To J. J. Weir 7 May [1868]
Summary
Thanks JJW for his great assistance.
Discusses sexual selection in birds.
Sends queries on secondary sexual characteristics of birds.
Has often marvelled at the different growth of the flowering and creeping branches of ivy.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 7 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6165 |
Matches: 18 hits
- … Henslow 1868 ); see also letter from George Henslow, 13 April 1868 . For CD’s own interest …
- … Weir, 27 February [1868] and 29 February [1868] , and letter from J. J. …
- … Weir, [before 5] March 1868 ; see also letter from Harrison Weir, 28 March 1868 . No …
- … 4–7] May 1868 . In his letter to Weir of 18 April [1868] , CD had asked Weir’s opinion of …
- … letter from J. J. Weir, [4–7] May 1868 . Weir had written four letters to CD since CD’s …
- … while young. Weir’s reply is in his letter to CD of 20 April 1868. See letter from J. …
- … began working on the section on birds for Descent on 17 May 1868. See letter from J. J. …
- … Weir, [4–7] May 1868 . See letter to J. J. …
- … letter from J. J. Weir, [4–7] May 1868 . See letter from J. J. …
- … Weir, 20 April 1868 . See letter from J. J. …
- … letter to him: see letters from J. J. Weir, 20 April 1868 , [before 28 April] 1868 , 28 …
- … 1861] and n. 6. See letter from J. J. Weir, 28 April – 4 May 1868 . CD probably refers …
- … J. Weir, [4–7] May 1868 and n. 4. See letters to J. J. …
- … Weir, 4 April [1868] and n. 4. The letter to Abraham Dee Bartlett has not been found. See …
- … in Descent 1: 417 (see letter from J. J. Weir, 24 March 1868 ). In Descent 1: 395, CD …
- … were damaged (see letter from J. J. Weir, [before 5] March 1868 ). According to CD’s ‘ …
- … letter from Richard Spruce to J. D. Hooker, 29 July 1864 , and Climbing plants , p. 105). George Henslow’s paper on phyllotaxis was read at the Linnean Society in April 1868 ( …
- … 1868 . The Gardeners’ Chronicle , 27 April 1861, p. 390, reported that there was a ‘foolish notion’ abroad that the growth of the beans of the previous year was different from that of other years, in that the beans hung down in the pod, rather than being erect; according to the Gardeners’ Chronicle , ‘some of those who insisted on the difference appealed to the position of the suture’. The eccentric growth was thought to coincide with the beginning and the end of the potato blight. See also Correspondence vol. 9, letter …
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: 9 hits
- … on the weekend of 12 and 13 September 1868 ( letter to J. D. Hooker, [8–10 September …
- … Joseph Dalton Hooker visited Freshwater from 8 to 14 August 1868 (see letter from J. D. …
- … Hooker, 6 August 1868 , and letter to Asa …
- … Wallace, 1 May [1868] , and letter to A. R. Wallace, 5 May [1868] . See Origin , pp. …
- … July to 20 August 1868 ( Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242)). See letter from A. R. Wallace, …
- … Wallace, 16 August [1868] . CD refers to George Henry Lewes ; see letter from G. H. …
- … from A. R. Wallace, 16 August [1868] and n. 5. See letter from A. R. …
- … Lewes, 26 July 1868 and n. 2. See letter from A. R. …
- … 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 1869 . See letter …
To H. T. Stainton 2 March [1868]
Summary
Thanks HTS for his valuable information. Hopes to arrive at probable answer to question of proportion of males to females in the progeny of butterflies bred in domestication.
On courtship of butterflies, CD believes something more than chance is involved in determining which male is successful.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Henry Tibbats Stainton |
| Date: | 2 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | Natural History Museum, Library and Archives (General Manuscripts MSS DAR 23) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5967 |
Matches: 17 hits
- … H. W. Bates, 18 February 1868 , and letter from H. T. …
- … quercus (see letter from Roland Trimen, 20 February 1868 , and letter to H. T. …
- … Stainton, 21 February [1868] ). CD’s letter to Armand de Quatrefages has …
- … been found, but see the letter from Armand de Quatrefages, 4 March 1868 . Quatrefages had …
- … John Hellins with his letter to CD of 29 February 1868 . The subject of the ratio of sexes …
- … Stainton, 29 February 1868 . Stainton enclosed copies of letters from Henry Doubleday and …
- … now Samia cynthia ), in his letter to CD of 25 February 1868 . Wallace had not, in fact, …
- … and later corrected CD on this point (see letter from Alexander Wallace, 14 March 1868 ). …
- … In his letter to Stainton of 28 February [1868] , CD had asked whether the colouring of …
- … for protection. In a letter to Stainton of 26 February 1868 , Henry Doubleday mentioned …
- … referred to as whites and yellows). See letter to Henry Doubleday, 1 March [1868] . …
- … See letter from Alexander Wallace, 25 February 1868 . CD refers to the behaviour …
- … Stainton, 20 February 1868 ). In a letter to W. B. …
- … W. B. Tegetmeier, [before 15 February 1868] ). See also letter to H. T. Stainton, 21 …
- … 1868; both Stainton and Henry Walter Bates reported on the meeting to CD (see letter from …
- … out (see enclosure to letter from H. T. Stainton, 29 February 1868 ). In Descent 1: 409, …
- … 1868] , CD had asked for records on proportions of sexes in ‘as many domestic animals as possible’; Tegetmeier offered to tabulate results of his investigation ( letter …
To G. H. K. Thwaites 29 December 1868
Summary
Discusses experiments in breeding fowls.
