To A. R. Wallace 26 February [1867]
Summary
ARW’s explanation of protective value of conspicuous coloration is ingenious.
CD still holds to sexual selection with respect to beauty in male butterflies.
Sexual selection and the races of man.
Expression of emotions is another subject he plans to include in his essay [Descent].
Asks ARW to suggest an observer in Malay Archipelago to whom he might send queries [on expression].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 26 Feb [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 76) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5420 |
From A. R. Wallace 11 March [1867]
Summary
ARW responds to CD’s list of queries about expression. Suggests acquiring informants through publishing the queries in newspapers. His doubts about their importance.
Has submitted caterpillar question to Entomological Society.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Mar [1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B24, B45; DAR 82: A22 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5437 |
To A. R. Wallace [12–17] March [1867]
Summary
Asks to be kept informed on gaudy caterpillars.
Problems of his work on man; scope and role of sexual selection.
Indulgence of interest in expression is simply a "hobby-horse". Will see whether he can get queries inserted in an Indian newspaper.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | [12–17] Mar [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 ff. 80–83v) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5440 |
From A. R. Wallace 26 April [1867]
Summary
Describes his view on colour [of plumage] of males and females – i.e., that absence of brilliant colour in either sex is due to need for protection in incubation, rather than to sexual selection.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 26 Apr [1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 32–5 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5515 |
To A. R. Wallace 29 April [1867]
Summary
Comments on ARW’s view of colouring in relation to sexual selection and protection. It is not new to CD. Hopes to discuss subject fully in his "Essay on Man" [Descent]. As to the problem of brightly coloured females, CD is not satisfied that it is due to males taking over incubation. Admires "value and beauty" of ARW’s generalisations.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 29 Apr [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 84) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5517 |
From A. R. Wallace 1 May 1867
Summary
Never imagined that the facts about sexual selection could be new to CD. Thought fact that brightly coloured females build concealed nests and almost all those in which sexes differ remarkably build exposed nests might be new to him. Some problems remain. Sends his notes for CD to use if he wants.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 May 1867 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 36–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5522 |
To A. R. Wallace 5 May [1867]
Summary
Returns ARW’s notes. He will work up subject much better than CD.
Apologises for the note of illiberality in his letter regarding ARW’s work on the colouring and other sexual differences in mammals.
Discusses laws of inheritance based on sexual selection.
He questions the extent of applicability of principles of protection and sexual selection to lower animal forms, though Ernst Haeckel has shown how protection may account for transparency and absence of colour in lower oceanic animals.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 5 May [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 f. 89) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5528 |
To A. R. Wallace 6 July [1867]
Summary
Acknowledgment of article on mimicry [Westminster Rev. 88 (1867): 1–43].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 6 July [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434, f. 92) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5579 |
From A. R. Wallace [19 June 1867]
Summary
CD is invited to see ARW’s collections at Bayswater.
ARW has written an answer to the Duke of Argyll and North British Review criticisms.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [19 June 1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B41–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5634 |
From A. R. Wallace 1 October [1867]
Summary
Informs CD of his reply to Argyll and the North British Review criticisms [in "Creation by law", Q. J. Sci. 4 (1867): 471–88]. Cites "the predicted Madagascar moth" and Angraecum sesquipedale.
Birth of Herbert Spencer Wallace.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 Oct [1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B43–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5637 |
To A. R. Wallace 12 and 13 October [1867]
Summary
Response to ARW’s "Creation by law", especially the Angraecum sesquipedale and the predicted Madagascar moth.
ARW’s argument on beauty strikes CD as good.
Wishes ARW had made more clear the assumption of the reviewer [in North Br. Rev.] that each variation is a strongly marked one.
The Duke of Argyll’s argument on beauty is not candid.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 12 and 13 Oct 1867 |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 f. 96) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5648 |
From A. R. Wallace 22 October [1867]
Summary
Response to CD’s comments on "Creation by law" [see 5637].
The limits of variation discussed.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Oct [1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B46–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5656 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 2 March [1867]
Summary
Pleased that CD approves his idea about caterpillars.
Thinks CD is right about selection in butterflies, but still believes protective adaptation has kept down colours of females.
Cannot yet see action of natural selection in forming the races of man.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 2 Mar [1867] |
| Classmark: | DAR 85: A98 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5968 |
To A. R. Wallace 7 March [1867]
Summary
Grateful for addresses of informants, especially that of Rajah James Brooke.
Dispatch of queries on expression. Answers will make interesting appendix to his "Essay on man" [Descent].
Protective adaptation of female butterflies believed probable.
Believes in sexual selection as applied to man.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Date: | 7 Mar [1867] |
| Classmark: | The British Library (Add 46434 ff. 20–20v) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5992 |
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 |
| letter | (194) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (97) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (96) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (1) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (98) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (94) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (1) |
| Kingsley, Charles | (1) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (194) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (191) |
| Darwin, G. H. | (1) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (1) |
| Kingsley, Charles | (1) |
