Ɛpsilon

To T. H. Farrer   21 June [1871]1

Down, | Beckenham, Kent.

June 21

My dear Mr Farrer

Many thanks. I shd. be an ungrateful dog if I were tired of Orchids, as I owe to them much enjoyment. Nevertheless I confess to an intense hatred for the Bee, Orchid for its anomalous perpetual self-fertilisation.—2

I was aware of wild Ducks sometimes breeding in Trees, as do some other species; but was not at all aware that it was due to compulsion.—3

I have not been well of late, & we are going for a week to London for chance of its doing me good.—4 A little later in summer, I hope that you will able to run down here for a day or two, & I will write again for the chance—5

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from T. H. Farrer, 19 June 1871.
2
CD refers to Ophrys apifera, the bee orchid. See letter from T. H. Farrer, 19 June 1871 and n. 3.
4
CD was in London from 24 to 30 June 1871 (see CD’s ‘Journal’ (Appendix II)).
5
No record of a visit by Farrer to Down has been found. CD spent most of August 1871 at Haredene in Albury, Surrey.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 Orchid] interl
2.3 here] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7828,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7828