Showing 41–60 of 74 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.
Requests advice about Chauncey Wright’s article on Mivart’s Genesis of species [North Am. Rev. 113 (1871): 64–103]. CD thinks of publishing it as a pamphlet to counter impact of Mivart’s criticism of natural selection.
CD is allowing his family to decide whether Chauncey Wright’s paper on Mivart is dull.
Health and despondency.
Doubts his ability to answer Mivart successfully [in 6th ed. of Origin].
On a "remarkable" letter from Fritz Müller [see 7820] about mimicry, protection, and sexual selection.
Opinions on Descent.
Sexual selection and mimicry in Lepidoptera; sexual selection as an aid to protective imitation.
CD most interested by Primitive culture [1871]. Impressed by EBT’s account of development of religious beliefs and of the survival of old customs. Hopes EBT will treat morals.
CD advises publishing a short version of Primitive culture [1871] for the general reader.
Would like to see EBT, but his health has been bad and conversation is extremely tiring.
Queries about the pitch of children’s crying.
On ARW’s "crushing" review [Nature 6 (1872): 237–9] of C. R. Bree’s An exposition of fallacies in the hypothesis of Mr Darwin.
Comments on other reviews and exchanges.
Detailed response to reading of Bastian’s Beginnings of life [1872]. On the whole, it seems probable to CD that spontaneous generation is true.
Huxley’s report of Bastian’s having watched the development of the scale of Sphagnum. The importance of studies of possible causes of heterogenesis.
Remarks about an enclosed specimen,
and extract of letter from W. A. L. Marshall [8560].
ARW’s good review of J. C. Houzeau de Lehaie [Études sur les facultés mentales des animaux, in Nature 6 (1872): 469–71].
Requests the address of F. F. Geach so that he may send him his book [Expression].
Response to ARW’s criticisms in his review [of Expression, Q. J. Sci. n.s. 3 (1873): 113–18].
Comments on SB’s book [The fair haven (1873)]. CD is struck by SB’s dramatic power – thinks he could write "a really good novel". Surprised at strength of case SB makes that Jesus did not die on the cross. SB’s identity will soon be universally known: Leslie Stephen knows he is the author.
Seedling vigour resulting from crossing of parents.
CD to publish work on insectivorous plants.
Further discussion of ARW’s help on new [2d] edition of Descent.
The case of the bees interests CD. He does not doubt that because of the size of their jaws humble-bees will be found all over the world to be the biters and hive-bees to profit from their work.
Thinks he has heard of land shells descending in the manner described by RS.
Thanks for two pamphlets.
Sends Thomas Belt’s [The naturalist in Nicaragua (1874)], "the best Nat. Hist. book of travels ever published".
Has sent FM’s letter on termites to Nature ["Habits of various insects", Nature 10 (1874): 102–3].
Would be interested in observations on the stingless bees of Brazil.
Sends MS intended some day for the Viola tricolor section of Cross and self-fertilisation [pp. 123–8] to be used by JL in his British wild flowers (1875).