Macculloch Attributes of Deity
Suppose six puppies are born & it so chances that one out
of every hundred litters is born with long legs & in the Malthusian
rush for life only two of them live to breed. if circumstances
determine that, the long legged race will get the upper hand,
though continually dragged back to old type by intermarrying with
ordinary race. There is no way of eliminating the evils of old
age after breeding season, or gaining adaptations. but for Youth
most necessary: The fertility of man in old age keeps woman alive:
for man and woman are same: fertility of either sex determines
life:
A very wide range must be destructive to species, when physical
changes are in progress; (on the same principle that islands are
favourable) because it takes so long to change species--yet this
is contradicted by continents abounding with species--there will
be a balance. continents have split up,--who can decide these
limits.--
To show how little we understand of the Physiological relations
of animals. equatorial countries are supposed favourable [for]
terrestrial Mammifers.--Marine ones of large size are best nourished
by arctic regions--whales, Narwhal, Polar bear, Walrus, great
seals of Antarctic seas. (on other hand spermaceti whale and Manatee.--Naturalists
must be cautious.--
Are porpoises numerous in cold oceans? I think not.--does this
bear on the absence of their remains in the Wealden? For the strongly
separate Arctic genera, there is evidence of antiquity and extinction
of such forms.--these views will bear on geology.--
There is an analogy between fang of snake & jaw of of spider?
sting of bee, sting of nettle? The eye being formed in Mollusca,
articulata, & Vertebrata & Planaria & light affecting
plants.
From these views we can deduce why small islands should possess
many peculiar species, for as long as physical change is in progress
or is present with respect to new arrivers. the small body of
species would far more easily be changed.--Hence the Galapagos
Islds are explained. On distinct Creation how anomalous. that
the smallest, newest, & most wretched islds should possess
species to themselves.--Probably no case in world like Galapagos.
no hurricanes.--islds never joined, nature and climate very different
from adjoining coast. admirable explanation. thus offered. From
these views, one wd infer that Mollusca wd offer few species,
or either be very slowly changed or vertebrates much so.--So far
true, but do not fish offer a most striking anomaly to this. Have
they wide ranges? Agassiz has shown that they most widely differ.
With respect to whether Galapagos beings are species, it should
be remembered that naturalists are prone, fortunately, to take
their ideas. which are arbitrary and empirical, from their own
Faunas, which in this case is only true criterion. Hence it is
highly unphilosophical to assert, that they are not species, until
their breeding together has been tried.--
With respect to the six puppies. if a hare was introduced or became
more numerous. (from death of its destroyer). or other causes
the long legged race wd prevail, even if hare formed only 10th
part before & now formed eighth part.--or if prey diminished.
total number of dogs diminish. whilst the long legged variety
would prevail.--not separately? NB. These views quite exclude
the idea of domesticated animals changing.--
(Watermark: 1838
Darwin Mss, Vol. 210, ("The Black Box") Cambridge University
Library,
Transcribed and edited by SR)