The Monist, Vol. 1, 1890-1891 : $b A quarterly magazine — John Shaqi
The Monist, Vol. 1, 1890-1891 : $b A quarterly magazineVarious
Philosophy
The Monist, Vol. 1, 1890-1891 : $b A quarterly magazine
Various
Philosophy -- Periodicals
Well, as I have said, these other forms of homogamy are very numerous.
First we may notice geographical isolation. When a comparatively small
portion of a species is thus separated from the rest of its kind,
intercrossing is effectually prevented between the two sections; and
inasmuch as the general average of specific characters in the isolated
section will be somewhat different from that of the other section,
heredity will determine that the two sections shall not run parallel
in their subsequent lines of evolutionary history: there will arise
an increasing divergence between them, as was first pointed out by the
mathematician Delbœuf, subsequently by the naturalist Weismann, and
more recently, with greater emphasis, by Mr. Gulick as well as myself.
Again, there is homogamy that arises as a result of sexual preference,
or, as I have called it, "psychological selection." It is a matter of
observation that the breeding of like with like is often determined
among the higher vertebrata by individuals of each variety preferring
to mate with other individuals of their own variety; and this is
homogamy.
Not to occupy space with any attempt at enumerating all the many forms
of homogamy[2] I will at once pass on to the form which constitutes the
subject-matter of the present paper—and the form which, in my opinion,
is probably of more importance than any other in the multiplication of
species. This is the form of homogamy which I have termed Physiological
Selection, or Segregation of the Fit, and Mr. Gulick—who independently
perceived the principle—has called Segregate Fecundity.
[2] This has been done in a most careful and exhaustive manner
by Mr. Gulick in his papers which have succeeded mine in the
publications of the Linnean Society.
As my object on the present occasion is to answer criticisms which
have been passed on my enunciation of this principle, I do not propose
to go into further detail by way of explanation than is necessary in
order to render intelligible both the criticisms and my reply thereto.
Moreover, this reply is only an abstract of a fuller one which has been
prepared for publication in a forthcoming book. Therefore it deals only
with the main points. Lastly, I may remark that the criticisms which
have hitherto appeared have all been derived from the same source,
viz., from Mr. A. R. Wallace; for, although many other naturalists have
expressed themselves as more or less opposed to the new theory, or
"additional suggestion on the origin of species," they have all done so
on the grounds, or for the reasons supplied by Mr. Wallace. Therefore,
in dealing with Mr. Wallace's objections, I shall be dealing with the
only objections which have thus far been advanced.
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