From Albert Gaudry1 11 April 1868
Monsieur,
J’ai reçu votre beau livre sur la variation des animaux et des plantes.2 Quoique je n’aie pas encore achevé sa lecture, je ne veux pas tarder davantage à vous adresser tous mes remerciemens. Cet ouvrage, étant envoyé par vous, a un double prix pour moi. Je le lis lentement, car j’y trouve un grand intérêt et beaucoup de profit; sans doute chaque naturaliste admirera la finesse et la multitude des observations que vous avez su rassembler sur les sujets les plus divers. Le travail sur les pigeons m’a particulièrement frappé; vos recherches originales sur les ossemens de ces animaux me semblent bien prouver les liens étroits qui existent entre les modifications des tissus mous et les modifications des parties dures, les seules malheureusement que d’ordinaire nous possédions à l’état fossile.3 Mr de Mortillet a présenté votre livre à la dernière séance de la Société géologique, et en a fait ressortir toute la portée.4
Veuillez, Monsieur, agréer l’expression de mes sentimens les plus respecteuses | Albert Gaudry.
11 Avril 1868. Paris.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Translation
From Albert Gaudry1 11 April 1868
Dear Sir
I have received your fine book on the variation of animals and plants.2 Although I have not yet finished reading it, I do not want to delay further in sending you all my thanks. Because it was sent by you, this work has a double value for me. I read it slowly because I find a great deal of interest and profit there. Without doubt, every naturalist will admire the skill and the multitude of observations you have been able to assemble on the most diverse subjects. I was particularly struck by the work on pigeons; your original research on the bones of these animals seems to me to prove well the close links that exist between modifications of the soft tissues and modifications of the hard parts, which sadly are the only ones we ordinarily possess in the fossil state.3 Mr de Mortillet presented your book at the last meeting of the Geological Society, and demonstrated its full significance.4
Please accept, dear Sir, my most respectful regards | Albert Gaudry.
11 April 1868. Paris.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Thanks CD for copy of Variation.
CD’s work on pigeons demonstrates the close relationship between modifications in soft tissues and the hard parts, which are the only ones we possess in the fossil state.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-6111
- From
- Albert-Jean (Albert) Gaudry
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Paris
- Source of text
- DAR 165: 17
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp (French)
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6111,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6111.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 16
