Search: letter in document-type 
1870-1879 in date 
Allen, Grant in correspondent 
Sorted by:

Showing 18 of 8 items

From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
13 Mar [1878]
Source of text:
DAR 159: 41
Summary:

Sends MS of his paper, "On the coloration of flowers and fruits", filling a gap in CD’s theory relating to these structures, and asks for CD’s comments.

Plans a book on colour sense.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
thumbnail
From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
19 Mar [1878]
Source of text:
DAR 159: 42
Summary:

Thanks for comments on paper and references to related works. Clarifies points on colour distinction between energy-absorbing (green) and energy-expending (bright-hued) portions of plants and on the influence of flower colour in modifying the insect organism.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
thumbnail
From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
12 Feb 1879
Source of text:
DAR 159: 43
Summary:

Has sent copy of his new book, Colour-sense [1879]; in anticipation of criticism, he justifies his reliance on recorded observations rather than experiments, by the heavy demands of his career as a journalist.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
thumbnail
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
Date:
[before 21 Feb 1879]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:

Read GA’s book [The colour-sense] with "great interest". Makes criticisms and suggestions.

Cannot believe in GA’s theory of the origin of pleasure and pain.

Is glad he defends sexual selection;

CD finds A. R. Wallace’s explanations "mere empty words" and for many years he has "quite doubted [ARW’s] scientific judgment".

Considers the possible effect of environmental colour on the colour tastes of animals.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
21 Feb [1879]
Source of text:
DAR 159: 44
Summary:

Thanks for criticisms of Colour-sense.

Clarifies his views that actions desirable for species result in development of nervous organs capable of pleasurable stimulation.

Believes that all "tastes" occurring in nature are explicable with reference to ancestral habits and that none is purely arbitrary.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
thumbnail
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
Date:
2 [May] 1879
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.)
Summary:

Has just read GA’s article in Fortnightly Review ["A problem of human evolution", 31 (1879): 778–86]. GA’s views very probable. Something wonderful to hear anyone defending sexual selection.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
Date:
26 May [1879]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:

Has GA seen an article on GA’s Colour-sense by a great man, J. R. L. Delboeuf, in Revue Scientifique 24 May 1879? It has pleased CD greatly.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Grant Blairfindie (Grant) Allen
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
29 May 1879
Source of text:
DAR 159: 45
Summary:

Thanks for postcard informing him of Delboeuf’s review of his book; he had already seen review.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
thumbnail