Comments on letter from S. O. Glenie [see 6440] concerning the eyes of trumpeting elephants.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Henry Kendrick Thwaites |
| Date: | 29 Dec 1868 |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.358) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6514 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … see letter to G. H. K. Thwaites, 19 May [1868] , letter from C. P. Layard to G. …
- … H. K. Thwaites, 28 July 1868 , and letter from S. O. Glenie, 27 November 1868 ). CD …
- … to G. H. K. Thwaites, [before 31 October 1868] . See letter from S. O. Glenie to G. …
- … K. Thwaites, [before 31 October 1868] . See letter from G. H. K. Thwaites, 16 October …
- … 3. In his letter to Thwaites of 28 July 1868 , C. P. Layard had reported owning two …
- … fowl found in Ceylon. See letter to G. H. K. Thwaites, 28 September [1868] and n. …
- … 1868 My dear Thwaites It is extremely kind in you & your friends to take so much trouble about the fowls. If you have not the pure breed the results will of course be doubtful; & I am unwilling to believe that Blyth & Layard were both mistaken. I sh d much like to hear whether the males of the black chickens spoken of by Mr Layard, undergo any change when they become adult. I have been very glad to see Mr Glenie’s letter; & …
From Asa Gray 25 May 1868
Summary
CD’s book taking on famously. AG’s review in Nation [see 5921] and preface to American edition.
| Author: | Asa Gray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 25 May 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 165: 164 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6206 |
Matches: 8 hits
- … Gray visited England from mid-September until mid-November 1868 (see letter from Asa …
- … Gray, 17 September 1868 , and letter from J. D. Hooker, 24 November 1868 ). They visited …
- … See letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] . …
- … See letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] and n. 2. Gray’s review in Nation is [A. Gray] …
- … Variation , published by Orange Judd & Co. See letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] and n. …
- … 3. See letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] and n. …
- … 5. See letter to Asa Gray, 8 May [1868] and n. 6. …
- … Massachusetts] 25 May, 1868 My Dear Darwin, I want to write you a long letter—but the time …
To J. J. Weir 30 May [1868]
Summary
Glad to have JJW’s opinion on nest-building. Wallace’s view [that skill is learned] is opposed to many facts.
Asks JJW about birds and their behaviour.
Wants information on the first plumage of different breeds of canaries.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 30 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center (Joseph Halle Schaffner collection box 1, folder 2) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6215 |
Matches: 11 hits
- … this section. See letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 20 May [1868] , and letter from W. B. …
- … to J. J. Weir, 18 April [1868] , and letter from J. J. …
- … Weir, 18 May 1868 , and letter from Edward Blyth, 18 May 1868 and nn. 4 and 5. …
- … between this letter and the letter from Edward Blyth, 18 May 1868 . See letter from J. …
- … Bates, 21 May [1868] . Weir apparently did not visit Down in June (see letter to J. J. …
- … Tegetmeier, 25 May 1868 . See also letter to H. W. …
- … Weir, 20 April 1868 . See letter from J. J. …
- … 1868] ; Weir’s comments on the nest-building instinct may have been in the missing portion of this letter. …
- … see, for example, the letter to A. R. Wallace, 5 May [1868] and n. 7). See also letter …
- … 2: 138–238). See letter from J. J. Weir, [14 April 1868] . CD discussed the relation …
- … Pavo spiciferus. See also letter from J. J. Weir, 23 March 1868 and n. 7. CD refers to …
To J. J. Weir 18 April [1868]
Summary
Discusses rapid replacement of mates among birds. "I begin to think that the pairing of birds must be as delicate and tedious an operation as the pairing of young gentlemen and ladies. If I can convince myself that there are habitually many unpaired birds it will be a great aid to me in sexual selection". Notes rivalry of singing birds.
Heard from George Rolleston of the inherited effects of an eye injury.
