Notes views of Hooker and George Bentham on monotypic forms.
Has tabulated several floras and finds that large genera show preponderance in numbers of varieties. Now sees his results are quite worthless.
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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.
Notes views of Hooker and George Bentham on monotypic forms.
Has tabulated several floras and finds that large genera show preponderance in numbers of varieties. Now sees his results are quite worthless.
C. P. Smyth’s observations on geology and natural history of Tenerife are not precise enough to warrant publication in Philosophical Transactions. Suggests CPS draw up an abstract, for the Proceedings, of specific points actually observed, rather than conclusions arrived at on insufficient grounds.
C. C. Babington agrees with JDH that botanists tend to note varieties more in large genera than in very small ones.
Four queries regarding the habits of bees and ants with answers by FS interlined between each query.
Asks whether correspondent can assist in determining value of slate slabs with relief figures executed for Josiah Wedgwood [I].
Heartened that tabulations of small and large genera done in different ways yield good results. JDH has done some tabulations but has not followed CD’s method of getting equal numbers of small and large genera.
In great want of two books, which he had borrowed previously: Boreau Flora du Centre de la France and A. E. Fürnrohr, Naturhistorische Topographie von Regensburg, Bd 2 Flora Ratisbonensis.
JDH’s "objection" that small local genera do not vary and mundane ones do, is exactly CD’s point. Local floras useful to test idea that varieties are incipient species. Same genus in different countries cannot be lumped.
Summary of JDH’s objections to CD’s survey of floras and conclusion that large genera vary more than small.
Thanks JDH for his objections; will respond by sending fair copy of MS when written.
Continued objections to methods and conclusions of CD’s survey.
Recommends Leonard Horner’s "Account of some recent researches near Cairo" for publication in Philosophical Transactions [R. Soc. Lond. 148 (1858): 53–9]. Believes all the details and sections should be published in full because of importance of investigations leading to the conclusion that man has existed in Egypt for over 13000 years.
Discusses the ranges of species in large and small genera; difficulties involved in limiting the discussion to Britain.
Returns the Greenland catalogue, which he has kept too long.
Expresses his strong opinion that Huxley’s paper ["Agamic reproduction and morphology of Aphis", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 22 (1858): 193–220, 221–36] should be published.
Writing section on large and small genera [for Natural selection, ch. 4].
Huxley supersedes Owen on parthenogenesis.
Buckle’s History of civilisation in England extremely interesting.
List of close species taken from AG’s Manual of botany [1848].
[Copy of some rough notes.] References about species. Variations within species.
Thanks LJ for his book [Observations in meteorology (1858)].
CD has been working on his species book [Natural selection].
Has become dreadfully heterodox on immutability of species.
His work on pigeons: variation under domestication throws the greatest light on variation in a state of nature.
Discusses the variation of species in large and small genera.
Thanks AG for his list of close species.
Laments the slow progress he makes with his book [Natural selection].