Thanks for notes on worm-castings. Amount of ammonia surprises CD. David Forbes asserts that published analysis of carbon in vegetable matter valueless. Suspects that worms search for food and do not blindly swallow earth.
Showing 1–20 of 58 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.
Thanks for notes on worm-castings. Amount of ammonia surprises CD. David Forbes asserts that published analysis of carbon in vegetable matter valueless. Suspects that worms search for food and do not blindly swallow earth.
Sends sentences from Hermann von Helmholtz about difference between minor and major chords.
Thanks GHD for extracts, but says the subject of music is beyond him.
Suggests that GHD deliberate over one or two sentences of his paper on dress ["Developments in dress", Macmillan’s Mag. 22 (1872): 410–16].
Refers to prospective marriage of Amy [Ruck and CD’s son Francis].
Having sent CD his two essays outlining his theory on "A secular transposition of oceans" [see 7368], JHS now forwards to CD a book he believes establishes his theory as an "eternal law of nature" [Die neue Theorie periodische säkularer Schwankungen des Seespiegels [periodischer!?] (1872)].
Glad Mrs Darwin likes his preface, but fears she will not like his tone on religion.
CD has been elected Honorary Member of Società Italiana di Antropologia e di Etnologia.
Cranial measurements connect man and apes.
He has shown differences between male and female skulls that bear on sexual selection.
Comments on HM’s paper ["Anwendung der Darwin’schen Lehre auf Bienen", Verh. Naturhist. Ver. preuss. Rheinland 29 (1872): 1–96];
sexual selection in bees.
Encloses account on habits of Bombus.
Thanks CD for MS on the routes of male bees.
His "Fertilisation of flowers" is complete [Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)].
"Be so good as to send me Unsere Zeit with Julius Frauenstädt’s article ["Darwin’s Auffassung des geistigen und sittlichen Lebens des Menschen" n.s. 8 (May 1872), 597–605]. I am much obliged for the information."
Comments on CL’s Principles of geology, 11th ed.
Discusses natural selection in man.
Wants CD’s support for his application for post of Assistant Keeper in Zoological Department of British Museum.
Death of G. R. Gray.
Encloses a testimonial for AG [in support of his application for a promotion at British Museum].
Does he agree with Carl Gegenbaur’s paper on the limbs of fish [Jenaische Z. Naturwiss. 5 (1870): 397–447]?
Asks what caused G. R. Gray’s sudden death.
The die is cast on Ayrton affair. Lord Derby has called for all of the correspondence, as a result of pressure by men of science on JDH’s behalf.
Has just had a Greenland collection, which supports his views altogether; "I am ready to do fight for these with you."
His chapter on machines in Erewhon has been misunderstood as laughing at the Origin. He was only trying to show how an absurd proposition can be defended with a little ingenuity, distortion, and departure from strict scientific method. Will explain in a second edition, if one is called for.
Has found the skull of the horned cock.
With regard to CD’s suggestion about the possibility of producing a pigeon breed with differently coloured sexes, WBT reports the results of crossing blue and silver dragons; the silver offspring are almost always hens.
Would like the latest edition of the Origin.
Encloses notes on volume one [of Descent].
Encloses a photograph showing the bleaching effect of the sun’s rays on dun feathers in pigeons.
Thanks for CD’s testimonial.
Is the horned toad of Oregon a batrachian or a lizard?
Hopes AG will be promoted in the British Museum.
Will FD try to persuade A. D. Bartlett to show a live snake to a porcupine and observe whether the porcupine rattles the quills on its tail? [See 8333.]
Thanks for information on sexual colours in pigeons.
Will send latest edition of Origin.
More on Ayrton affair. Conduct of Gladstone and the Ministry despicable. They have owned him to be in right but will not raise a finger until exposure in Parliament is imminent.