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From Frederick Bond   [16? June 1860]1

to them, viz. Polia Occulta and Spilodes Palealis, the first a night & the other an evening flyer, I will send them if you wish it—2 I have frequently seen Plusia Gamma, H. Dentina, Mamestra Anceps and two or three of the Pyralidæ, on Clover, Trefoil & Vetches. I have seen field beans’ almost smothered with moths (when in bloom) at night, & Believe me to be | Yours truly | Fk Bond

C. Darwin. Esqr.

CD annotations

1.1 to them … wish it— 1.2] crossed pencil
1.2 I have] square bracket before, pencil
1.3 H. Dentina,] ‘Hadina’ added ink
1.3 Pyralidæ,] ‘Pyralidæ’ added ink
1.4 Trefoil] ‘Trefoil’ added ink
1.4 beans’] ‘Beans’ added pencil
Top of letter: ‘3’3 brown crayon, circled brown crayon
End of letter: ‘June 18 1860’ ink

Footnotes

1
Although CD marked the letter ‘June 18 1860’ (see CD annotations), he had apparently received the letter before this date. In his letter to J. D. Hooker, 17 June [1860], CD states that he had received ‘good facts about moths & orchids.—’
2
Bond is cited in Orchids, p. 35, as having sent CD a large number of moths with orchid pollinia attached to their proboscises. A list of the species of moths received is given in Orchids, p. 36, and includes two of the species mentioned in the extant portion of the letter.
3
The number of CD’s portfolio of notes on variation and varieties.

Bibliography

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

Observations on moths visiting flowers.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-2837
From
Frederick Bond
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
unstated
Source of text
DAR 76 (ser. 2): 168
Physical description
ALS 1p inc †

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 2837,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-2837.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 8

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