DARWINIANA
ESSAYS AND REVIEWS PERTAINING
TO DARWINISM
BY
ASA GRAY
FISHER PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY (BOTANY) IN
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
NEW YORK:
1876.
CONTENTS
DARWINIANA
PREFACE
ARTICLE I
THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY
MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION
Views and Definitions of Species--How Darwin's differs from that of Agassiz,
and from the Common View--Variation, its Causes unknown.--Darwin's
Genealogical Tree--Darwin and Agassiz agree in the Capital
Facts--Embryology--Physical Connection of Species compatible with
Intellectual Connection--How to prove Transmutation.--Known Extent of
Variation--Cause of Likeness unknown--Artificial
Selection.--Reversion--Interbreeding--Natural Selection.--Classification
tentative.--What Darwin assumes.--Argument stated.--How Natural Selection
works.--Where the Argument is weakest.--Objections--Morphology and
Teleology harmonized.--Theory not atheistical.--Conceivable Modes of
Relation of God to Nature
ARTICLE II
DESIGN VERSUS NECESSITY--
A DISCUSSION
How Design in Nature can be shown--Design not inconsistent with Indirect
Attainment
ARTICLE III
NATURAL SELECTION NOT INCONSISTENT
WITH NATURAL THEOLOGY
PART I.--Premonitions of Darwinism.--A Proper Subject for
Speculation.--Summary of Facts and Ideas suggestive of Hypotheses of
Derivation
Part II--Limitations of Theory conceded by Darwin.--What Darwinism
explains.--Geological Argument strong in the Tertiary Period.--
Correspondence between Rank and Geological Succession--Difficulties in
Classification.--Nature of Affinity.--No Absolute Distinction between
Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms.--Individuality.--Gradation
PART III.--Theories contrasted.--Early Arguments against
Darwinism.--Philosophical and Theological Objections--Theory may be
theistic.--Final Cause not excluded.--Cause of Variation unknown.--Three
Views of Efficient Cause compatible with Theism.--Agassiz's Objections of a
Philosophical Nature.--Minor Objections.--Conclusion
ARTICLE IV
SPECIES AS TO VARIATION,
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION,
AND SUCCESSION
Alphonse De Candolle's Study of the Oak Genus.--Variability of the
Species.--Antiquity.--A Common Origin probable.--Dr. Falconer on the Common
Origin of Elephants--Variation and Natural Selection
distinguished.--Saporta on the Gradation between the Vegetable Forms of the
Cretaceous and the Tertiary.--Hypothesis of Derivation more likely to be
favored by Botanists than by Zoologists.--Views of Agassiz respecting the
Origin, Dispersion, Variation, Characteristics, and Successive Creation of
Species contrasted with those of De Candolle and others--Definition of
Species--Whether its Essence is in the Likeness
or in the Genealogical Connection of the Individuals composing a Species
ARTICLE V
SEQUOIA AND ITS HISTORY:
THE RELATIONS OF NORTH AMERICAN
TO NORTHEAST ASIAN AND TO
TERTIARY VEGETATION
Age and Size of Sequoia.--Isolation.--Decadence.--Related Genera.-- Former
Distribution.--Similarity between the Flora of Japan and that of the United
States, especially on the Atlantic Side.--Former Glaciation as explaining
the Present Dispersion of Species.--This confirmed by the Arctic Fossil
Flora of the Tertiary Period.--Tertiary Flora derived from the Preceding
Cretaceous.--Order and Adaptation in Organic Nature likened to a
Flow.--Order implies an Ordainer
ARTICLE VI
THE ATTITUDE OF WORKING
NATURALISTS TOWARD DARWINISM
General Tendency to Acceptance of the Derivative Hypothesis noted.--Lyell,
Owen, Alphonse De Candolle, Bentham, Flower, Ailman.-- Dr. Dawson's "Story
of the Earth and Man" examined.--Difference between Scientific Men and
General Speculators or Amateurs in the
Use of Hypotheses
ARTICLE VII
EVOLUTION AND THEOLOGY
Writings of Henslow, Hodges, and Le Conte examined.--Evolution and Design
compatible.--The Admission of a System of Nature, with Fixed Laws, concedes
in Principle all that the Doctrine of Evolution requires.--Hypotheses,
Probabilities, and Surmises, not to be decried by Theologians, who use
them, perhaps, more freely and loosely than Naturalists.--Theologians risk
too much in the Defense of Untenable Outposts
ARTICLE VIII
"WHAT IS DARWINISM?"
Dr. Hodges Book with this Title criticised.--He declares that Darwinism is
Atheism, yet its Founder a Theist.--Darwinism founded, however, upon
Orthodox Conceptions, and opposed, not to Theism, but only to Intervention
in Nature, while the Key-note of Dr. Hedge's System is Interference.--Views
and Writings of St. Clair, Winchell, and Kingsley adverted to
ARTICLE IX
CHARLES DARWIN:
SKETCH ACCOMPANYING A PORTRAIT IN "NATURE"
Darwin's Characteristics and Work as a Naturalist compared with those of
Robert Brown.--His Illustration of the Principle that "Nature abhors Close
Fertilization. "--His Impression upon Natural History exceeded only by
Linnaeus.--His Service in restoring Teleology to Natural History
ARTICLE X
INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS
Classification marks Distinctions where Nature exhibits Gradations.--
Recovery of Forgotten Knowledge and History of what was known of Dionzea,
Drosera, and Sarracenia.
ARTICLE XI
INSECTIVOROUS AND CLIMBING PLANTS
Review of Darwin's Two Works upon these Subjects--No Absolute Marks for
distinguishing between Vegetables and Animals.--New observations upon the
Sundews or Droseras.--Their Sensitiveness, Movements, Discernment of the
Presence and Appropriation of Animal Matter.--Dionaea, and other Plants of
the same Order.--Utricularia and Pinguicula.--Sarracenia and
Nepenthes.--Climbing Plants; the Climbing effected through Sensitiveness or
Response to External Impression and Automatic Movement.--Capacities
inherent in Plants generally, and apparently of no Service to them,
developed and utilized by those which climb.--Natural Selection not a
Complete Explanation
ARTICLE XII
DURATION AND ORIGINATION OF
RACE AND SPECIES
PART I.--Do Varieties in Plants wear out, or tend to wear out?--The Question
considered in the Light of Facts, and in that of the Darwinian
Theory.--Conclusion that Races sexually propagated need not die of Old
Age.--This Conclusion inferred from the Provisions and Arrangements in
Nature to secure Cross-Fertilization of Individuals.-- Reference to Mr.
Darwin's Development of this View