Discusses WED’s observations on polymorphic flowers.
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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 WED’s observations on polymorphic flowers.
CD finishing Lythrum paper [Collected papers 2: 106–31].
Pleased at Bates’s appointment
and Wallace’s paper.
Urges WDF to send trap he has invented to the exhibition and competition of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Advertisement of Brailsford’s Patent Vermin Trap enclosed.
Thanks for communicating Oncidium sterility paper [see 4485] to Linnean Society.
Surprised that CD’s seedlings of non-dimorphic cowslip breed true.
Surprised also that the red primrose he sent reverts to wild form. He had reasoned from red’s infertility with yellow that it was an established variety. Tries to correlate inheritance of colour and sterility between varieties.
CD says Meneanthes is now in flower.
Glad to hear CD well again.
Will send Lythrum hyssopifolium flowers from Botanic Garden if they are in bloom; does not know where to find wild specimen, but thinks they are same as garden type.
Is finishing his course of lectures, which was attended by 35–45 people.
Sends Pulmonaria anthers, with measurements of styles and pollen counts.
JDH suggests Scott go to India; he will write letters of introduction.
Conversation with Herbert Spencer.
George Bentham would like to know how CD’s view of hybridism diverges from Charles Naudin’s.
Sends specimens of Menyanthes with observations and drawings [see Forms of flowers, p. 115].
Sends dandelion [enclosed] with peculiar form of achene; suggests this solitary "sport" must have arisen by sudden jump from normal type.
Clarifies his letter of 18 May [4500].
Taeas [?] allied to L. hyssopifolia. [Cover containing packets of seed specimens.] Mentioned in the letter to H. C. Watson, 28 May [1864], f.2 (fS 4512).
Corrects his former account of cowslips.
The delay in the publication of JS’s Primula paper.
Delights in JS’s experimentation on Verbascum which confirms [C. F.] Gärtner’s statements.
Should be pleased if JS would accept offer of help.
CCB thought CD wanted live specimens, but now will send some dried ones from his herbarium.
Encloses an extract from a letter received from [J. D.] Hooker which suggests a job opportunity in India. Advises careful reflection about the risks and the need for a character recommendation. Would like to support the costs of the voyage and initial living expenses.
CD’s pleasure at JDH’s willingness to help Scott find a position in India.
Naudin underrates contamination of his experiments by insects. Thus CD doubts Naudin’s results on rapidity and universality of reversion in hybrids.
Wallace’s paper on man [see 4494] reflects his genius, although CD does not fully agree with it.
Encloses drawings of Menyanthes and Pulmonaria anthers.
Sends plant and directions to his home so that CD’s gardener may call for another plant.
Response to ARW’s papers on Papilionidae ["On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 1–71; abstract in Reader 3 (1864): 491–3],
and man ["The origin of human races", J. Anthropol. Soc. Lond. 2 (1864): clviii–clxxxvi].
The former is "really admirable" and will be influential.
The idea of the man paper is striking and new. Minor points of difference. Conjectures regarding racial differences; the possible correlation between complexion and constitution. His Query to Army surgeons to determine this point. Offers ARW his notes on man, which CD doubts he will be able to use.
On sexual selection in "our aristocracy"; primogeniture is a scheme for destroying natural selection.
[Letter incorrectly dated March by CD.]
Is slowly writing Lythrum paper [Collected papers 2: 106–31].
Thanks for [Charles?] Wright’s observations on orchids
– could he note what attracts insects to Begonia and Melastoma? H. Crüger, who was going to observe Melastomataceae, has died.
Describes the climbing habits of Bignonia capreolata and Eccremocarpus scaber.
How does AG know the perfect flowers of Voandzeia are quite sterile?
He has a case of dimorphism in holly; asks AG to report on American hollies.