Describe one idea about evolution that was proposed before Darwin published his theory of natural selection

There were multiple theories of evolution prior to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, some being from the antiquity, some just 300-200 years old.

One of the theories of evolution was the theory of hybrids. This theory was proposed by the great natural scientist Carl Linnaeus in 1744.

His theory was that initially God created small number of species, and placed those species on an isolated island. Over time, the created species started to breed between each other. That created numerous different hybrid offspring. These hybrids were actually new species, created by the breeding between the different species, and over time they developed into the numerous species we now of.