if change be in blood long, it becomes part of animal & by a succession of ~~such changes~~ generations, these small changes become multiplied, & great change be effected, but

in a mule these conditions are not fullfilled.— [My grandfather's theory of Mules not hereditary, because generation — highest point of organization] false.—
----------
The creator would thus contradict his own law. So far is there any appearance of animals being created. it is probable if created at once. ~~w[sup]d~~ according to ordinary laws, the character of offspring would vary, or rather they would not have offspring—
----------
On the idea of generation being a ~~slip~~ bud from parent. if the whole parent not entirely embued with the change, a bud could not be taken, without it either went back, or not being perfect would perish.—