From H. T. Stainton 20 February 1868
Summary
Sends a preliminary reply to CD’s query [5890]. Ten males to one female among captured micro-Lepidoptera. Six females to four or five males in those he has bred. HTS is aware this is diametrically opposed to information from [Alexander] Wallace and Bates, but the true proportion of sexes can only be ascertained by breeding.
Author: | Henry Tibbats Stainton |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 20 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 86: A6–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5903 |
From John William Douglas 20 February 1868
Author: | John William Douglas |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 20 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 81: 87 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5904 |
From H. W. Bates 21 February 1868
Summary
Comments on J. O. Westwood’s entomological nomenclature.
Discusses the organs for stridulation in Orthoptera [see Descent 1: 352ff].
Author: | Henry Walter Bates |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A32–3 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5909 |
From Robert McLachlan 21 February 1868
Summary
On numerical proportions of sexes in insects; coloration. Dimorphism in dragonflies (Agrion) in which usual coloration is reversed in sexes [see Descent 1: 362–4].
Wallace seems to ride his hobby too hard.
Author: | Robert McLachlan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 86: A8–9, DAR 82: A88–9 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5910 |
From Edward Wilson 22 February 1868
Summary
CD’s queries on expression.
Sends photo of a native Australian.
Author: | Edward Wilson |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 22 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 124 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5916 |
From W. S. Dallas 22 February 1868
Summary
Has sent his translations [of parts of Theodor Piderit, System der Mimik und Physiognomik (1867)].
Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin [1864] would sell if well translated. WSD would be glad to undertake it.
Author: | William Sweetland Dallas |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 22 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 162: 15 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5917 |
From Hermann Müller [after 23 February 1868]
Summary
HM is certain his brother Fritz would like to see Für Darwin translated into English by Dallas. He will make arrangements with the German publisher.
Two friends are writing Darwinian works: Adolf Speyer on phylogeny of Lepidoptera
and August Röse on genealogy of mosses.
Author: | Heinrich Ludwig Hermann (Hermann) Müller |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 23 Feb 1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 292 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5920 |
From Asa Gray 24 February 1868
Summary
AG is writing notice of American edition of Variation [Nation 6 (1868): 234–6].
Pangenesis is "as good an hypothesis as one can now make".
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 161 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5921 |
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 John Murray 24 February [1868]
Summary
Second issue [of Variation] is ready.
Murray thinks that the Athenæum review was written by J. E. Gray [see 5931].
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 356 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5923 |
From Robert McLachlan 24 February 1868
Summary
Reports that when August Meyer confined several distinct species of Phryganeidae they coupled and produced fertile ova, indicating that some specific characters are not so important so far as reproduction is concerned [see Descent 1: 342 n. 2].
Author: | Robert McLachlan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A86–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5924 |
From W. S. Dallas 24 February 1868
Summary
Has difficulty translating Piderit’s use of verbissen.
Will hold F. Müller’s book until CD decides about translating it.
Author: | William Sweetland Dallas |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 162: 16 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5925 |
From Asa Gray 25 February [1868]
Summary
AG is not surprised at popularity of CD’s Variation. Gives some corrections for next edition.
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 162 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5928 |
From Alexander Wallace 25 February 1868
Summary
Asks CD to make his queries about proportion of sexes more precise so he can keep them in mind in his experiments with silkworms. [see Descent 1: 313.]
Author: | Alexander Wallace |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 25 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 85: B69–70 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5933 |
From J. D. Hooker 26[–7] February 1868
Summary
Could not believe Owen to be so demoniacal as to write the Athenæum review [of Variation].
Gardeners’ Chronicle review [see 5918] is weak. CD’s ideas on causes of variation may be as hazy as the reviewer’s.
Huxley’s clever remark on Pangenesis. JDH’s view of Pangenesis as fundamental to development doctrines, but nothing is gained by formulation in terms of germs or gemmules.
Tries to answer question on last page of CD’s letter anent sexuality.
Author: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26[–7] Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 102: 200–3, DAR 94: 67 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5935 |
From H. W. Bates 26 February 1868
Summary
Finds no absolute differences in size of sexes of Copridae. Gives several other genera in which males are larger than females.
Confirms his view of stridulation organ of house cricket. [see Descent 1: 354–5.]
Tells CD of a powerful convert to Darwinism: H. von Kiesenwetter of Berlin.
Author: | Henry Walter Bates |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A34–5 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5936 |
From Robert Buist 26 February 1868
Author: | Robert Buist |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: B76–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5937 |
From Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky 26 February 1868
Summary
His translation and printing of Variation will be completed in two months.
His work on a relief committee for Russia’s agricultural distress has forced him to travel 1000 miles in the last week.
Plans to visit CD in July.
Author: | Vladimir Onufrievich Kovalevsky (Владимир Онуфриевич Ковалевский) |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 26 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 169: 76 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5938 |
From J. J. Weir [after 27 February] 1868
Summary
Trusts his paper ["Apterous Lepidoptera" (1867), printed for the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical, and Photographic Society] showed that he is thoroughly a disciple of CD.
Cites evidence that birds undoubtedly distinguish colours. [see Descent 2: 110.]
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [after 27 Feb] 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 77–80 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5939 |
From G. G. Stokes 27 February 1868
Author: | George Gabriel Stokes, 1st baronet |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 27 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 47–50 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5943 |
letter | (468) |
Hooker, J. D. | (26) |
Weir, J. J. | (22) |
Blyth, Edward | (20) |
Dallas, W. S. | (19) |
Wallace, A. R. | (17) |
Darwin, C. R. | (468) |
Hooker, J. D. | (26) |
Weir, J. J. | (22) |
Blyth, Edward | (20) |
Dallas, W. S. | (19) |