# Dr. Falconer — The Origin of Species character guide

> Dr. Falconer in The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Dr. Falconer, Falconer

**First appearance:** 0073-x-on-the-imperfection-of-the-geological-record

## Who they are

A paleontologist who studied fossil mammals and elephants.

## In the story

### [Geometrical Ratio of Increase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/geometrical-ratio-of-increase)

Provides evidence of introduced plants spreading rapidly in India.

### [On the Absence of Numerous Intermediate Varieties in Any Single Formation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-absence-of-numerous-intermediate-varieties-in-any-single-formation)

Cited for the insight that the period of modification for a species is probably short compared to its period of stasis.

### [On the Geological Succession of Organic Beings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/xi-on-the-geological-succession-of-organic-beings)

Provided a striking instance of an existing crocodile associated with extinct mammals in sub-Himalayan deposits.

### [On Extinction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-extinction)

Believed insects chiefly check the increase of elephants in India.

### [On the Affinities of Extinct Species to Each Other, and to Living Forms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-affinities-of-extinct-species-to-each-other-and-to-living-forms)

Referenced for his arrangement of mastodon and elephant species, showing that extreme forms are not always oldest or most recent.

### [On the Succession of the Same Types Within the Same Areas, During the Later Tertiary Periods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-succession-of-the-same-types-within-the-same-areas-during-the-later-tertiary-periods)

Cited for discoveries showing that Northern India was formerly more closely related in mammals to Africa.

## Links

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