From Francis Darwin [before 4 January 1870]1
University “Pitt” Club
My dear Father
I spoke to Humphrey about the os coxygis, he said that he had never heard of there being more bones in ♀; but as such small bones are very apt to get lost in macerating &c, it is impossible to judge by comparing ♂ & ♀ skeletons.2 There are 3 ♀ subjects in the dissecting room & he says that he will get the point looked at He says he has read some where that there are more segments in the coxyx of the embryo than there are afterwards but he can not give his authority. It will be rather hard on the female sex if what Haeckel says it true.3
Your affec son | F Darwin
I have been coaching with another man while Stuart is measling, & he says I have a chance of the wranglers but I don’t think I have4
Footnotes
Summary
Humphrey does not think more bones in female os coccyx than in male. Because of maceration it is impossible to compare male and female skeletons. Has another coach while Stuart ill.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-6520F
- From
- Francis Darwin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Cambridge
- Source of text
- DAR 274.1: 18
- Physical description
- ALS
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6520F,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6520F.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 24 (Supplement)