To W. D. Fox 14 January [1858]
Summary
Asks to borrow W. C. Hewitson’s book [British oology, 2 vols. (1831–44)].
CD is searching for reliable information on slight variations in the degree of perfection of nests of the same species of birds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 14 Jan [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 108) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2202 |
To W. D. Fox 31 January [1858]
Summary
Thanks WDF for information on blackbirds’ nests [see Natural selection, p. 505].
Problem of choosing from among the load of curious facts for chapter on "Instinct" [Natural selection, ch. 10; Origin, ch. 7] perplexes him.
Asks about behaviour of chicks in danger and whether crossed animals are wilder than either parent.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 31 Jan [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 109) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2208 |
To W. D. Fox 22 February [1858]
Summary
Thanks for Hewitson [British oology].
Has found more variability in birds’ nests than he expected.
Interested in WDF’s note about turkey terrified by a frog [see Natural selection, p. 488 n.].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 22 Feb [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 111) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2219 |
To W. D. Fox 28 February [1858]
Summary
WDF’s nephew has forgotten to mention the most important element, whether the lizards’ eggs floated and stayed alive on sea-water.
Thanks for facts about turkeys and terrier [see Natural selection, p. 481 n.].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 28 Feb [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 112) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2229 |
To W. D. Fox 16 April [1858]
Summary
Asks WDF for facts about stripes in horses and ponies.
Health has been very bad.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 16 Apr [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 112a) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2256 |
To W. D. Fox 8 May [1858]
Summary
Will be most curious to hear results of WDF’s experiment with a kite and turkey chicks "by themselves".
If WDF ever sees a striped dun horse, he should ascertain colour of dam and sire.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 8 May [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 113) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2270 |
To W. D. Fox 24 June [1858]
Summary
Gives his opinion of the charges against E. W. Lane.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 24 June [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 114) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2293 |
To W. D. Fox 27 [June 1858]
Summary
Profoundly sorry for Lane.
Thanks WDF for facts about call ducks, pigs, and Leicester sheep.
Has been observing and experimenting on the construction of bees’ cells. Thinks he has a theory which simplifies the problem.
Scarlet fever in family; nurse ill.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 27 [June 1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 115) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2296 |
To W. D. Fox 2 July [1858]
Summary
Baby [Charles Waring Darwin] died of scarlet fever on 28 June. "Fear has almost driven away grief."
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 2 July [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 116) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2300 |
To W. D. Fox 6 July [1858]
Summary
The crisis is abating – no further scarlet fever in the family.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 6 July [1858] |
Classmark: | University of British Columbia Library, Rare Books and Special Collections (Pearce/Darwin Fox collection RBSC-ARC-1721-1-73) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2304 |
To W. D. Fox 21 [July 1858]
Summary
After all, CD is now beginning to prepare an abstract of his species theory. Recounts the events leading to joint paper with A. R. Wallace at Linnean Society. Lyell and Hooker urge strongly that he publish a fuller abstract. It is impossible to do justice to subject in an abstract.
His sister, Marianne Parker, has died.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 21 [July 1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 118) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2312 |
To W. D. Fox 13 November [1858]
Summary
Has suggested WDF’s name to Hooker and Henslow, who are sending a circular for aid to John Ralfs.
Is working steadily at his abstract, hopes to publish in spring.
Asks if WDF has seen a donkey with double shoulder stripe; also, has he seen a black greyhound with tan feet and a tan spot over each eye? "Such must exist because theory tells me it ought!"
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 13 Nov [1858] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 119) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2360 |
From W. D. Fox 11 June [1858]
Summary
Discusses instinct in ducks and turkeys.
Reports a case of the inheritance of an acquired characteristic in a pig.
Author: | William Darwin Fox |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 11 June [1858] |
Classmark: | DAR 164: 194 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7815 |
letter | (13) |
Darwin, C. R. | (12) |
Fox, W. D. | (1) |
Fox, W. D. | (12) |
Darwin, C. R. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (13) |
Fox, W. D. |