To J. G. F. Riedel 24 September 1875
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Sep. 24/75.
Dear Sir,
The fact that you have been so kind as to communicate to me is most extra-ordinary, and I can offer no explanation of it.1 With my views on the origin of man, the wild and fanciful notion crossed my mind, that the spots of colour are due to some ancient progenitors having had their buttocks colousred.2 I would strongly advise you to send a full account of the case to some ethnological society; with measurements of the spots, and how far they are variable in size or intensity of colour and especially whether thay occur on the backs of all the infants, stating how many cases you have observed.3 With respect to the inherited effects of circumcission I have received such different accounts I hardly know what to believe; but I shall by very glad to quote what you say in a new edition of my Variations under Domestication which I am now preparing.4
With my best wishes for the succes of your observations. | I remain dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Charles Darwin.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Descent 2d ed.: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. London: John Murray. 1874.
Riedel, Johan Gerard Friedrich. 1901. Über die sogenannten Mongolen-Flecke der Kinder. [Read 16 November 1901. Abstract.] Zeitschrift für Ethnologie 33: 393.
Variation 2d ed.: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1875.
Summary
Thinks JGFR should send report of coloured spots on infants’ buttocks to some ethnological society.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10169F
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Johan Gerard Friedrich Riedel
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Brief-ID 11494)
- Physical description
- C 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10169F,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10169F.xml
