Acknowledges copy of Insectivorous plants; has observed Drosera filiformis leaves closing around prey.
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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.
Acknowledges copy of Insectivorous plants; has observed Drosera filiformis leaves closing around prey.
Comments on review [of Insectivorous plants] in New York Independent.
Working on Cross and self-fertilisation.
Hopes printing of Variation [2d ed.] is going satisfactorily.
Climbing plants [2d ed.] is finished.
An invitation to Down for Sunday 16 October.
Canestrini still owes £10 from 1869 for electros of 1st edition [of Variation].
RC has urged Clowes on with printing of Variation [2d ed.],
but with Climbing plants [2d ed.] ready, it need not be done before the annual sale.
Asks CD’s opinion on whether there is a fundamental difference between the "primitive forms" of animals and plants. Mentions and rejects various views of major distinguishing characteristics.
Has secured rights to Variation from Judd & Co.; had to pay $350 [dollars or pounds!?] for old plates and promise 50% discount on 150 copies of the new edition. Hopes Murray’s charge for plates of new edition will not exceed cost of doing the work in the U. S. Judd lost out considerably from small sale of his edition.
Wishes CD to present RLT’s paper on insectivorous plants to the Royal Society.
Sends an article for CD’s opinion.
Has finished an account of the globes for the Philosophical Magazine ["On maps of the world", 50 (1875): 431–44].
His poor health has interfered with his pitch experiments.
Charge for 500 sets of the heliotype illustrations of Expression is £37 10s 6d.
R. L. Tait has requested CD send his [Tait’s] paper on Nepenthes to Royal Society. CD considers this a nuisance.
Certificate for G. J. Romanes.
Francis’ experiments on mechanism of twisted seeds.
Sends CD his answers to W. D. Whitney’s articles. Sees man as separated from other animals by the possession of language. There is no scientific evidence for even the slightest attempt at language in the higher animals, which cannot, therefore, be reasonably regarded as "stunted man". [See "In self-defence", Chips from a German workshop 4 (1875): 473–549.]
Comments on difficulty of distinguishing between lower animal and vegetable organisms.
Pleased by W. Stanley Jevons’ letter.
Has ordered Dr Cohn’s book.
Is sure that GHD’s energy will lead to success with work on viscous fluids.
JDH shares CD’s annoyance with R. L. Tait.
Has identified awned carpels for CD.
Sports of Paritium.
Suggests extending Francis’ experiments with glycerine on twisted seeds, to Mimosa.
Has decided to send R. L. Tait’s paper to the Royal Society.
Will try glycerine on Mimosa but doubts it will have an effect.
Thanks FMM for his essay [see 10194]. Though some of FMM’s remarks are "stinging", they have all been made "gracefully".
PS concerning Imantophyllum.
Sent a copy of Orchis book to Gentry. Mentions Morley’s article on Diderot. Asks for another copy of the new edition of Descent.
Reports observations of T. C. Renshaw on how some flowers of the Tritoma catch bees and other insects. Thinks it may be a contrivance against unbidden visitors, as insects caught are not consumed.