From:
Hewett Cottrell Watson
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
3 Jan 1858
Source of text:
DAR 98: A19–20
Summary:
Discusses the ranges and distribution of varieties relative to the type species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Blyth
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[8 Jan 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 98: A144–5
Summary:
Zebra-striped asses.
Markings of a Bengal jungle cock.
Refers to some of his own articles on birds in India.
Reports the arrival of the "glorious garrison of Lucknow". The "wonderful superiority of the European to the Asiatic" made the success of the insurrection inconceivable.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
John Brodie Innes
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
9 Jan [1858-9]
Source of text:
DAR 205.2: 242
Summary:
Sends record of pigeon flight from London to Antwerp. [Lord W. Lennox, Merrie England (1857), p. 185.]
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
12 Jan [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 220
Summary:
On papilionaceous flowers and CD’s theory that there are no eternal hermaphrodites. Connects this theory to absence of small-flowered legumes in New Zealand and the absence of small bees as pollinators.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
15 Jan [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 221
Summary:
CD has never doubted probability of Bering Strait land connection.
Family illness.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
15 Jan 1858
Source of text:
DAR 100: 120–1; L. Huxley ed. 1918, 1: 453
Summary:
Has gone over to CD’s side on the fertilisation of clover in New Zealand by bees.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Stevens Henslow
Date:
25 Jan [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 93: A50–1
Summary:
Mrs Henslow’s death stirs reminiscences of happier days.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
4 [Feb 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 219
Summary:
Returns books by Candolle and Robert Brown.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
9 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 223
Summary:
Six volumes of Candolle’s Prodromus confirm rule that small genera vary less than large. Labiatae an exception to rule.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Robert Waterhouse
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
10 Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 181: 22
Summary:
Bees’ cells. Observations on Osmia atricapilla.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Balfour Baikie
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
11 Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 205.3: 260
Summary:
Describes some species of fauna peculiar to Fernando Po. The ocean currents make it unlikely that animals have been floated to the little islands [off the west coast of Africa].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Erasmus Darwin
Date:
11 [Feb 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 210.6: 22
Summary:
Writes of domestic matters
and asks WED to observe cart-horses for traces of dark stripes on spine and cross-stripes on shoulder.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Robert Waterhouse
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
13 Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 181: 23
Summary:
GRW’s observations of and ideas on bees’ and wasps’ cells.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[17 Feb 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 222
Summary:
General success of survey makes CD very concerned about sources of error. Wants to meet JDH for an important talk about big genera. Arranges meeting.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Cardale Babington
Date:
22 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
Cambridge University Library (MS Add.8182: 20)
Summary:
CD and J. D. Hooker have differed on the following question and agreed to ask several botanists: would a good botanist describing a local flora record varieties as readily in large as in small genera?
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Blyth
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22 Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 160: 202
Summary:
Gives some observations on birds; has forwarded a box of specimens.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
23 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 224
Summary:
Fertilisation of clover by bees in New Zealand.
Uneasy about biggest genera and their varieties.
H. T. Buckle’s sophistry [History of civilisation in England (1857)].
Working on bees’ cells.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hewett Cottrell Watson
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
23 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 98: A21–2
Summary:
Believes that botanists tend to mark more varieties in large than in small genera, but notes that where many varieties of a species exist these varieties may well be passed over, whereas similar varieties of another species which are fewer in number may well be recorded.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[25] Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 100: 115a–d
Summary:
Botanical practice can confuse CD’s compilations. Many small genera would have been species had the whole natural order [family] been known.
JDH’s low opinion of Buckle;
high opinion of Mrs Farrer.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Frederick Smith
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
26 Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 177: 191 (fragile)
Summary:
Identifies an ant described by CD and discusses the predatory habits of Formica sanguinea.
Describes some wasps’ nests.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project