From A. R. Wallace 8 [April] 1868
Summary
If CD is not convinced by his notes on sterility, ARW has little doubt that he is wrong. In fact he was only half-convinced by his own arguments.
Modifies his first proposition [a species varies occasionally in two directions, but owing to free inter-crossing the variations never increase] and further discusses the subject.
Encloses Berthold Seemann’s notes on flora of the Hawaiian Islands. Presence of European alpine species in Hawaiian volcanoes is a "hard nut" for geographical distribution [but see ARW’s Island life (1880), p. 323].
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 8 [Apr] 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B57-8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6104 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 8 [April] 1868 …
- … book, see the letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] , and the letter from A. R. …
- … letter and the letter to A. R. Wallace, 6 April [1868] . See letter to A. R. Wallace, …
- … selection, see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 and enclosure. For George …
- … de visite (see letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] ). Wallace refers to Lyell 1867– …
- … enclosure to the letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] , and the letter from A. R. …
- … enclosure to letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 ). Berthold Carl Seemann . Wallace …
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 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 15 April [1868] …
- … the book (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 7 February 1868 , n. 4, and letter to A. R. …
- … The year is established by the reference to A. R. Wallace 1868 (see n. 2, below). CD …
- … coloured built open nests ( A. R. Wallace 1868 , p. 78). Wallace had given examples of …
- … the male incubated the eggs ( A. R. Wallace 1868 , pp. 83–4). CD probably refers to a …
- … are pleasing to the other’ ( A. R. Wallace 1868 , p. 82). See, for example, A. R. …
- … in the April 1868 issue of Journal of Travel and Natural History ( A. R. Wallace 1868 ). …
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 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace [21 March 1868] …
- … letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 19 March 1868 . In 1868, the first Saturday …
- … s query, see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 19 March 1868 and n. 6. See enclosure. …
- … see enclosure to letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 ). The numbers heading the …
- … comments, see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 March [1868] . See letter from A. R. …
- … wife’s parents (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 19 March 1868 ). See letter from A. R. …
- … see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 19 March 1868 . CD probably refers to John Jenner …
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 6 October [1868] …
- … Wallace 1869 ; see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 4 October 1868 and n. 1. …
- … this letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 4 October 1868 . See letter from A. …
- … R. Wallace, 4 October 1868 . See letter from A. R. …
- … Wallace, 4 October 1868 . See also Descent 2: 158–9. See letter from A. R. …
- … Wallace, 4 October 1868 and n. 7. See Descent 2: 196. CD refers to the manuscript of A. R. …
From A. R. Wallace 18 September [1868]
Summary
Submits a 15–point argument against CD’s views on the coloration of female birds and insects.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 82: A14–17 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6375 |
Matches: 9 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 18 September [1868] …
- … Wallace sent insect specimens, see the letter to A. R. Wallace, 16 September [1868] . …
- … and insects, see the letter to A. R. Wallace, 16 September [1868] and n. 4. See, for …
- … see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 15 March [1868] and n. 2, Bates 1861 , A. R. …
- … now Hypolimnas ) (see letters from A. R. Wallace, 28 April [1868] and 1 May [1868] , and …
- … 5 May [1868] ). Wallace referred to a Malayan Diadema and to Pieris pyrrha in [A. R. …
- … R. Wallace, [24 June 1867] and n. 5; see also CD’s annotations to the letter from Albert Günther, [late December 1867 or early January 1868] ( …
- … Wallace, 30 April [1868] ; see also Origin 4th ed. , p. 241. See, for example, letters to A. R. …
- … Wallace, 15 April [1868] and 5 May [1868] . For CD’s recently published discussion on this subject, see Variation 2: 71–5. In his letters to A. R. …
From A. R. Wallace 24 March [1868]
Summary
Returns George Darwin’s criticisms of his notes on sterility and sends further notes in reply. Since there are degrees of sterility between varieties, "is it not probable that natural selection can accumulate these variations?" Varieties that are adapted to new conditions could then survive and form new species without being isolated.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 24 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B61–2, B158–9 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6045 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 24 March [1868] …
- … this letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 19 March 1868 . See letter to A. …
- … enclosure to letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 ). CD had enclosed George’s …
- … see enclosure to letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 ). In Variation 2: 188, CD had …
- … 1867–8 (see letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] ). Wallace’s remarks are in reply …
- … R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] . See letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] and n. 3. …
- … R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] . See also Variation 2: 188. See letter to A. R. Wallace, [ …
From A. R. Wallace 28 April [1868]
Summary
Various topics related to sexual selection: sexual differences, sexual preferences, coloration.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 28 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 120–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6144 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 28 April [1868] …
- … A theory of birds’ nests’ ( A. R. Wallace 1868 ). See letter to A. R. Wallace, 15 …
- … this letter and the letter to A. R. Wallace, 15 April [1868] . Thomas Clifford Allbutt . …
- … are poisonous. See letter to A. R. Wallace, 15 April [1868] and n. 4. Wallace refers to …
- … Nymphalidae). See letter to A. R. Wallace, 15 April [1868] . Wallace had discovered that …
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 |
Matches: 4 hits
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 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 19 March 1868 …
- … See letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 [March 1868] and n. 3). See letter to A. R. Wallace, …
- … was about (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 15 March [1868] and n. 6). In his letter of …
- … selection (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 and enclosure). George Howard …
- … s work (see letter to A. R. Wallace, 17 [March 1868] ). The enclosure has not been …
