...ideas on transmutation crystal clear. In his autobiography, he describes the experience in this way: I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population,...struggle for existence which everywhere goes on from long continued observation of the habits of animals and plants, it at once struck me that under these...

...reported that "fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry [into the origins of species], I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population,...struggle for existence which everywhere goes on from long- continued observation of the habits of animals and plants, it at once struck me that under these...

...selection could be applied to organisms living in a state of nature remained for some time a mystery to me. In October 1838, that is, fifteen months after I had...everywhere goes on from long-continued observation ofthe habits ofanimals and plants, it at once struck me that under these circumstances favourable variations...

...stamp of his lowly origin. The Descent of Man (1871) 1981:Chap. 21, 405. 12 Fifteen months after 1 had begun my systematic enquiry, I happened to read...struggle for existence which everywhere goes on from long48 DAVENANT, CHARLES continued observations of the habits of animals and plants, it at once struck...

...hand; but has been comparatively sparing in the room and nourishment necessary to rear them. TR Malthus Fifteen months after I had begun my systematic enquiry,...happened to read for amusement "Malthus on Population" ... it at once struck me that . . . favorable variations would tend to be preserved, and unfavorable...

...*vslemalic em|uiry. I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population. and hcing well prepared lo appreciate the struggle for existence which everywhere...on from long-continued observation of the habits of ammals and plants. it at once struck me that under these cireumstances favourable variations would...

...it's not the most likely motive for reading Malthus but there we are. He writes: Being well-prepared to appreciate the struggle for existence which everywhere goes on from long-continued observation of plants and animals, it at once struck me that under these circumstances favourable variations would...

...moments in the development of his thinking: Fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry, I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population,...appreciate the struggle for existence, which everywhere voes on, from Ion? continued observation of oo JJ o J o J the habits of animals and plants, it at once...

...happened in one of those serendipitous bursts of illumination. This is how Darwin recorded t incident: In October 1838, that is, fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry, I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population, and being well prepared to appreciate...

...by human histories. 1 . 1 Front economics to biology In a passage of his Autobiography Darwin wrote: In October 1838, that is fifteen months after I had begun my systematic inquiry, I happened to read for amusement Malthus on Population and being well prepared to appreciate...