To Ernst Haeckel 30 March [1868]1
Down Bromley Kent [4 Chester Place]
March 30
My dear Friend
I am much obliged for your interesting letter with its genealogical tree.2
I now understand to a certain extent the importance of the swim-bladder in the Selachians.3 I shall be curious to see whether the organ ought not to be considered rather in a “nascent” than in a “rudimentary” state. I had always imagined that some animal like the Lepidosiren was the parent-form of the Vertebrata.—4
By all means keep the German edition of my Book: it will be of far more use in your hands than in anyone’s else.—5
We have been staying nearly a month in London & I am as wearied of the din & turmoil of the place, as you could be; but we return in two days to the quietude of Down.6 My visit here has not been one of rest, for I have been hard at work in collecting new facts on Sexual selection, by corresponding with a multitude of breeders & visiting them & the zoological Gardens.
This subject will be the chief one in my next little book, for I entirely agree with you that sexual selection has played a most important part with man.7 But I find many very serious objections & difficulties & shall not make out a very good case.—
I am astonished at the hybrids of Hare & rabbit: is it certain that Dr Conrad began his work with a true wild Lepus timidus & not with a hare-like var. of the L. cuniculus?8
I am tired with writing letters, so will write no more, & will conclude with my unalterable esteem & friendship.—
Yours very truly | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Origin 4th ed.: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 4th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1866.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Now understands importance of swim-bladder in selachians. Always imagined animal like Lepidosiren was parent form of vertebrates.
Has been nearly a month in London, collecting facts on sexual selection from breeders and at Zoological Gardens.
Astonished at hybrid of rabbit and hare. Is it certain that work was done with hare?
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-6070
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel
- Sent from
- London, Chester Place, 4 Down letterhead
- Source of text
- Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Bestand A-Abt. 1: 1–52/17)
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6070,” accessed on 1 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6070.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 16