Showing 21–40 of 75 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.
Answers CD’s queries on difference in size of male and female Scottish deerhounds; female preference for larger males; details about ratio of sexes born. Quotes from letter of Archibald McNeill on difference in size of male and female Scotch deerhounds.
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.
Sends proofs of his fish paper.
Will observe modification of colour in fish.
Is studying the development of the axolotl.
Encloses notes in reply to CD’s queries on fishes.
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".
Asks CD’s permission to translate Variation into Italian [translation not published until 1876].
Has often thought CD would find vast material for his ideas in study of entomology and Lepidoptera. His price-list of specimens proves only that collectors of Lepidoptera catch more males than females, not that there are more. He accounts for this by the less active habits of the females. [See Descent 1: 312.]
On false claims that female cattle can be produced at will.
Asks function of several twisted parts (stem, petals, germen) in hardy orchids. His reading of Orchids makes him suspect that the parts are connected with fertilisation.
Raises a question about a statement in Orchids; his observations differ.
Has passed on copy of Variation to American Academy [of Arts and Sciences]. The U. S. reprint is not very nicely printed.
Replies to CD’s queries regarding sexual differences in gibbons’ voices, chameleon behaviour, and the occurrence of spurs in pheasants and peahens. Discusses sexual differences in structure and habit within certain bird species.
Answers CD’s question on whether any female birds regularly sing.
Sends graft-hybrid notice.
Is confirmed about the bending of the fly orchid pollinia. [See "Fertilisation of orchids", Collected papers 2: 141.]
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.
Going to the Gold Coast. Will collect plants for Kew.
Offers his services. Particularly interested in making inquiries for CD about the human race.
Regrets he cannot get to Down.
Inquires about the colour of first plumage of poultry breeds and development of distinguishing features.
Trip with Huxley was perfect.
At Torquay later he had a lecture on "Kent’s hole" from Joseph Pengelly.
George Bentham acknowledges himself unreservedly a convert to Darwinism. Many will still cling to a "rag of protection, but will eventually haul it down".
A. Murray’s later parts better than first [? Geographical distribution of mammals (1866)].
Wallace’s paper shows great ability.
Disgusted with [Duke of Argyll’s] Reign of law.
His depression and exhaustion.
