Showing 1–13 of 13 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.
Believes JDF’s discoveries in the structure of glacier ice will explain the structure of many volcanic masses. Will JDF’s views throw any light on the primary laminated rocks?
Discusses HD’s information that same species of birds at remote stations have identical parasites. Urges him to investigate N. American land-bird parasites.
Is deeply interested in everything connected with geographical distribution, and the differences between species and varieties.
Sends notes on Infusoria for Ehrenberg.
Comments on distribution of species in natural orders that have local distributions. Intermediate forms between species of Lycopodium.
Origin of Antarctic brash ice.
Further on case of Lycopodium: does JDH know any genera of plants whose species are variable in one continent but not in another? Discussion on variations between floras as regards species richness, and factors affecting geographical distribution. On species, CD expects "that I shall be able to show even to sound naturalists that there are two sides to the question of the immutability of species; – that facts can be viewed and grouped under the notion of allied species having descended from common stocks". Mentions books and papers for and against species mutability. CD believes past absurd ideas arose from no one’s having approached subject on side of variation under domestication.
Would like to see Clarke’s paper
and would welcome visit from JDH.
Mexican specimen of laminated obsidian.
Comments on Forbes’s publication comparing lava streams and glaciers. Mentions ice-action theories of a young German.
Differences in variability of species within a single genus. Further observations on Lycopodium.
Interested in Humboldt’s river with different floras on opposite banks, and other unexplained cases of very local distributions.
Would like JDH to visit. Regrets he will not be fit to visit JDH.
Considers the transmutation of corn is well worth investigation ‘even if it should prove to be only a history of error’.
On checks to increase of species and the observations which led him to regard species as mutable in form. Would welcome "at some future time" LJ’s criticism of the "sketch" of his conclusions.
Thanks for procuring cuttings of weeping yew.
Sends thanks for money.
Comments on treatment prescribed by his father.
Encloses notes by John Higgins with investment advice. Discusses advisability of investing in farmland in Lincolnshire. Cites advice of Sir John Lubbock concerning purchase of land.
Mentions his Plutonic view of earth history.
Cites Lyell’s opinions on loess.
CD doubts contemporaneousness of extinct great animals with ice period.
Cites applicability of Forbes’s theory of glacier structure to structure of volcanic obsidian.
CD is falling astern in the geological race for knowledge.
Would like to visit on the weekend of 7–8 December.
Differences in floras of St Helena and Ascension.
