To Fritz Müller 12 April 1881
Summary
Earthworm book with printer.
Has sent FM’s observations on paraheliotropism to Nature ["Movement of leaves", Collected papers 2: 228–9].
Plants with differently coloured anthers.
Intends gathering together his notes on "bloom".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Johann Friedrich Theodor (Fritz) Müller |
Date: | 12 Apr 1881 |
Classmark: | The British Library (Loan MS 10 no 51) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13113 |
From Fritz Müller 7 February 1881
Summary
Describes variability in the stamens and pollen of Lagerstroemia, which CD spoke of in Forms of flowers.
Also reports on similar phenomena in Pontederiacea (Heteranthera reniformis).
Has received from Paul Mayer an interesting paper on metamorphosis in Palaemonetes varians, which is also being studied by J. E. V. Boas in Denmark. Shows differences between larval development in Danish forms and those found in southern Italy.
Author: | Johann Friedrich Theodor (Fritz) Müller |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Feb 1881 |
Classmark: | Möller ed. 1915–21, 2: 406–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13041A |
From Fritz Müller 9 and 10 August 1881
Summary
Thanks CD for his letter of 21 June [13212].
Is sending seeds of Oxalis sepium, which came from a cross between a plant with long pistils and another with pistils intermediate in length. Perhaps some of the plants that come from them will have short pistils.
FM does not know who told Dr B [Wilhelm Breitenbach] that he had lost a whole library in the flood. In fact, he lost only a few books that he had left behind thinking they were safe where they were.
Has taken the opportunity of a recent cold spell to test CD’s views on nyctitropism [night movements] in plants. Describes Pandanus and Oxalis sepium.
Has just received CD’s letter of 4 July and he is glad that his observations on the effects of rain on plants interested CD.
Author: | Johann Friedrich Theodor (Fritz) Müller |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 9 and 10 Aug 1881 |
Classmark: | Möller ed. 1915–21, 2: 416–17; Nature, 15 September 1881, p. 459 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13284A |
To R. D. Fitzgerald 9 February 1881
Summary
Thanks for pt 6 of [Australian orchids].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert David Fitzgerald |
Date: | 9 Feb 1881 |
Classmark: | Mitchell Library, Sydney (A 2546) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13045 |
From Hugo de Vries 15 October 1881
Summary
Thanks for Earthworms.
HdeV is studying the causes of variation in plants and is very interested in Pangenesis.
Author: | Hugo de Vries |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 15 Oct 1881 |
Classmark: | DAR 180: 26 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13402 |
To Nature 13 July [1881]
Summary
Communicates two cases of inheritance reported by J. P. Bishop [in 13137]. The work of E. Brown-Séquard has demonstrated that effects of injuries can be inherited ["Hereditary transmission of an epileptiform affection accidentally produced", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 10 (1860): 297–8]. E. Dupuy has sent CD a still more remarkable case.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Nature |
Date: | 13 July [1881] |
Classmark: | Nature, 21 July 1881, p. 257 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13245 |
From Victor Hensen 10 October 1881
Summary
Thanks CD for Earthworms. Not convinced that worms derive nutrition from eating soil.
Author: | Christian Andreas Victor (Victor) Hensen |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Oct 1881 |
Classmark: | DAR 166: 146 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13392 |
To C. G. Semper 6 February 1881
Summary
Comments on CGS’s The natural conditions of existence [1881] and on views of Moritz Wagner on geographical distribution.
Discusses cause of variability.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Carl Gottfried Semper |
Date: | 6 Feb 1881 |
Classmark: | Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf (slg 60/Dok/62) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13040 |
To Francis Darwin 9 November [1881]
Summary
Comments on two letters received from W. F. P. Pfeffer [13425, 13464] who thinks Julius Wiesner’s view that light, etc. acts directly on plants is wrong.
Is frantic over the number of letters received about worms; feels the enthusiasm of the reception of Earthworms is laughable.
Is confounded by Euphorbia rootlets and has re-examined the effect of carbonate of ammonia.
Has thought of three good experiments to oppose Wiesner.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Francis Darwin |
Date: | 9 Nov [1881] |
Classmark: | DAR 211: 70, DAR 211: 89 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13476 |
To J. B. Dancer 25 October [1881]
Summary
Informs JBD that his book [Earthworms] profited from JBD’s interesting notice ["On the transfer of subsoil to the surface", Proc. Manchester Lit. & Philos. Soc. 16: 247–8].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Benjamin Dancer |
Date: | 25 Oct [1881] |
Classmark: | Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin (John Benjamin Dancer MS 1052 1.3) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13429 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 1877. On the transfer of subsoil to the surface by the agency of worms, insects, larvæ, moles, etc. Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester 16 (1876–7): 247–8. Earthworms : The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. …
To J. B. Innes 15 September 1881
Summary
CD interested in JBI’s observations of behaviour of bees. Finds his criticism about hexagonal cells made by queen wasps a good one. Cannot remember how he got out of the difficulty.
