Acknowledges copy of Insectivorous plants; has observed Drosera filiformis leaves closing around prey.
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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.
Acknowledges copy of Insectivorous plants; has observed Drosera filiformis leaves closing around prey.
Hopes printing of Variation [2d ed.] is going satisfactorily.
Climbing plants [2d ed.] is finished.
Canestrini still owes £10 from 1869 for electros of 1st edition [of Variation].
RC has urged Clowes on with printing of Variation [2d ed.],
but with Climbing plants [2d ed.] ready, it need not be done before the annual sale.
Asks CD’s opinion on whether there is a fundamental difference between the "primitive forms" of animals and plants. Mentions and rejects various views of major distinguishing characteristics.
Has secured rights to Variation from Judd & Co.; had to pay $350 [dollars or pounds!?] for old plates and promise 50% discount on 150 copies of the new edition. Hopes Murray’s charge for plates of new edition will not exceed cost of doing the work in the U. S. Judd lost out considerably from small sale of his edition.
Wishes CD to present RLT’s paper on insectivorous plants to the Royal Society.
Sends an article for CD’s opinion.
Has finished an account of the globes for the Philosophical Magazine ["On maps of the world", 50 (1875): 431–44].
His poor health has interfered with his pitch experiments.
Charge for 500 sets of the heliotype illustrations of Expression is £37 10s 6d.
Sends CD his answers to W. D. Whitney’s articles. Sees man as separated from other animals by the possession of language. There is no scientific evidence for even the slightest attempt at language in the higher animals, which cannot, therefore, be reasonably regarded as "stunted man". [See "In self-defence", Chips from a German workshop 4 (1875): 473–549.]
JDH shares CD’s annoyance with R. L. Tait.
Has identified awned carpels for CD.
Sports of Paritium.
Suggests extending Francis’ experiments with glycerine on twisted seeds, to Mimosa.
PS concerning Imantophyllum.
Sent a copy of Orchis book to Gentry. Mentions Morley’s article on Diderot. Asks for another copy of the new edition of Descent.
Reports observations of T. C. Renshaw on how some flowers of the Tritoma catch bees and other insects. Thinks it may be a contrivance against unbidden visitors, as insects caught are not consumed.
Wants CD to contribute to a new magazine to promote theism.
Gives directions for growing plants he has sent and corrects CD’s taxonomy.
It has been empirically established at Kew that insular plants tend to be heteromorphic, plants with entire leaves tending to produce divided leaves.
Sends a copy of Climbing plants [2d ed.]. Price cannot be higher than 6s.
Variation [2d ed.] price will be 18s, if CD approves. Future reprints will not be costly, since both have been stereotyped.
Comments on Hermann Müller’s article on the structure of Gunnera flowers.
Thanks CD for consenting to present his paper.
Asks whether he may send two or three other tubes [of boiled infusions] to be placed in the open and observed for him.