# Edward Forbes — The Origin of Species character guide

> Edward Forbes in The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Forbes, Edward Forbes, the late Edward Forbes

**First appearance:** 0086-xii-geographical-distribution

## Who they are

A naturalist who studied biogeography and the distribution of species.

## Relationships

### [Charles Darwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters/charles_darwin)

_professional_

Darwin engaged with Forbes's ideas on species distribution and geological changes, though often critically.

## In the story

### [V: Laws of Variation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/v-laws-of-variation)

Mentioned regarding shell color variation with latitude and depth.

### [On the Absence or Rarity of Transitional Varieties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-absence-or-rarity-of-transitional-varieties)

Referenced for similar observations in marine dredging.

### [On the Poorness of Palaeontological Collections](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-poorness-of-palaeontological-collections)

Quoted as an admirable palaeontologist who noted that many fossil species are known from single or broken specimens.

### [On the Sudden Appearance of Groups of Allied Species in the Lowest Known Fossiliferous Strata](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-sudden-appearance-of-groups-of-allied-species-in-the-lowest-known-fossiliferous-strata)

Disputed the conclusion that the lowest Silurian represents the first life.

### [Geographical Distribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/xii-geographical-distribution)

Darwin mentions Forbes's view on the migration of species during the Glacial period and extends it.

### [Means of Dispersal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/means-of-dispersal)

His view that all Atlantic islands were recently connected to continents is discussed and critiqued.

### [Dispersal During the Glacial Period](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/dispersal-during-the-glacial-period)

Explained the former influence of the glacial climate on the distribution of European inhabitants.

### [Alternate Glacial Periods in the North and South](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/alternate-glacial-periods-in-the-north-and-south)

His view on glacial effects is extended by Darwin, and his observation of isolated Arctic productions in northern temperate seas is cited.

### [Geographical Distribution—Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/xiii-geographical-distribution-continued)

Cited for insisting on the striking parallelism in the laws of life throughout time and space.

### [Summary of the Last and Present Chapters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/summary-of-the-last-and-present-chapters)

Darwin references Forbes's insistence on the striking parallelism in the laws of life throughout time and space.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters/edward_forbes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters