To Raphael Meldola   13 August [1873]

Dear Sir

I am much obliged for your present which no doubt I shall find at Down on my return home.—¹ I am sorry to say that I cannot answer your question; nor do I believe that you could find it anywhere even approximately answered. It is very difficult or impossible to define what is meant by a large variation.² Such graduate into monstrosities or generally injurious variations. I do not myself believe that these are often or ever taken advantage of under nature.

It is a common occurrence that abrupt & considerable variations are transmitted in an unaltered state, or not at all transmitted, to the offspring or to some of them. So it is with tailless or hornless animals, & with sudden & great changes of colour in flowers.— I wish I could have given you any answer.

Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin