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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.
Questions on marmosets and the vocal organs of Hylobates.
Sends Ernst Haeckel’s [Generelle] Morphologie [1866] and C. K. Sprengel’s book [Entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur (1793)].
A. Gaudry and L. Rütimeyer have declared in favour of CD’s views.
Criticism of ARW for too little esteem of the role of sexual selection as agent in giving colour.
Response to other topics.
Cannot judge GWC’s fitness for the Botanical Chair at Oxford. But CD appreciates his work, particularly that on spontaneous generation [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 13 (1863–4): 313; 14 (1865): 178].
Encloses a testimonial for GWC [see 6162]. Feels himself poorly qualified to give a testimonial for a botanist and apologises for his brevity.
Asks about the ratio of male to female Lepidoptera.
Thanks JJW for his great assistance.
Discusses sexual selection in birds.
Sends queries on secondary sexual characteristics of birds.
Has often marvelled at the different growth of the flowering and creeping branches of ivy.
AG’s review of Variation [Nation 6 (1868): 234–6] very good.
CD’s fondness for Pangenesis; although an "infant cherished by few", CD expects it to have a long life.
Returns volumes of the Ibis.
Requests T. C. Jerdon’s Birds of India
and Thomas Bell’s British reptiles
as well as vols. 5 & 6 of Ibis.
WDF’s letter gives CD the kind of facts he wants. His story about peacocks is so good that CD will quote it [Descent 2: 46].
Pleased WDF approves of his book [Variation]
– "beloved Pangenesis disagrees badly with many".
GHKT should not take more trouble about human expression. Discusses contraction of orbicular muscles in elephants.
Asks about colour of first plumage of breeds of Ceylon fowls in which hens alone are coloured.
Thanks THF for correcting the error in Orchids.
Asks him to find out what insects visit the fly orchid and for what purpose.
Inquires about the colour of first plumage of poultry breeds and development of distinguishing features.
Encloses grass from locust dung sent from Natal. Asks for name of grass.
Thanks for information on sex ratios of Lepidoptera.
Agrees that entomologists have best means of proving derivation of species.
Lists specimens he wants from Mr Janson, emphasising that he always wants male and female.
He extends an invitation for a Sunday in early June.
JDH too severe on Duke of Argyll.
Pities JDH on [BAAS] address [see 6099]; Huxley feels JDH will do well and will not pity him.
Thinks Huxley will give an excellent and original lecture on geographical distribution of birds.
Has been working hard on sexual selection and correspondence about it.
Mignonette is sterile with its own pollen but any two distinct plants are fertile together. It is utterly mysterious and not even Pangenesis will explain it.
On Lyell’s book [Principles, 10th ed.].
Wallace’s wonderful cleverness, but he is not cautious enough. CD differs from Wallace on birds’ nests and protection.
A. Murray’s miserable criticism of Wallace [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 137–45].
Comments on DP’s paper on man ["Transmutation of man according to the Darwinian theory" (n.d.)].
Inquires about plumage of poultry breeds.
Thanks for note about enlarged left arm of Gelasimus.