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Darwin Correspondence Project

To F. M. Wedgwood   5 March [1860–9]1

Down Bromley Kent

March 5th

My dear Fanny

I do not know the shell in question, but I have very little doubt that it is a Pholas, for I was assured in S. America that they were excellent eating.2 The shell lives in holes in rock. It is very delicate & fragile, of a whitish colour; & the animal’s body protrudes at the two ends.—

I am extremely much obliged for the very interesting specimens of the blind cave animals: after I have examined them (& I am in no hurry, though particularly glad to see them) I will present them in your name to the British Museum, for they are too good for a private collection. The fish in itself, besides its blindness, is a very remarkable animal.—3

Emma tells me she has already written to say how glad we shall be to see you here, & with my best thanks, I am yours affectionately | Ch. Darwin

Footnotes

The year range is established from the year of Frances Wedgwood’s return from her first visit to the United States (see Wedgwood and Wedgwood 1980, pp. 267–9), and from the address, which is one that CD used between 1855 and 1869. A close family member dated the letter 1868.
Pholas is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs. CD was in South America between 1832 and 1835 (Correspondence vol. 1).
CD referred to blind cave animals in Origin, pp. 137–9. He was gathering more information in 1860, and expanded his discussion in the third edition (Origin 3d ed., pp. 154–7; see also Correspondence vol. 8). Frances visited the United States in 1859 (see n. 1, above) and 1865 (see Correspondence vol. 13, letters from Asa Gray, 15 and 17 May 1865, 24 July 1865, and letter to Asa Gray, 15 August [1865]).

Bibliography

Origin 3d ed.: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 3d edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1861.

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.

Wedgwood, Barbara and Wedgwood, Hensleigh. 1980. The Wedgwood circle, 1730–1897: four generations of a family and their friends. London: Studio Vista.

Summary

Thanks for a shell of an edible mollusc and also specimens of blind cave animals, which he will present in FW’s name to the British Museum.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-5984F
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Frances Mosley (Fanny Frank) Mosley/Frances Mosley (Fanny Frank) Wedgwood
Sent from
Down
Source of text
Alan Wedgwood (private collection)
Physical description
ALS

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5984F,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5984F.xml

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