BioConcepts

transmutation of speciestransmutatio (lat.); transmutation des espèces (fr.); Artenumwandlung (ger.)

• Conversion or transformation of one species into another; spec. applied to the form of evolution or development propounded by Lamarck (1815–22). (OED 2012)
  category species see also transmutation

  1626

  [T]he Transmutation of Species is, in the vulgar philosophie, pronounced Impossible: And certainly, it is a thing of difficultie, and requireth deepe Search into Nature: But seeing there appeare some manifest Instances of it, the Opinion of Impossibilitie is to be reiected; And the Meanes thereof to be found out. Wee see, that in Liuing Creatures, that come of Putrefaction, there is much Transmutation, of one into another; As Catterpillers turne into Flies, &c. And it should seeme probable, that whatsoeuer Creature, hauing life, is generated without Seed, that Creature will change out of one Species into another. For it is the Seed, and the Nature of it, which locketh and boundeth in the Creature, that it doth not expatiate. So as wee may well conclude, that seeing the Earth, of it selfe, doth put forth Plants, without Seed, therefore Plants may well haue a Transmigration of Species.

  Bacon, F. (1626). Sylva Sylvarum or a Naturall Historie in Ten Centuries: 136 (Nr. 525).

  1686

  De specierum in Plantis transmutatione.

  Ray, J. (1686). Historia plantarum, 3 vols.: I, 42 (I, xxi).
  

  1692

  Other Caterpillars, as that called the Solitary Maggot, found in the dry heads of Teasel, by a dubious Metamorphosis sometimes changed into the Aurelia of a Butterfly, sometimes into a Fly-Case. […] The most that can be inferred from hence is, a transmutation of Species.

  Ray, J. (1692). The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, 2nd ed., vol. 2: 91. 

  1772

  la transmutation des espèces n’a pas lieu dans les plantes, non plus que dans les animaux […] la constance est essentielle pour déterminer une espèce.

  Adanson, M. (1772). Examen de la question si les espèces changent parmi les plantes. Histoire de l’Académie Royale des Sciences (1769), 31-48: 48; cf. Stafleu, F.A. (1963). Adanson and the »Familles des Plantes«. In: Lawrence, G.H.M. (ed.). Adanson 1, 123-264: 168.
  

  1830

  Sketch of Lamarck’s Arguments in Favour of the Transmutation of Species

  Lyell, C. (1830). Principles of Geology, vol. 2: [Contents, cp. 1]. 

  1837

  In July opened first note book on ‘transmutation of Species’.

  Darwin, C. (1837). [Notebook entry]. In: Herbert, S. (ed.) (1980). The red notebook of Charles Darwin. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Historical Series 7 (24 April), 1-164: 22.

  1849

  Artenumwandlung

  Mousson, A. (1849). Die Land und Süsswasser-Mollusken von Java‎. Nach den Sendungen des Herrn Seminardirektors Zollinger zusammengestellt und beschrieben: ii.

  1852

  Artenumwandlung

  Fraas, C. (1852). Geschichte der Landwirthschaft: 548,

  1852

  In a debate upon the development hypothesis, lately narrated to me by a friend, one of the disputants was described as arguing that as, in all our experience, we know no such phenomenon as transmutation of species, is unphilosophical to assume that transmutation of species ever takes place.

  Spencer, H. (1852). The development hypothesis (Essays, vol. 1, New York 1901, 1-7): 1.

  1859

  transmutation of species

  Darwin, C. (1859/72). On the Origin of Species: 249.

  1874

  Artenumwandlung

  Peschel, O. (1874). Völkerkunde: 17.

  1926

  Artumwandlung

  Seligmann, E. (1926). Artumwandlung in der Enteritisgruppe. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitenk. Infektionskr. Hygiene. 1. Abt. Med.-hygien. Bakteriol. Virusf. Parasitol. 99, 263-266.