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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.
Reports cases from his family of inheritance of turning in sleep, sleep-walking at full moon, and eyes giving out red light at early age.
Discusses hereditary character of hypermetropia. Notes views of F. C. Donders on the subject.
Reports that the ability to move ears is common among the Sioux.
Offers to experiment on the digestibility of chondrin and chlorophyll by Dionaea for CD.
Has noticed that painters depicting complex expressions give different expressions to the two sides of the face.
Announces that CD has been elected Corresponding Member of the Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft.
Informs CD of the effects of certain salts and other chemicals on animals.
Comments on CD’s results with Drosera. Suggests some experiments.
A hasty answer to CD’s letter [8987] of 25 July. Mentions Dr Osler’s observations on behaviour of colourless blood corpuscles in solutions of sodium and potassium salts of same strength.
Answers CD’s questions of 25 July [8987] about temperatures at which cold-blooded animals are killed.
Doubts heat rigor was induced in Drosera. Gives his view of the relation of excitability to increase in temperature.
Suggests experiment to show that electrical changes in plant are the same as in animal muscle and nerve [see Insectivorous plants, p. 318].
On ocelli and relation to sexual selection;
instance of rejection of male by female butterfly.
Reports an incident of his "hereditary" habit of dozing, head in hand, such that he scratches his nose.
Thanks CD for his kind letter about The fair haven [1873]. Encouraged by its reception. All he wants is to compel "an attitude of fixed attention in the place of cowardly shrinking from examination". Says he will try "a novel pure and simple with little ""purpose"" next".
At Asa Gray’s request, responds to CD’s questions about WMC’s observations on Dionaea and particularly about the size of the insects captured and the excitability of the leaves after an insect is captured.
Sends leaves of Dionaea with insect prey in them. Size of insects captured may be affected by leaves not being fully grown.
Thanks for Expression, which has made him wonder whether his shyness in public until the age of 55 resulted from fear of subjecting his face to ridicule.
Criticises F. Galton’s Hereditary genius [1869] for neglecting environmental influence.
On a correction JVC thinks should be made in Variation on vertebrae of ducks.
A new [German] edition of Expression is to be done. Has CD anything to add or alter?
JVC cites an article on cessation of breathing during mental concentration that supports Gratiolet as quoted in Expression, p. 179.
Publisher [Schweizerbart] has seen CD’s new book advertised [Cross and self-fertilisation] and wishes to publish a German translation of it.
JVC’s travel plans in England. Hopes to visit CD.
Sends CD a copy of his book [Die Urgeschichte der Menschheit, 2 vols. (1873)].
In Germany CD’s views have achieved great recognition among naturalists, but in other disciplines there is great controversy. OC’s book seeks to resolve the controversy by showing how state, morals, religion, and church have developed from natural beginnings.
Gives some observations on ponies’ becoming white in winter;
on skin pigmentation and the effects of heat;
on the bristling of the hair in man.
