To Louis Rérolle 2 August [1869]1
Down, Beckenham | Kent
Aug 2d
Dear Sir
I am glad to learn that you are making such rapid progress in your translation.—2
“Distal” is a term used by English anatomists to express the part at greater distance from the body: as the tibia is the distal half of the leg.— It means the extreme or more remote half of the labellum from centre of flower.—
Thrips is name of genus or group, & is used by Latreille, who places it under his “Aphidiens”: but it is very different from an Aphis or puceron. I believe that entomologists do not now place Thrips & Aphis close together.3
Pray use your own discretion about such epithets as “saddle-formed”—“boat-shaped” &c &c—; but I think it would be advisable to use them once.—
By “bank” at p.40 I referred to a steep grassy slope, with no bushes & fully exposed to strong winds.—
I am much obliged for your offer to look at your M.S, but as I am far from strong & much engaged, I will not accept your kindness.—
The day before yesterday I despatched a note (& it is the last which I shall have to send) on Epipactis palustris, addressed to “Place d’Ainay, Lyon”: if you have not received it, will you be so good as to enquire at your post-office.4
Pray believe me | dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Collected papers: The collected papers of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett. 2 vols. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 1977.
‘Fertilization of orchids’: Notes on the fertilization of orchids. By Charles Darwin. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4th ser. 4 (1869): 141–59. [Collected papers 2: 138–56.]
Haliday, Alexander Henry. 1836. An epitome of the British genera in the order Thysanoptera. Entomological Magazine 3 (1835–6): 439–51.
Latreille, Pierre André. [1802–5.] Histoire naturelle, générale et particuliere, des crustacés et des insectes. (Suites à Buffon.) 14 vols. Paris: F. Dufart.
Orchids 2d ed.: The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insects. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition, revised. London: John Murray. 1877.
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.
Rérolle, Louis, trans. 1870. De la fécondation des orchidées par les insectes et des bons résultats du croisement. By Charles Darwin. (French translation of Orchids.) Paris: C. Reinwald.
Summary
Gives the definition of ‘distal’ and explains what ‘thrips’ are. Suggests that LR uses his descretion in his translation of Orchids about certain descriptive phrases such as ‘saddle-formed’, but suggests he use them each at least once.
Declines offer to look over LR’s translation.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-6848F
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Louis Rérolle
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Aguttes (dealers) (20 February 2020, lot 240)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6848F,” accessed on 26 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6848F.xml