Disagrees with A. R. Wallace’s idea "that birds learn to make their nests from having seen them whilst young" ["The philosophy of birds’ nests", Intellect. Obs. 11 (1867): 413–20].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 18 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | Duke University, Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RL.10387) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6128 |
Matches: 14 hits
- … to W. D. Fox, 25 February [1868] , the letter to J. J. Weir, 29 February [1868] , and …
- … missing part of the letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 , or the letter from J. J. …
- … 2. In his letter of 16 April 1868 , Weir had mentioned unpaired birds and also expressed …
- … this letter and the letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 . See letters from J. J. …
- … Weir, 5 April 1868 , [14 April 1868] , and 16 April 1868 . See letter from J. J. …
- … J. Weir, [before 3] March 1868 and [before 5] March 1868 . See letter from J. J. …
- … letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 and n. 6. See letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April …
- … 14 April 1868] . For earlier discussion of bullfinch behaviour, see the letters from J. …
- … Weir, 4 April [1868] and n. 4. See letter from J. J. Weir, 16 April 1868 . In a note …
- … blood (DAR 85: B103). See letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 . CD refers to Edward …
- … refers to William Reeves . See also letter to W. D. Fox, 25 February [1868] and n. …
- … of sexual selection. See letter from J. J. Weir, [14 April 1868] . CD included the …
- … Weir, 16 April 1868 and n. 9. CD refers to Abraham Dee Bartlett ; see letter to J. J. …
- … 1868] and n. 3; in Descent 2: 105–6, CD cited Weir on the incident. For the case of the magpies, see the letter …
To W. D. Fox 12 December [1868]
Summary
Thanks WDF for information about sheep and cattle.
Mentions corrections for new edition of Origin [5th ed. (1869)].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
| Date: | 12 Dec [1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.357) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6500 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … Field , 22 February 1868 (see letter to Gardeners’ …
- … Chronicle , 11 February [1868], and letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 11 February [1868] ). …
- … including those sent by Fox in his letter of 9 December [1868] , are in DAR 85: B25, B40. …
- … the letter from W. D. Fox, 9 December [1868] . See letter from W. D. Fox, 9 December [ …
- … animals in letters published in Gardeners’ Chronicle , 15 February 1868, and in the …
- … forward them to CD ( letter from W. B. Tegetmeier, 9 March 1868 ). CD’s tabulations of …
- … vol. 16, Appendix II)). See also letter to J. D. Hooker, 26 November [1868] . …
To B. D. Walsh 9 June 1868
Summary
Thanks BDW for new facts about Anthocaris [see 6156].
Asks BDW to observe stridulation apparatus in male and female lamellicorns.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Benjamin Dann Walsh |
| Date: | 9 June 1868 |
| Classmark: | Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago (Walsh 13) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6236 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … 28 May 1868 , letters from E. W. …
- … Janson, 25 May 1868 and 4 June 1868 , and letter to H. W. Bates, 21 May [1868] . …
- … Kent. S.E. June 9. 1868 My dear Sir I am very much obliged for your letter of May 1 st , …
- … See letter from B. D. Walsh, 1 May 1868 . Anthocaris (a butterfly genus) is now spelled …
- … 1: 378–85, especially pp. 380–1; see also letters from H. W. Bates, 20 May 1868 and …
- … s criticism, see the letter from B. D. Walsh, 1 May 1868 and n. 11. CD’s work on …
To John Murray 13 April [1868]
Summary
Asks JM to send Variation to G. Boccardo in Italy.
Sends title (suggested by Lyell) for translation of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin (which Dallas is translating). CD does not wish to go to great expense in advertising it.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Murray |
| Date: | 13 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 184–185) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6114 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … W. S. Dallas trans. 1869) in November 1868 ( letter from W. S. Dallas, 27 November …
- … Charles Lyell . For more on the title, see the letter to Fritz Müller, 16 March [1868] . …
- … relationship between this letter and the letter from Gerolamo Boccardo, 23 April 1868 . An …
- … the letter records that a copy of Variation was sent to Boccardo on 15 April 1868. William …
To Roland Trimen 21 February [1868]
Summary
RT’s argument about the Lasiocampa strikes him as very good; asks for any similar cases. Wonders whether male butterflies may serve more than one female.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Roland Trimen |
| Date: | 21 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | Royal Entomological Society (Trimen papers, box 21: 65) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5908 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … Bates . See letter from H. T. Stainton, 20 February 1868 , and letter from H. W. …
- … visited CD at 4 Chester Place on 25 March ( letter to Roland Trimen, [21 March 1868] ). …
- … the relationship between this letter and the letter from Roland Trimen, 20 February 1868 . …
- … See letter from Roland Trimen, 20 February 1868 and n. 13. Henry Tibbats Stainton and …
- … Bates, 21 February 1868 . See letter to H. T. Stainton, 21 February [1868] and n. 6. …
- … See letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 21 February [1868] . …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 23 April [1868]
Summary
Likes WBT’s review [of Variation] in the Field [31 (1868): 309, 350].
