Meaning: The quote provided is a reference to the work of Charles Darwin, specifically his theory of evolution by natural selection. The quote is attributed to Richard Owen, a prominent scientist and contemporary of Darwin, who acknowledged the significance of Darwin's contributions to the understanding of the natural world.

In the quote, Richard Owen acknowledges Darwin's "striking and ingenious instances" of the way in which the principle of natural selection affects the interconnectedness of life. He refers to the "chain, or rather network of life," highlighting the complex and interconnected nature of species and their evolutionary relationships. Owen also speaks of the "total obliteration of certain meshes," suggesting that the process of natural selection can lead to the extinction of certain species or the removal of specific links in the evolutionary chain.

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, as outlined in his seminal work "On the Origin of Species" published in 1859, revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. Darwin proposed that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and that the diversity of life arises through a process of gradual change and adaptation driven by natural selection.

Natural selection is the process by which individual organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the accumulation of advantageous traits in a population over successive generations. This process can result in the adaptation of species to their environments and the emergence of new species over time.

Darwin's theory of evolution has had a profound impact on numerous scientific disciplines, including biology, ecology, genetics, and anthropology. It has provided a unifying framework for understanding the diversity of life on Earth and has led to significant advancements in our knowledge of the natural world.

One of the key concepts in Darwin's theory is the idea of the interconnectedness of all living organisms through a shared evolutionary history. This concept is reflected in Richard Owen's reference to the "chain, or rather network of life," emphasizing the intricate web of relationships that exist among different species and their evolutionary trajectories.

Darwin's work has also shed light on the processes that can lead to the extinction of species, as alluded to in Owen's mention of the "total obliteration of certain meshes." The principle of natural selection, along with other factors such as environmental changes and human impact, can contribute to the disappearance of certain species from the interconnected web of life.

In conclusion, the quote attributed to Richard Owen acknowledges the significant contributions of Charles Darwin to our understanding of the interconnectedness of life and the impact of natural selection on the evolutionary process. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has fundamentally transformed our perspective on the natural world, highlighting the complex and dynamic relationships that exist among all living organisms.