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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 Ernst Haeckel’s [Generelle] Morphologie [1866] and C. K. Sprengel’s book [Entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur (1793)].
A. Gaudry and L. Rütimeyer have declared in favour of CD’s views.
Has read Variation;
is preparing a monograph on Scotch deerhounds. Offers CD information on size of male and female deerhounds.
Might not the effect of human mother’s imagination on "character of offspring" support Pangenesis?
Measurements of the Bornean ape (Macacus inornatus, Gray). [See Descent 1: 151.]
Answers CD’s objection [see 6121 and 6146] about sexual differences and protective colouring. Summarises his theory of colour in nature.
BDW believes the coloration of species [of Anthocaris] provides a case of sexual selection.
The state of entomology in the U. S.; Darwinism now a common creed, especially among entomologists.
Reports another case of syndactylism.
Requests CD testimonial for Sherardian Professorship of Botany.
Proportion of sexes in ruffs [see Descent 1: 306].
Colour display in linnets, songbirds. Courtship display of Australian pigeon at zoo.
Replies to CD’s query on expression of emotions.
Criticism of ARW for too little esteem of the role of sexual selection as agent in giving colour.
Response to other topics.
Cannot judge GWC’s fitness for the Botanical Chair at Oxford. But CD appreciates his work, particularly that on spontaneous generation [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 13 (1863–4): 313; 14 (1865): 178].
Encloses a testimonial for GWC [see 6162]. Feels himself poorly qualified to give a testimonial for a botanist and apologises for his brevity.
Asks about the ratio of male to female Lepidoptera.
Thanks CD for testimonial.
Thanks JJW for his great assistance.
Discusses sexual selection in birds.
Sends queries on secondary sexual characteristics of birds.
Has often marvelled at the different growth of the flowering and creeping branches of ivy.
AG’s review of Variation [Nation 6 (1868): 234–6] very good.
CD’s fondness for Pangenesis; although an "infant cherished by few", CD expects it to have a long life.
Sends his notes on Florent Prévost’s reference to the habits of the cuckoo.
Answers CD’s queries on difference in size of male and female Scottish deerhounds; female preference for larger males; details about ratio of sexes born. Quotes from letter of Archibald McNeill on difference in size of male and female Scotch deerhounds.
Sends replies on dogs – sexual differences and preferences.
Sends some questions on secondary sexual differences of fishes [missing], which he hopes AG will look over.
Invites AG to come to Down.
Encloses queries on sexual differences and nest-building habits of fish.