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 5 May [1868] …
- … this letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 May [1868] . See letter from A. R. …
- … produced. See letter from A. R. Wallace, 28 April [1868] . CD discussed Wallace’s views …
- … 2: 166–80. See letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 May [1868] ; see also Descent 1: 413–15 and …
- … see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 May [1868] . Wallace wrote on the protective …
- … 1868] ; CD discussed the tusks of female elephants and the horns of female reindeer in Descent 2: 243–4. See letter from A. R. Wallace, …
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 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 6 April [1868] …
- … this letter and the letter to A. R. Wallace, 27 March [1868] . CD refers to Wallace’s …
- … selection (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 and enclosure). Joseph Dalton …
- … see enclosure to letter to A. R. Wallace, [21 March 1868] , and letter from A. …
- … R. Wallace, 24 March [1868] ). See enclosure to letter from A. R. …
- … Wallace, 1 March 1868 . Herbert Spencer . See letter from A. R. …
- … Wallace, 24 March [1868] and n. 5. See letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 March [1868] and …
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 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 30 April [1868] …
- … April [1868] . See letter from A. R. Wallace, 28 April [1868] . See letter to A. R. …
- … letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 28 April [1868] . CD refers to Thomas Clifford …
- … Wallace, 28 April [1868] . CD’s discussion of the ‘law’ that the sperm cell always travels to the germ cell has not been identified. See letter from A. R. …
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 17 [March 1868] …
- … A theory of birds’ nests’ ( A. R. Wallace 1868 ), which appeared in the short-lived …
- … letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 15 March [1868] . In his letter of 15 March [ …
- … enclosure to letter from A. R. Wallace, 1 March 1868 ). George Howard Darwin . CD refers …
- … and n. 3). See letter from A. R. Wallace, 15 March [1868] and n. 7. According to Emma …
- … 1868. See letter from A. R. Wallace, 15 March [1868] and n. 6. CD’s paper, ‘Specific …
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 23 September [1868] …
- … this letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 18 September [1868] . Letter from A. …
- … genus (see letter from A. R. Wallace, 18 September [1868] and n. 7). CD discussed the …
- … resemblances among animals’), and A. R. Wallace 1868 (‘A theory of birds’ nests: shewing …
- … see the letter to A. R. Wallace, 16 September [1868] and n. 4. On the transmission of …
- … Wallace, 18 September [1868] . CD was writing the portion of Descent on sexual selection and birds (see CD’s ‘Journal’ ( Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix II), and letter to A. R. …
From A. R. Wallace [11 September 1868]
Summary
ARW’s wife will accompany him to Down.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [11 Sept 1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 148: 426b |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6362 |
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 27 February [1868] …
- … letter and the letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February 1868 . See letter from A. R. …
- … paradise, see the letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February 1868 . CD was in London from 3 …
- … Herbert Spencer ; see letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February 1868 and n. 6. CD refers …
- … Wallace 1868 . See letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February 1868 and n. 3. …
- … Wallace’s further argument that hybrid sterility could evolve through natural selection, see the enclosure to his letter of 1 March 1868 . See Variation 2: 185–9. A. R. …
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 |
From A. R. Wallace 4 October 1868
Summary
Sexual differences in coloration. Sexual selection versus natural selection as explanations. ARW continues to argue against sexual selection, saying that natural selection, in keeping the female dull for protection, would account for differences in sexual colouring more effectively than inheritance and partial transmission of sexually selected male colours. Colours of female birds of paradise. Protective coloration. Disagrees with CD on coincidence of hidden nests and bright colours of females.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 4 Oct 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 106: B68–69 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6408 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … From A. R. Wallace 4 October 1868 …
- … See letter to A. R. Wallace, 23 September [1868] . Wallace also refers to the manuscript …
- … rufa . See letter from A. R. Wallace, 18 September [1868] , n. 8. Wallace presented …
- … for protection (see letter to A. R. Wallace, 23 September [1868] ). CD had asked why he …
- … Wallace, 18 September [1868] and n. 7. See letter to A. R. Wallace, 23 September [ …
- … Wallace; they may have discussed it when they met in September (see letter to J. D. Hooker, [8–10 September 1868] and n. 8). See letter from A. R. …
- … 1868] ). The old order Gallinaceae is roughly equivalent to the modern order Galliformes. Pavo muticus is the green peafowl; Gallus bankiva is now G. gallus , the red junglefowl. Wallace may refer to the crested argus and great argus, both in the pheasant family; see Birds of the world 2: 550–1. Wallace discussed the protective coloration of what he called the great argus pheasant in A. R. …
From A. R. Wallace 1 May [1868]
Summary
Answers CD’s objection [see 6121 and 6146] about sexual differences and protective colouring. Summarises his theory of colour in nature.
| Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 1 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 83: 191–2 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6153 |
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … To A. R. Wallace 19 August [1868] …
- … 1869 . See letter from A. R. Wallace, 16 August [1868] and n. 5. See …
- … Wallace, 1 May [1868] , and letter to A. R. Wallace, 5 May [1868] . See Origin , pp. …
- … August 1868 ( Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)). See letter from A. R. Wallace, 16 August [ …
- … Wallace, 16 August [1868] . CD refers to George Henry Lewes ; see letter from G. H. Lewes, 26 July 1868 and n. 2. See letter from A. R. …
- … 1868 , and letter to Asa Gray, 15 August [1868] ). He was to deliver the presidential address at the British Association meeting (see n. 2, above). The book was published as A. R. Wallace …
| Darwin, C. R. | (51) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (32) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (2) |
| Shaw, James | (2) |
| Trimen, Roland | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (53) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (25) |
| Weir, J. J. | (6) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (4) |
| Trimen, Roland | (4) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (104) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (57) |
| Weir, J. J. | (8) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (6) |
| Trimen, Roland | (6) |
