Showing 21–40 of 41 items
The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Discusses dead earthworms on surface of ground after rainfall.
Describes experiments involving sensitivity of earthworms to light and how it reflects on their intelligence.
Asks for return of letter from J. P. Bishop about hair turning grey at an early age in three generations.
Can FG call on Monday evening?
Sends enclosure [missing].
FG’s volume on his African expedition [Narrative of an explorer in tropical South Africa (1853)] stimulates CD to express his admiration and to hope their acquaintance can be renewed.
Describes his health and life at Down.
Thanks FG for book [The art of travel (1855)].
Is looking for a house in London for a month.
Discusses how Fuegians and other primitive peoples light fires.
Encloses signed document.
"Much interested about all domestic animals of all savage nations."
Thanks FG for comments [on Origin].
Acknowledges error involving rhinoceros.
Thinks female fowls select victorious or most beautiful cock.
Does FG know Mansfield Parkyns well enough to submit query to him? [Probably about domestication of Columba guinea in Abyssinia. See Variation 1: 183.]
Can FG use his influence with Rev. [Erhardt] to get information about domesticated poultry in Africa for CD?
FG’s congratulations [on publication of Variation] have given CD pleasure.
Trusts that FG is well again.
Praises FG’s book [Hereditary genius (1869)]. CD is converted by its argument. Previously CD believed men did not differ much in intellect, but only in zeal and hard work.
Reports safe arrival of rabbits.
His rabbits have lost their patches and are grey.
Has FG seen William Crookes [spiritualist]?
Agrees to care for FG’s rabbits and will breed from them.
Plans to go to Southampton for ten days.
George Snow, the carrier, now leaves Nag’s Head on Thursday mornings.
Rabbits’ coats true in character. If the next ones are true, it is superfluous to keep trying.
Does not know why crying children rub eyes with knuckles.
Mentions FG’s article on prayer ["Statistical inquiries into the efficacy of prayer", Fortn. Rev. n.s. 12 (1872): 125–35].
F. M. Balfour wants to experiment on Pangenesis. Asks FG to recommend coloured rabbits that breed true.
Comments on FG’s article ["Hereditary improvement", Fraser’s Mag. 87 (1873): 116–30]. Finds it "the sole feasible, yet I fear utopian, plan of procedure in improving the human race".
Thanks for rabbits for Balfour.
Mentions reading W. R. Greg’s Enigmas [of life (1872)].