In 1858, the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society published brief articles by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the same issue, under the title "On the Tendency of Species to Form Varieties; and on the Perpetuation of Varieties and Species by Natural Means of Selection."

Darwin noted that "This sketch is most imperfect; but in so short a space I cannot make it better. Your imagination must fill up very wide blanks."