From George Chichester Oxenden 15 May 1862
Dear Sir
Mr. Malden 1 & myself were on the Hill-Side, for some hours—last Tuesday, with splendid sport— —Even of O. Aranifera we did not find far short of a thousand, in full flower—
I am sure you would like Mr. Malden greatly— A thousand thanks for the beautiful, useful, charming Book—2 I am delighted with it—
—Can I do aught for you, in revenge—?
—This means to be a famous year for Wild Orchids—
—Never before have I seen—“fusca” so beautiful or so very abundant—
There will also be good Harvest of “Epipactis palustris”—3
—Even in March last, when Snipe-shooting, I found fully 200, well up above the ground; about 4 inches high—
—Of “Ep: purpurata” I observe you take no notice—
—Is it because it is over-abundant with you?
—The Earliest of my “Lizards” will bloom in about 3 weeks—
—Shall I cut some blooms off & send them to you—? or have you them, at command, in your own Neighbourhood?4
—With many kind thanks & regards | G: Chichester Oxenden
Broome
May 15 | 1862—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Orchids 2d ed.: The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insects. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition, revised. London: John Murray. 1877.
Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.
Summary
Thanks for the book [Orchids].
Found thousands of Ophrys aranifera plants.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3553
- From
- George Chichester Oxenden
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Broome Canterbury
- Source of text
- DAR 173.2: 48
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3553,” accessed on 23 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3553.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10