Asks CD what prompts dogs of all kinds to roll themselves in decayed animal matter; inherited habit or immediate gratification?
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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.
Asks CD what prompts dogs of all kinds to roll themselves in decayed animal matter; inherited habit or immediate gratification?
On the coloration of 26 species of Saharan birds.
Has examined three races of the mouflon sheep and remarks on the extent of variation in them.
Offers notes and reflections on Variation.
Not convinced by Pangenesis, particularly its dependence on the Cytisus [graft hybrid] examples [ch. 27 and ch. 11].
What a book could be written on the application of natural history to man! Gives examples of inheritance in man.
Thanks for two small works.
Will read essay on man [Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts] with much interest.
Generelle Morphologie reviewed by G. Bentham ["Anniversary Address", Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1867–8): lviii–c].
Extremely sceptical of hare–rabbit hybrid.
In Variation CD mentions colour-blindness in women. WP does not believe there are any proven cases.
Thanks CD for mentioning his Corydalis and Primula experiments in Variation.
Has become Professor of Botany at Freiburg.
Encloses specimen of Corydalis cava.
Answers to Expression questionnaire.
Thanks for interesting letter. ‘How very curious the case of the bright-coloured birds which conceal themselves in holes!’
Sends newspaper clipping about a nest of young birds, apparently hybrid offspring of a cock goldfinch and a hen green linnet.
Thanks AdeC for his long letter full of interesting facts, which will be of great use if a new edition [of Variation] is demanded.
As for when CD will publish on variation in a state of nature: he has had the MS almost ready for several years but Variation fatigued him so much
that "I determined to amuse myself by publishing a short essay on the Descent of Man".
AdeC will have plenty of time to publish his views. Asks permission to quote AdeC on a case of inheritance of scalp-muscles [see Descent 1: 20].
Hooker has expressed a view, similar to AdeC’s, "that morals & politics would be very interesting if discussed like any branch of Natural History".
Agrees with AdeC on acclimatisation
and on graft-hybrids.
CD is repeating Hildebrand’s method in producing graft-hybrid potatoes.
As for Pangenesis, very few people approve of it though it has some enthusiastic friends and CD has much faith in its vitality.
Sketches out subjects he intends to speak on at Norwich [BAAS meeting]: museums, CD’s work in botany, Pangenesis, early history of mankind.
Asks about CD’s "book on man" [Descent].
Offers deerhound puppy.
Asks for photograph.
Encloses letter from George Cupples of notes, with excerpts from letters from Peter Robertson and John Wright, relating to difference in size between male and female deerhounds. Reports on weight statistics of ten [deerhound] puppies being observed.
Comments favourably, though often differing, on articles by G. H. Lewes.
Discusses claim of Agassiz [in A journey in Brazil (1868)] that he found evidence of glaciers in Brazil. Suggests sponsoring an expedition to test these claims.
Thinks JDH would be wise not to touch on Pangenesis; it has very few friends. Bentham is doubtful, Carus against, and Alphonse de Candolle likes it least in the book. CD still convinced it will be hereafter looked on as "best hypothesis of generation inheritance & development". If JDH means to cut up Pangenesis he has no word to say in opposition.
Corrects himself on Robinia pseud-acacia: its spines are stipules, which explains hereditary fixity.
AdeC’s observations on movement of scalp muscles.
Cannot fill out a return [for foreign revenue?] until his return home.
Looks forward to seeing JDH and hearing about address.
Feels better already.
Disappointed in house [they have taken at Freshwater].
Comments on CD’s health.
Has received gold medal from Dutch Academy of Science for Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Siphonophoren [1869].
His Entstehung des Menschengeschlechts [1868] has been sharply attacked by the clergy.
Reports on newly discovered Sclater’s pea-fowl from Cochin China.