ountry--according to the
difficulties offered to fresh immigration--and according to the length
of time since the first inhabitants were introduced. It is obvious that
whatever was the country, generally the nearest from which the first
tenants were transported, they would show an affinity, even if all had
become modified, to the natives of that country and even if the
inhabitants of the same source (?) had been modified. On this view we
can at once understand the cause and meaning of the affinity of the
fauna and flora of the Galapagos Islands with that of the coast of S.
America; and consequently why the inhabitants of these islands show not
the smallest affinity with those inhabiting other volcanic islands, with
a very similar climate and soil, near the coast of Africa{407}.

{402} This brief discussion is represented in the _Origin_, Ed. i.
by a much fuller one (pp. 356, 383, vi. pp. 504, 535). See,
however, the section in the present Essay, p. 168.

{403} On the formation of new stations, see _Origin_, Ed. i. p.
292, vi. p. 429.

{404} _Origin_, Ed. i. pp. 390, 400, vi. pp. 543, 554.

{405} In the MS. _some of the species ... nourishing quality_ is
doubtfully erased. It seems clear that he doubted whether such a
problematical supply of food would be likely to cause variation.

{406} At this time the author clearly put more faith in the
importance of sport-like variation than in later years.

{407} _Origin_, Ed. i. p. 398, vi. p. 553.

To return once again to our island, if by the continued action of the
subterranean forces other neighbouring islands were formed, these would
generally be stocked by the inhabitants of the first island, or by a few
immigrants from the neighbouring mainland; but if considerable obstacles
were interposed to any communication between the terrestrial productions
of these islands, and their conditions were different (perhaps only by
the number of different species on each island), a form transported from
one island to another might become altered in the same manner as one
from the continent; and we should have several of the islands tenanted
by representative races or species, as is so wonderfully the case with
the different islands of the Galapagos Archipelago. As the islands
become mountainous, if mountain-species were not introduced, as could
rarely happen, a greater amount of variation and selection would be
requisite t