Agrees to have his name on the list of naturalists to whom annual report [on zoological station] should be sent.
His health has been very bad for last six weeks.
Showing 21–39 of 39 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.
Agrees to have his name on the list of naturalists to whom annual report [on zoological station] should be sent.
His health has been very bad for last six weeks.
Thanks AD for his article in Das Ausland ["Englische Kritiker und Anti-Kritiker über den Darwinismus", 49 (1871): 1153–7].
Mivart’s book [Genesis of species], which misinterprets CD’s views, has produced a great effect in England.
He has answered the point about incipient structures being useless in new [6th] edition of Origin.
His Descent has had immense circulation, but has met with approval of hardly any naturalists. He supposes it was a mistake to publish it, but it will pave way for a better work.
AD is sorry CD thinks publication of Descent a mistake. The excitement shows it was necessary for someone to speak plainly.
His great difficulties (Italian indolence, dishonesty, hatred) in establishing zoological station. Can at last start construction.
Has reported on the Naples Zoological Station to BAAS meeting at Brighton. Hopes to open it in January. Is at work building up the library by contributions from publishers and naturalists.
Deplores Wallace’s "drifting away" and his association with such men as H. C. Bastian.
Disbelieves in ascidians as our ancestors. Has a substitute he is sure will please CD.
Rejoices at success [of Naples Zoological Station]. Will send complete set of his books to the library.
If AD is interested, he will send a copy of Expression when it comes out.
Invites AD to visit Down.
Will call on CD next year, when he will have worked out the embryology of Amphioxus; he believes it is not primitive but a degenerate form of fish. He believes the true ancestors of vertebrates are annelids.
Is amazed at Expression. Like CD’s former works, it contains the material and principles of a new science.
The Zoological Station is making good progress – now has a fine building. Hopes for a stable income from contributions of various governments.
The Naples Zoological Station and its library are growing fast. His life is a constant battle with the municipality, but has managed to make a little progress on vertebrate ancestry and morphology. His views get further away from what is generally accepted.
Thanks AD for kind review of Expression. AD’s remarks on necessity of tracing development of functions are novel and valuable.
News of Naples Zoological Station developments.
His remarks on physiology in the Academy were aimed at Prof. Ludwig and his school.
The usual "exact" methods in experimental physiology want only a little pushing to put an end to superstition.
Recounts how he had worked out the explanation of Rhizocephala morphology via the Anelasma – an example of both the power of inheritance and the power of genealogical investigation. R. Kossman’s work has now confirmed AD’s explanation.
Birthday greetings.
Thanks for birthday greetings.
Comments on work at Naples Zoological Station. F. M. Balfour to visit Naples. Would like to send third son [Francis Darwin] to learn art of observing marine animals.
Health indifferent.
CD is grieved to hear that AD is overworked and troubled about the Zoological Station. Glad he is now writing to seek assistance from English naturalists. Sends a subscription of £100 and £10 each from George and Francis Darwin.
His gratitude for CD’s gift. An account of his difficulties with the Zoological Station and his health.
F. M. Balfour has told him that CD would like to see the question of complemental males in cirripedes studied again. AD would like to enter the field and to study the whole morphological development of cirripedes.
Describes the interest in embryological work in Russia and Germany.
THH sends to AD a draft, prepared by himself and CD, of a statement for a subscription fund to assist AD’s Naples Zoological Station.
Has written to J. Murray to have account of the Zoological Station inserted in the Murray guidebook.
The circular about the Station has been printed; some have already signed.
Received R. Kossman’s paper on Anelasma ["Untersuchungen über die durch Parasitismus hervorgerufenen Umbildungen in der Familie der Pedunculata", Verh. Phys.-med. Ges. Würz. N. F. 5 (1874): 129–57]. The case is the most interesting ever recorded of gradation, i.e., from an animal with a stomach to one with roots like a plant.
Delighted he will examine the complemental males of Scalpellum.
Thanks to CD’s help Zoological Station has passed a crisis and is now flourishing.
Is writing pamphlet on "the origin of vertebrates and the principle of succession of functions" [see 9991 and 10003]. It is likely CD will not be pleased with it, but he thinks he must now, after seven years, bring it out. Seeks to open the way for a new series of theoretical questions.
The Zoological Station has already resulted in "capital work" by F. M. Balfour and Ray Lankester. G. J. Romanes is coming next year.
CD will be interested in AD’s ancestry of vertebrates. "I shall be very sorry to give up the ascidians."
Thanks AD for his Ursprung [der Wirbelthiere (1875)], which astonished CD. AD’s views, if accepted by competent authorities, will show how much we have to learn about the history of every animal. Suggests caution on "degradation principle". Comments on other views in the work. Has long seen importance of the principle of "Functionswechsel" [transfer [change!?] of function], but never enunciated it as a distinct principle.