No single author presented Darwin with a more difficult question about his priority in discovering natural selection than the British comparative anatomist and paleontologist Richard Owen. Owen was arguably the most influential biologist in Great Britain in Darwin’s time. Darwin wanted his approbation for what he believed to be his own theory of natural selection. Unfortunately for Darwin, when Owen first commented in publication about Darwin’s theory of descent he was openly hostile (Edinb. Rev. vol. 111, Article VIII, 1860, pp. 487–533, anonymous). Darwin was taken off-guard. In private meetings and correspondence prior to 1860 Owen had been nothing but polite and friendly, even helping Darwin in cataloguing and analyzing Darwin’s zoological specimens from the Beagle voyage. Every early indication predicted a life-long friendship and collaboration. But that was not to be. Owen followed his slashing review with a mounting campaign in the 1860s to denounce and discredit both Darwin and his small but ascendant circle of friends and supporters. But that was not enough for Owen. Starting in 1866, perhaps by now realizing Darwin had landed the big fish, Owen launched a new campaign, to claim the discovery of “Darwin’s theory” for himself. Darwin naturally fought back, mainly in the “Historical Sketch” that he prefaced to Origin starting in 1861. But when we peel back the layers of personal animus and escalating vituperation we discover in fact their quarrel was generated more by mutual misunderstanding than scientific disagreement. The battle ended only when Darwin finally penetrated to the crux of the matter and put an end to the rivalry in 1872, in the final version of the Sketch.

中文翻译：

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查尔斯·达尔文、理查德·欧文和自然选择：优先考虑的问题

没有哪个作者向达尔文提出了比英国比较解剖学家和古生物学家理查德欧文更困难的问题，关于他在发现自然选择方面的优先事项。欧文可以说是达尔文时代英国最有影响力的生物学家。达尔文希望自己的自然选择理论得到他的认可。对达尔文来说不幸的是，当欧文第一次在出版物中评论达尔文的血统理论时，他公开表示敌意（Edinb. Rev. vol. 111, Article VIII, 1860, pp. 487–533, anonymous）。达尔文措手不及。在 1860 年之前的私人会议和通信中，欧文只是彬彬有礼和友好，甚至帮助达尔文编目和分析达尔文在小猎犬航行中的动物标本。每一个早期迹象都预示着终生的友谊和合作。但事实并非如此。欧文在 1860 年代进行了一场激烈的运动，以谴责和诋毁达尔文以及他的小但不断上升的朋友和支持者圈子。但这对欧文来说还不够。从 1866 年开始，也许现在意识到达尔文已经钓到了大鱼，欧文发起了一场新的运动，为自己宣称发现了“达尔文理论”。达尔文自然会反击，主要是在他从 1861 年开始为《起源》序言的“历史素描”中。但当我们剥开层层的个人敌意和不断升级的谩骂时，我们发现实际上他们的争吵更多是由于相互误解而不是科学分歧。