From T. A. Edison 7 December 1877
Menlo Park N. Jersey U.S.A.
Dec 7 1877,
Charles Darwin Esqr
Dear Sir,
Several small green colored insects were caught by me this summer having come into my laboratory windows at night. The peculiarity of these insects are that they give off when Gathered, an exceedingly strong smell of Napthaline.1 No difference can be detected between the odor from the insect and the crystals of Napthaline except that the odor from the insect is much more powerful. I suppose this odor is used as a means of defence like that from the Skunk.
I thought this would interest you if you were not already aware of such an insect. I could procure some next summer and send by mail if you desire them
Yours | Thomas. A. Edison | Telegraph Engineer
Footnotes
Bibliography
Kritsky, Gene. 1993. Thomas Edison’s entomological pursuits and his correspondence with Charles Darwin. American Entomologist 39: 79–82.
Summary
Offers to send green insects that give off a powerful odour of napthalene.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11271
- From
- Thomas Alva Edison
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Menlo Park, N.J.
- Source of text
- DAR 163: 1
- Physical description
- ALS 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11271,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11271.xml