From John Davy 10 January 1856
[Reports the results of experiments on the vitality of impregnated fish ova carried out in November and December 1855. The ova of Charr were exposed to temperatures ranging from 70o F to 84o F for various periods of time. Ten experiments to ascertain the maximum temperature at which the ova will stay alive were carried out. A second series of experiments was also performed in which a trial of the vitality of the ova was made by packing them in wet wool and sending them a distance by post. Considers it as proved that the power of resisting an undue temperature is possessed in a higher degree by the ova in an advanced, than in an early stage of development; and that the power of retaining life in moist air in like degree increases with age. It may further be inferred that the ova of other species of the Salmonidæ, were they similarly exposed, would afford similar results.]1
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
On the vitality of the ova of the Salmonidae at different stages of development.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-1819A
- From
- John Davy
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Ambleside
- Source of text
- Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 8 (1856–7): 27–33
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 1819A,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-1819A.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 6