From:
Roland Trimen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Mar [1868]
Source of text:
DAR 86: A92–3
Summary:
On attraction of males by females in moths. H. T. Stainton mentions a case.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Robert Grove
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 165: 233
Summary:
Asks CD to breakfast in London on Tuesday [24 Mar].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 166: 47
Summary:
Has received English edition of Variation. First volume of German edition came three months ago. Comments on book.
Will send copy of recent lectures on human evolution [Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts (1868)]. Gegenbaur much interested in the subject.
Considers Selachius the ancestral form of the fish and hence of all higher vertebrates. Believes their swim-bladder became lung of amphibians.
Mentions cases of hybrid crosses between rabbits and hares producing fertile offspring.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Jenner Weir
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 61–4
Summary:
Relates a variety of facts about sexual selection in birds. [See Descent 2: 104–5.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Alfred Russel Wallace
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Mar [1868]
Source of text:
DAR 106: B61–2, B158–9
Summary:
Returns George Darwin’s criticisms of his notes on sterility and sends further notes in reply. Since there are degrees of sterility between varieties, "is it not probable that natural selection can accumulate these variations?" Varieties that are adapted to new conditions could then survive and form new species without being isolated.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Jenner Weir
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
24 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 65–8
Summary:
Experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars are rejected by birds. [See Descent 1: 417.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Howard Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[27] Mar [1868]
Source of text:
DAR 210.2: 3
Summary:
Discusses law versus engineering and business as a career.
Supposes ARW will have "squashed" GHD’s criticisms of his notes on sterility.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Blyth
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[before 25 Mar 1868]
Source of text:
DAR 83: 154–5, DAR 84.1: 131–3, DAR 48: A77, DAR 84.2: 187v
Summary:
Detailed notes on secondary sexual differences in various species of birds and mammals.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Benjamin Dann Walsh
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
25 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 82: A90–1; A117–18, DAR 85: B65
Summary:
Sexual preference in insects;
structures for seizing females;
coloration.
Doubts whether CD can make much of a case from insects in support of sexual selection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles-Ferdinand Reinwald
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 176: 91
Summary:
French translation of Variation has just appeared. Copies sent to Quatrefages de Bréau, C. V. Naudin, A. J. Gaudry, Camille Dareste, and Ernest Faivre.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
David Forbes
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 80: B168
Summary:
Blushing in South American Indians.
Hairlessness of Aymaras and Quechuas. [See Descent 2: 322–3.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Roland Trimen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 81: 76, DAR 85: B61–2, DAR 84.1: 134–5
Summary:
Coloration in moths.
Quotes Achille Guénée on relative proportion of sexes in Phalaenites.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Jenner Weir
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[26] Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 86: C5–9
Summary:
Proportions of sexes in birds as reported by bird-catchers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Ferdinand von Hochstetter
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 166: 223
Summary:
Thanks CD for advice received before his Novara voyage. Sends volumes [Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde … Geologischer Theil, ed. FCvH, 2 vols. in 3 (1864–6)].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Roland Trimen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
27 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 82: A120v
Summary:
Approves CD’s revision on coloration of moths.
Impressed with apparent adverse tendencies: one toward sexual selection, the other toward protection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Henslow
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 166: 165
Summary:
Thanks for criticism of his paper [on Variation].
If external conditions induce variability, what is the internal cause?
Does not agree with Duke of Argyll that "Origin of Species" is an incorrect term.
Sees playfulness of animals as a mark of the Deity’s creative playfulness.
Will visit soon.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Henry Doubleday
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 82: A11–12, DAR 86: A94
Summary:
On the proportion of sexes in moths; Lepidoptera females command higher prices; quotes Staudinger’s catalogue [see Descent 1: 311–12].
Ticking of Anobium tessellatum [see Descent 1: 385].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Hewitt
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 83–5
Summary:
On various subjects related to sexual selection: preferences, proportion of sexes. [See Descent 2: 117–18, 122.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Harrison William Weir
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
28 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 84.1: 86–7
Summary:
Recognition of colour by animals.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Victor Naudin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
29 Mar 1868
Source of text:
DAR 172: 9
Summary:
Thanks for Variation.
Complains of a severe facial neuralgia.
He is planning to build an experimental laboratory in the south.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Author
- Bate, C. S.1
- Bates, H. W.1
- Blyth, Edward1
- Bonham-Carter, E. M.1
- Buist, Robert1
- Bush, John1
- Candolle, Alphonse de1
- Canestrini, Giovanni1
- Carus, J. V.1
- Collingwood, Cuthbert1
- Dallas, W. S.2
- Darwin, G. H.1
- Darwin, W. E.3
- Dicey, E. M.1
- Doubleday, Henry2
- Forbes, David1
- Gray, J. E.1
- Grove, W. R.1
- Günther, Albert1
- Haeckel, Ernst1
- Henslow, George2
- Hewitt, Edward1
- Hochstetter, Ferdinand von1
- Hooker, J. D.1
- Lewes, G. H.1
- Mantegazza, Paolo1
- Moulinié, J. J.1
- Murray, John (b)2
- Müller, Hermann1
- Naudin, C. V.1
- Peel, Jonathan2
- Price, John1
- Quatrefages de Bréau, Armand de Quatrefages1
- Reinwald, C.-F.1
- Smith, Frederick (a)1
- Stainton, H. T.1
- Sulivan, B. J.1
- Tegetmeier, W. B.1
- Trimen, Roland3
- Wallace, A. R.5
- Wallace, Alexander1
- Wallace, Alfred Russel5
- Walsh, B. D.1
- Weir, H. W.1
- Weir, J. J.9
- Wrigley, Alfred2
- FEWER