Sends "worm journal" – observations of earthworm activity at Abinger.
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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.
Sends "worm journal" – observations of earthworm activity at Abinger.
Thanks for Forms of flowers.
Sexual selection, he thinks, must be left to others to settle. "Conscious" will be substituted for "voluntary" selection. Sound- and scent-producing organs attributed to "natural", not "conscious", selection.
Report of child with tail and man with four nipples.
Sends two papers on Roman ruins at Cirencester, which he asks CD to return.
Worm observations.
An example of inheritance confined to one sex.
In Descent [1: 12] CD discusses intoxication among animals. South African elephants reportedly eat a plant that makes them wild.
Cites another example of inheritance of maternal impressions.
Thinks most monkeys would become habituated to alcohol if they could get it.
Has reread copy of Fritz Müller’s letter that CD sent some time ago and would like to publish the entomological observations in it.
Sends a list of errata in Forms of flowers.
Pleased with CD’s interest in temperance. Can he quote CD? Sorry the elephant story is a myth. It fits his argument for temperance: a passion for alcohol is natural [primitive]. Only the morally developed can resist. Moral development will take a long time. Thus education cannot cure alcoholism now. Thus public sale of alcohol must be outlawed. Although he is a follower of J. S. Mill and Herbert Spencer he has been forced to this conclusion.
Criticises passages of Insectivorous plants. Suggests plants be weighed before and after feeding to prove they have gained nourishment.
Describes data relating to variability of Primula elatior.
Count Schouvaloff asserts that CD’s works are prohibited in Russia. Is he not mistaken?
Encloses Fritz Müller’s letter.
Is exhibiting butterflies in which variations in the female show a finely graded series. Believes dimorphism can be explained by the selection of the extremes of such a series and the consequent extinction of the intermediates.
Offers to send MS of part of his new book [Life and habit] which gently pokes fun at CD. His book will offer an alternative to Pangenesis.
Has received CD’s book [Forms of flowers]; thanks him for the compliment of the dedication.
Has noticed citation of his observations in CD’s latest books; writes to add some notes on fertilisation and forms of flowers.
Thanks CD for his kind letter on her engagement to his son William.