His book on worms to be published soon.
E. A. Darwin has died after short illness.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Brodie Innes |
Date: | 15 Sept 1881 |
Classmark: | Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13339 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 1877. ] Journal of the Linnean Society of London ( Zoology ) 12 (1876): 110–39, 227–51, 445–514; 13 (1878): 217–58. Lubbock, John. 1888. On the senses, instincts, and intelligence of animals: with special reference to insects. London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Co. Origin : On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. …
From Ernst Krause 2 January 1881
Summary
Encloses reply to Butler [Kosmos 8 (1881): 321–2]. Has also written a reply intended for English reader. Will have it translated for Popular Science Review if CD thinks suitable.
Report of Jäger accident was an error.
Kosmos has been purchased by Eduard Koch in Stuttgart and will continue as in the past.
Author: | Ernst Ludwig (Ernst) Krause |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 2 Jan 1881 |
Classmark: | DAR 92: B61; DAR 221.2: 27 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12969 |
Matches: 1 hit
To G. J. Romanes 16 April 1881
Summary
Discusses concept of intelligence in his Earthworms manuscript.
Remarks on GJR’s work on echinoderms.
Comments on Wilhelm Roux [Der Kampf der Theile im Organismus (1881)].
Discusses animal instincts, citing Fabre’s description of sand-wasps.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | George John Romanes |
Date: | 16 Apr 1881 |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.587) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-13118 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … John Murray. 1881. Fabre, Jean-Henri. 1856. Étude sur l’instinct et les métamorphoses des sphégiens. Annales des sciences naturelles. Zoologie 4th ser. 6: 137–83. Fabre, Jean-Henri. 1879. Souvenirs entomologiques: études sur l’instinct et les mœurs des insectes . Paris: Librairie Ch. Delagrave. Lewes, George Henry. 1877. …
From Wilhelm Breitenbach [before 20 June 1881]
Summary
Arrived in Brazil three months ago. Studying insects and plants, but work suffers from lack of scientific literature.
Fritz Müller has written to him to observe relations between ants and plants.
Writing popular articles about evolution for German newspaper in Brazil.
Sends paper from Kosmos.
Expects to spend several years in Brazil.
Author: | Wilhelm Breitenbach |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 20 June 1881] |
Classmark: | DAR 202: 16 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-12962 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 1877. Vergleichende Anatomie des Nervensystemes und Phylogenie der Mollusken . Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann. Martius, Karl Friedrich Philipp von, ed. 1840–1906. Flora Brasiliensis, enumeratio plantarum in Brasilia hactenus detectarum quas suis aliorumque botanicorum studiis descriptas et methodo naturali digestas partim icone illustratas. 15 vols. Leipzig: R. Oldenbourg. Movement in plants : The power of movement in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. …
letter | (14) |
Darwin, C. R. | (8) |
Müller, Fritz | (2) |
Breitenbach, Wilhelm | (1) |
Hensen, Victor | (1) |
Krause, Ernst | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (6) |
Dancer, J. B. | (1) |
Darwin, Francis | (1) |
Fitzgerald, R. D. | (1) |
Innes, J. B. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (14) |
Müller, Fritz | (3) |
Breitenbach, Wilhelm | (1) |
Dancer, J. B. | (1) |
Darwin, Francis | (1) |
John Murray
Summary
Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was published on 22 November 1859. The publisher was John Murray, who specialised in non-fiction, particularly politics, travel and science, and had published…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin's most famous book On the origin of species by means of natural selection (Origin) was …
Cross and self fertilisation
Summary
The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom, published on 10 November 1876, was the result of a decade-long project to provide evidence for Darwin’s belief that ‘‘Nature thus tells us, in the most emphatic manner, that she abhors…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom , published on 10 November …
Darwin in letters, 1875: Pulling strings
Summary
‘I am getting sick of insectivorous plants’, Darwin confessed in January 1875. He had worked on the subject intermittently since 1859, and had been steadily engaged on a book manuscript for nine months; January also saw the conclusion of a bitter dispute…
Matches: 1 hits
- … I am merely slaving over the sickening work of preparing new Editions …
Darwin in letters, 1863: Quarrels at home, honours abroad
Summary
At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of animals and plants under domestication, anticipating with excitement the construction of a hothouse to accommodate his increasingly varied botanical experiments…
Matches: 1 hits
- … At the start of 1863, Charles Darwin was actively working on the manuscript of The variation of …
John Lort Stokes
Summary
John Lort Stokes, naval officer, was Charles Darwin’s cabinmate on the Beagle voyage – not always an enviable position. After Darwin’s death, Stokes penned a description of their evenings spent working at the large table at the centre, Stokes at his…
Matches: 1 hits
- … John Lort Stokes, naval officer, was Charles Darwin’s cabinmate on the Beagle voyage – not …
Movement in Plants
Summary
The power of movement in plants, published on 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical work that Darwin wrote. It was the only work in which the assistance of one of his children, Francis Darwin, is mentioned on the title page. The research for this…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The power of movement in plants , published on 7 November 1880, was the final large botanical …
