Paralysis of the nervous system of Dionaea. Uses of tails of mice.
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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.
Paralysis of the nervous system of Dionaea. Uses of tails of mice.
CD’s observations on the power of movement and transmission of motor impulses in plants. If RLT succeeds with the tails of mice, it will be "a beautiful little discovery"; CD will enjoy it the more "because some German sneered at natural selection and instanced the tail of the mouse" [see 10013].
May publish a lecture on insectivorous plants and would like to dedicate it to CD.
Wishes to become an F.R.S.
Has found that H. G. Bronn in the chapter appended to his translation of Origin cited ears and tail of mice as facts opposed to natural selection. Suggests RLT examine hairs of tails of mice for possible nerves.
Has separated out a pepsin-like substance from the secretion of Drosera, which he proposes to call "Droserin".
Intends sending a paper containing some of his histological work [see "Freezing process for section-cutting; … staining and mounting sections", J. Anat. & Physiol. 9 (1875): 249–58].
RLT’s observations come too late, as CD’s book on Droseraceae has been printed.
Reports on his observations of ferment in secretions in Drosera rotundifolia and Drosophyllum.
RLT will find abundant evidence of absorption by Aldrovanda in CD’s forthcoming book [Insectivorous plants]. Congratulates him on his discovery of ferments.
Is waiting impatiently for the appearance of CD’s book [Insectivorous plants].
Insectivorous plants: the means and site of absorption of digested animal matter. [Newspaper clipping enclosed.]
Informs RLT of J. D. Hooker’s work on Nepenthes ["Nepenthaceae, Cytinaceae", in Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis by A. P. de Candolle (1873), 17: 90–116].
Has asked JDH to try secretions of pitchers that had caught no insects.
An article on RLT’s lecture on insectivorous plants has appeared; the author adopts an anti-Darwinian attitude [see "Flower traps", Spectator 19 June 1875, pp. 784–5; RLT’s reply in Spectator 26 June 1875, pp. 816–17.]
Has read Insectivorous plants and is to review it for the Spectator.
Sends a note on the ferment of the Nepenthes secretion, which he asks CD to forward to Nature if he thinks it worth while [see "Insectivorous plants", Nature 12 (1875): 251–2].
CD returns MS of a paper by RLT. "If you have succeeded in separating the ferment, the fact is manifestly important." Asks whether RLT tested the digestive ability of fluid from pitchers without animal matter. This would be necessary to prove that there was ferment in the fluid. CD is glad to hear about the [passage?] for guiding insects; he had guessed this to be the case.
Insectivorous plants: observations on the digestive fluid of Nepenthes.
Reproduction of plant by "parthenogenesis".
CD sends words that he is too busy to work on the Drosera RLT has sent. CD also regrets that the fluid on virgin pitchers of Nepenthes was not tested with white of egg. Until that is done, he doubts whether physiologists would admit the presence of the ferment.
Digestive fluid in insectivorous plants. RLT’s work on tails.
RLT speculates on the "moral nature" of parental protection shown by humans and traces it back to its first occurrence in the animal world.
CD gives a few instances of various animals (starfish, earwigs, spiders) that take charge of their young.