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Darwin Correspondence Project

From Thomas Brittain   30 November 1876

Brittain & Co. | Accountants, | Financial Agents, | Insurance Brokers, &c.

8, York Street, | Manchester

30 Nov 1876

Dr Darwin

Dear Sir

On Friday last Professor Williamson of Owens College1 (an old friend of mine) lectured on Insectivorous Plants to the Science Students Asson of this city, and made use of my drawing, which I had previously used. Amongst them was one showing “Apocynum androsæmifolium” with insects captured by each of three flowers represented. As he had not met with it before, and as I dont find any account of it in your most interesting book on the subject I take the liberty of calling your attention to the plant although it is likely you have met with it before.2

The little bit of the plant I have is dried. It was given me ⁠⟨⁠by⁠⟩⁠ my Nephew Mr Councillor F Brittain3 of ⁠⟨⁠Sh⁠⟩⁠effield who found it in France and I am informed that it grows over a large part of america. If you care to see my specimen I shall be glad to send it you; but I fear it is too small and dried up to serve any usefull purpose.

This is a rough representation of my specimen ※ two wings of a dipterous fly. Flowers are brownish yellow but I dont think that is the original colour.

diagram

I am sure my Nephew who frequently goes to France will have pleasure in looking out for fresh specimens for your use if you desire him to do so—

Let me in conclusion thank you for the pleasure I have had in the study of your book

Yours truly | Thos Brittain.

Footnotes

CD did not mention Apocynum androsaemifolium (fly-trap dogbane) in Insectivorous plants, but he had taken an interest in it since at least 1860 (see Correspondence vol. 8, letter to Daniel Oliver, [21 November 1860]).

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Insectivorous plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875.

Summary

Informs CD about Apocynum androsaemifolium, an insectivorous plant not mentioned in CD’s book. Offers to send specimen.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-10693
From
Thomas Brittain
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Manchester
Source of text
DAR 160: 312
Physical description
ALS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10693,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10693.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 24

letter