Darwin in public and private
Summary
Extracts from Darwin's published works, in particular Descent of man, and selected letters, explore Darwin's views on the operation of sexual selection in humans, and both his publicly and privately expressed views on its practical implications…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The following extracts and selected letters explore Darwin's views on the operation of sexual …
Darwin in letters,1866: Survival of the fittest
Summary
The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was now considerably improved. In February, Darwin received a request from his publisher, John Murray, for a new edition of Origin. Darwin got the fourth…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The year 1866 began well for Charles Darwin, as his health, after several years of illness, was …
Forms of flowers
Summary
Darwin’s book The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species, published in 1877, investigated the structural differences in the sexual organs of flowers of the same species. It drew on and expanded five articles Darwin had published on the…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin’s book The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species , published in 1877, …
Darwin in letters, 1860: Answering critics
Summary
On 7 January 1860, John Murray published the second edition of Darwin’s Origin of species, printing off another 3000 copies to satisfy the demands of an audience that surprised both the publisher and the author. It wasn't long, however, before ‘the…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On 7 January 1860, John Murray published the second edition of Darwin’s Origin of species , …
Floral Dimorphism
Summary
Sources|Discussion Questions|Experiment Floral studies In 1877 Darwin published a book that included a series of smaller studies on botanical subjects. Titled The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species, it consisted primarily of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Sources | Discussion Questions | Experiment Floral studies In 1877 …
1.14 William Richmond, oil
Summary
< Back to Introduction William Blake Richmond’s portrait of Darwin, dating from 1879, celebrated his honorary degree of LL.D (Doctor in Laws), awarded by Cambridge University in 1877. Darwin’s return to his alma mater for the presentation ceremony…
Matches: 1 hits
- … < Back to Introduction William Blake Richmond’s portrait of Darwin, dating from 1879, …
Darwin in letters, 1864: Failing health
Summary
On receiving a photograph from Charles Darwin, the American botanist Asa Gray wrote on 11 July 1864: ‘the venerable beard gives the look of your having suffered, and … of having grown older’. Because of poor health, Because of poor health, Darwin…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On receiving a photograph from Charles Darwin, the American botanist Asa Gray wrote on 11 July …
Bartholomew James Sulivan
Summary
On Christmas Day 1866, Bartholomew Sulivan sat down to write a typically long and chatty letter to his old friend, Charles Darwin, commiserating on shared ill-health, glorying in the achievements of their children, offering to collect plant specimens, and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On Christmas Day 1866, Bartholomew Sulivan sat down to write a typically long and chatty letter to …
Dipsacus and Drosera: Frank’s favourite carnivores
Summary
In Autumn of 1875, Francis Darwin was busy researching aggregation in the tentacles of Drosera rotundifolia (F. Darwin 1876). This phenomenon occurs when coloured particles within either protoplasm or the fluid in the cell vacuole (the cell sap) cluster…
Matches: 1 hits
- … By John Schaefer, Harvard University* Charles Darwin’s enthusiasm for carnivorous …
Species and varieties
Summary
On the origin of species by means of natural selection …so begins the title of Darwin’s most famous book, and the reader would rightly assume that such a thing as ‘species’ must therefore exist and be subject to description. But the title continues, …or…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On the origin of species by means of natural selection …so begins the title of Darwin’s most …
Francis Darwin
Summary
Known to his family as ‘Frank’, Charles Darwin’s seventh child himself became a distinguished scientist. He was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge, initially studying mathematics, but then transferring to natural sciences. Francis completed…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Known to his family as ‘Frank’, Charles Darwin’s seventh child himself became a distinguished …
Darwin's 1876 letters online
Summary
Birth, tragic death . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, we have released online the transcripts and footnotes of over 460 letters written to and from him in 1876 and a supplement of 180 letters written before…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Birth, tragic death . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, …
How old is the earth?
Summary
One of Darwin’s chief difficulties in making converts to his views, was convincing a sceptical public, and some equally sceptical physicists, that there had been enough time since the advent of life on earth for the slow process of natural selection to…
Matches: 1 hits
- … One of Darwin’s chief difficulties in making converts to his views, was convincing a sceptical …
The origin of language
Summary
Darwin started thinking about the origin of language in the late 1830s. The subject formed part of his wide-ranging speculations about the transmutation of species. In his private notebooks, he reflected on the communicative powers of animals, their…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin started thinking about the origin of language in the late 1830s. The subject formed part of …