Comments on TMR’s essay ["Geological time"].
It is monstrous that P. G. Tait should say that earth is less than ten million years old.
Showing 1–16 of 16 items
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.
Comments on TMR’s essay ["Geological time"].
It is monstrous that P. G. Tait should say that earth is less than ten million years old.
CD is occupied with vegetable physiology.
Prefers to read MS when published.
Doubtful that great heat would favour development of lower organisms.
It is important that notion of "small antiquity" of the earth be upset.
Obliged for paper ["Oceans and continents" (1880)].
Agrees that John Murray’s view [of coral reefs] is far-fetched.
Comments on TMR’s "Oceanic islands" [Geol. Mag. 8 (1881): 75–7]. Fact that oceanic islands are all volcanic argues for view that no continent ever occupied the oceans. Chalk seemed best evidence of ocean having existed where continent now stands. CD leans to view that continents have occupied present positions since Cambrian.
"Roots often run down worm burrows, but can penetrate the ground without such aid."
Interested in TMR’s investigation of drift. Narrative 1: 545–6 contains catalogue of shells collected. Much struck by marine productions of Tierra del Fuego.
TMR’s address ["Geological time" (Presidential Address, 1876), Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35] not yet published. Will send copy.
TMR believes rate of limestone formation is same now as in past.
He expects his address [of 10 Oct 1876] on geological time [Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 3 (1878): 211–35], which contradicts William Thomson’s view of the earth’s age, to appear soon.
Sends his paper ["Oceans and continents", Geol. Mag. 7 (1880): 385–91].
Thinks John Murray of Edinburgh goes out of his way to deny an elevation/subsidence view of coral reefs ["On the structure and origin of coral reefs and islands", Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh 10 (1878–80): 505–18].
Recommends letters by William Topley in Geological Magazine. WT discusses past distribution of oceans and continents.
Argues against volcanic origin of coral islands and for the submergence of continents. Cites Judd’s argument on the volcanoes of the moon.
Praise for Earthworms.
Sends his paper ["Tidal action as a geological cause", Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc. 2 (1874): 50–72].
Has not yet studied CD’s list of South American molluscs.
Studying glacial drift in NW. England, he finds evidence of intense glacial activity, but the molluscan fauna does not appear to indicate a low sea temperature. Requests information on Tierra del Fuego molluscs for comparison.