To A. R. Wallace 22 February [1868]
Summary
Reports work on sexual selection. Problems with the relative numbers of the two sexes and polygamy. Asks ARW’s help with several questions on polygamous birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 22 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 104–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5912 |
To A. R. Wallace 27 February [1868]
Summary
Pleased by ARW’s response to Pangenesis.
On negative reception by his friends.
Further argument concerning sterility and natural selection.
Polygamy and sexual selection.
Protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 27 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 108–11) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5940 |
To A. R. Wallace 17 [March 1868]
Summary
On his Primula paper for the Linnean Society ["On the specific difference between Primula veris, Brit. Fl. (var. officialis, Linn.), P. vulgaris, Brit. Fl. var. acaulis, Linn.), and P. elatior, Jacq.; and on the hybrid nature of the common oxlip; with supplementary remarks on naturally produced hybrids of the genus Verbascum", [officinalis!?] J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 437–54].
Peacocks and sexual selection.
ARW’s sterility argument has driven CD’s sons half-mad.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 17 [Mar 1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 43434: 115–17) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6018 |
To A. R. Wallace [21 March 1868]
Summary
On problem of sterility, CD cannot persuade himself that it has been gained by natural selection.
On sexual selection and minute variations, he tends to agree with ARW. Sends George Darwin’s notes on ARW’s argument.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | [21 Mar 1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 119–20); DAR 106: B160–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6033 |
To A. R. Wallace 27 March [1868]
Summary
There are so many doubtful points on the problems relating to sterility that they will never agree.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 27 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 123–4) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6058 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 April [1868]
Summary
More on the "terrible problem" of natural selection and sterility. CD’s reasons for disagreeing with ARW. CD analyses and answers ARW in detail in defence of his conclusion that sterility cannot be increased through natural selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 125–9) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6095 |
To A. R. Wallace 9 April [1868]
Summary
Warns ARW of dubious character of list of European alpine genera and species in volcanoes of Hawaii. Problems of geographical distribution in oceanic islands.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 9 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6109 |
To A. R. Wallace 15 April [1868]
Summary
Admires ARW’s "Theory of birds’ nests" [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 73].
Discusses their respective views on birds’ nests, sexual selection, and protection.
Asks why, if brilliant colours of female butterflies are result of protective mimicry, do not males become equally brilliant? CD believes variation in females alone accounts for it, rather than protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 15 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 133–5) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6121 |
To A. R. Wallace 30 April [1868]
Summary
More on CD’s objections to ARW’s views on protection and natural selection.
Sexual selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 30 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 136–9) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6146 |
To A. R. Wallace 5 May [1868]
Summary
Criticism of ARW for too little esteem of the role of sexual selection as agent in giving colour.
Response to other topics.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 5 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 140–1) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6161 |
To A. R. Wallace 19 August [1868]
Summary
The problem of dimorphic plants and their fertility.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 19 Aug [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 143–6) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6322 |
To A. R. Wallace 16 September [1868]
Summary
CD’s oscillating views relating to protection and sexual selection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 16 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 149–50) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6368 |
To A. R. Wallace 23 September [1868]
Summary
On their differences concerning sexual selection and protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 23 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 153–6) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6386 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 October [1868]
Summary
Sexual selection, protection.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 Oct [1868] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add MS 46434: 162–3) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6412 |
From Alfred Russel Wallace 7 February 1868
Summary
Thanks for Variation.
Reports work on his travel book [The Malay Archipelago (1869)].
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 7 Feb 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B48 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5848 |
From A. R. Wallace 24 February 1868
Summary
Responds to CD’s queries on polygamy in birds and orang.
Discusses sexual selection and secondary characters; colours and sexual preference.
Expresses his admiration for Pangenesis; it is superior to Herbert Spencer’s theory.
ARW differs somewhat with CD’s chapter on causes of variability [ch. 22 in Variation]. Thinks several of CD’s arguments are unsound.
Briefly discusses how natural selection might aid in producing sterility between allied species.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B70–2, DAR 86: A10–11 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5922 |
From A. R. Wallace 1 March 1868
Summary
Offers enclosure demonstrating that natural selection could produce sterility of hybrids.
More on Pangenesis and the inadequacy of H. Spencer’s approach.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B49–50, B53–5 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5966 |
From A. R. Wallace 8 March [1868]
Summary
On critical exchanges at the Linnean Society on natural selection and mimicry.
Roland Trimen’s paper on South African mimetic butterflies ["On some remarkable mimetic resemblances among African butterflies", Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 26 (1870): 497–523; read 5 Mar 1868].
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 8 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B51–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5996 |
From A. R. Wallace 15 March [1868]
Summary
Coloration of butterflies; brilliantly coloured females.
Commends CD on his paper on specific differences in Primula [J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 10 (1869): 437–54; reprinted and revised in Forms of flowers] as a test-case proving origin of real species.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 82: 23–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6012 |
From A. R. Wallace 19 March 1868
Summary
On sterility of natural species and natural selection. Closely allied forms from adjacent islands offer best chance of finding good species fertile inter se.
Problem of minute variations and sexual selection.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 19 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B59–60 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6024 |
| letter | (31) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (17) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (14) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (17) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (14) |
