Discusses possible case of inherited memory involving Pompilus. Cites similar example of electric eel.
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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.
Discusses possible case of inherited memory involving Pompilus. Cites similar example of electric eel.
Asks him to visit.
Is recuperating well in France.
Says it is not likely he will be able to criticise GJR’s work.
Recommends Jean-Henri Fabre, Souvenirs entomologiques [1879].
Encloses letters from J. F. Moulton [12350 and 12356].
On GJR’s work on mental evolution in animals. Emphasises "love" among animals.
Comments on stimulation of plants.
On pleasure and pain.
Thinks Herbert Spencer has done little service to science but a great service to thinking.
Thinks importance of mathematics overestimated [by J. F. Moulton] in criticising Spencer.
Preparing his book, Animal intelligence [1882].
Spent an afternoon with a spiritualist but did not learn anything.
Lectured on mental evolution in Newcastle.
Has conducted interesting research on locomotor systems of echinoderms.
Sends proofs of Encyclopaedia Britannica article on hybridism [9th ed., 12: 422–6]. Can CD mention authorities who should be cited?
Comments on hybridisation; cites authorities. Sends book by Wilhelm Olbers Focke [Die Pflanzen-Mischlinge (1881)].
Comments on GJR’s article on hybridisation.
Recommends his article ["Fertility and hybrids from the Chinese and common goose", Collected papers 2: 219–20].
Discusses crosses of Lythrum.
Thanks for copy of W. O. Focke [Die Pflanzen-Mischlinge (1881)].
Has nearly finished paper on locomotor system in echinoderms.
Returns book [W. O. Focke, Pflanzen-Mischlinge]. It was of great use.
Suggests experiment involving light stimulation of plants.
Discusses GJR’s idea of subjecting plants to brief flashes of light.
Hoped to see GJR in London, but was too tired.
Delighted his book Movement in plants has interested GJR.
Asks if GJR has example of dogs calling on each other to go hunting; there is a case half a mile away.
Has heard that Samuel Butler has abused him in his latest book, but he does not intend to look at it.
Glad CD thinks experiment worth trying [see 12904]. Has written to John Tyndall for permission to do it at Royal Institution.
Paper on echinoderms written [with J. C. Ewart, "Locomotor system of Echinodermata", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 172 (1881): 829–85].
John Tyndall has provided apparatus for experiment with light.
Frank [Darwin]’s paper a brilliant success [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18: 406–19, 420–55. Read 16 Dec].
Has got a monkey for observation.
Comments on papers by Francis Darwin.
Suggests methods for growing seedlings for experiments involving light.
Comments on GJR’s observations on monkey.
Describes difficulty of obtaining pigs for experiment.
Has read with interest GJR’s review [of Samuel Butler, Unconscious memory (1880)] in Nature [23 (1880–1): 285–7]. Heroic of GJR to call down [Butler’s] revenge on his own head. Ernst Krause’s letter [Nature 23 (1880–1): 288] very good.
As magistrate, CD must enforce rules regarding infection in pigs.
Thanks GJR for his second letter replying to Butler [Nature 23 (1880–1): 335–6].