To Alfred Russel Wallace 22 January 1866
Summary
Welcomes ARW’s paper on pigeons ["On the pigeons of the Malay Archipelago", Ibis 1 (1865): 365–400].
Influence of monkeys on distribution of pigeons and parrots.
Asks ARW to explain a passage in his paper on Malayan Papilionidae [Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 25 (1866): 1–71] on how dimorphic forms are produced. CD knows of varieties "that will not blend or intermix", but which produce offspring quite like either parent.
ARW’s remarks on geographical distribution in Celebes "will give a cold shudder to the immutable naturalists".
Presses ARW to work on his travel journal.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 22 Jan 1866 |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 61) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4982 |
To A. R. Wallace [6 February 1866]
Summary
ARW’s simple explanation of dimorphic forms is satisfactory.
On "non-blending" of certain varieties, CD thinks ARW has not understood him. He does not refer to fertility. He crossed two differently coloured varieties of peas and "got both varieties perfect, but none intermediate". Something like this must occur in ARW’s butterflies.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | [6 Feb 1866] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 64) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4989 |
To A. R. Wallace 5 July [1866]
Summary
CD considers "the survival of the fittest" as alternative term to "Natural Selection". Reflections upon misunderstanding and his own ambiguity.
Health improved; can now work "some hours daily".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 5 July [1866] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f.70) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5145 |
To A. R. Wallace [23 November 1866?]
Summary
Will call on Wallace tomorrow (Saturday) at 10.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | [23 Nov 1866?] |
| Classmark: | Alexander Historical Auctions (dealers) (29 April 2000) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-7512F |
| Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (4) |