Awaits remarks on coloured pigeons and proportion of sexes.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 23 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6141 |
From John Murray 22 September [1868]
Summary
Lost copy of Variation sent to B. D. Walsh has been traced as far as New York.
| Author: | John Murray |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 22 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | DAR 171: 361 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6385 |
To George Bentham 1 May [1868]
Summary
Sends Ernst Haeckel’s [Generelle] Morphologie [1866] and C. K. Sprengel’s book [Entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur (1793)].
A. Gaudry and L. Rütimeyer have declared in favour of CD’s views.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Bentham |
| Date: | 1 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Bentham Correspondence, Vol. 3, Daintree–Dyer, 1830–1884, GEB/1/3: f. 702) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6154 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … letter from Albert Gaudry, 11 January 1868 , and letter from W. B. Dawkins, 31 January …
- … had enquired about in his letter of 30 April 1868 . CD refers to Thomas Henry Huxley . For …
- … the relationship between this letter and the letter from George Bentham, 30 April 1868 . …
- … See letter from George Bentham, 30 April 1868 . CD refers to Federico Delpino . CD …
- … Bentham had enquired about in his letter of 30 April 1868 . An annotated copy of Sprengel …
- … Collection–CUL. See letter from George Bentham, 30 April 1868 . In ‘Three forms of Lythrum …
To Leonard Jenyns 29 February [1868]
Summary
Thanks LJ for his useful facts. Will "look to" the reference about the nightingale.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Leonard Jenyns; Leonard Blomefield |
| Date: | 29 Feb [1868] |
| Classmark: | Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5957 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … this letter and the letter from Leonard Jenyns, 27 February 1868 . Letter from Leonard …
- … Jenyns, 27 February 1868 . See letter from Leonard Jenyns, 27 February 1868 and n. …
- … 10. See letter from Leonard Jenyns, 27 February 1868 and nn. 2 …
- … and 5. See letter from Leonard Jenyns, 27 February 1868 . …
To Alphonse de Candolle 20 July [1868]
Summary
Thanks AdeC for correcting an error about thorns, which CD might have quoted.
CD will be cautious in regard to the muscles of the scalp. [Descent 1: 20].
His health has failed again "in the usual manner" and he has been ordered to do no work.
Repeats how interested and pleased he was by AdeC’s last long, remarkable letter.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Alphonse de Candolle |
| Date: | 20 July [1868] |
| Classmark: | Archives de la famille de Candolle (private collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6282 |
To Ernst Haeckel 19 November 1868
Summary
Congratulates EH on birth of child.
Mentions projected translation of Generelle Morphologie.
Comments on EH’s last book [Natürliche Schöpfungsgeschichte]. Criticises EH’s statements on palaeontology.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Ernst Philipp August (Ernst) Haeckel |
| Date: | 19 Nov 1868 |
| Classmark: | Ernst-Haeckel-Haus (Bestand A-Abt. 1: 1–52/20) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6466 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … See letter to Ernst Haeckel, 7 November 1868 , and letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 November …
- … Haeckel . CD had visited Thomas Henry Huxley on 15 November 1868 (see letter from T. H. …
- … had visited Charles Lyell on 14 November 1868 (see letter to G. H. Lewes, [13 November …
- … Walter Haeckel . See letter from Ernst Haeckel, 9 November 1868 . Haeckel’s wife was Agnes …
- … 1868 My dear Haeckel I must write to you again for two reasons. Firstly to thank you for your letter …
- … 1868 ). Haeckel had asked Huxley to try to persuade the Ray Society to publish a translation of Generelle Morphologie ( Haeckel 1866 ; letter …
From Alexander Wallace 14 March 1868
Summary
On proportion of sexes [of moths?] raised from larvae: AW does not select largest exclusively.
Account of lambing in 1864 after unusual drought.
| Author: | Alexander Wallace |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 14 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 86: A26–7 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6011 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … letter from Jonathan Peel, 4 March 1868 , and letter to Jonathan Peel, 6 March [1868] ). …
- … letter to Henry Doubleday, 1 March [1868] , and the letter to H. T. Stainton, 2 March [ …
- … now Samia cynthia ) in his letters of 25 February 1868 and 28 February 1868. For Wallace’s …
- … the transmutation of one grain species into another, see his letter of 28 February 1868 . …
- … the egg (Latin; see letter from Alexander Wallace, 28 February 1868 ). CD’s discussion of …
- … 27 and 28 December 1867 (see letter to J. P. M. Weale, 23 January [ 1868] and n. 12). …
- … letter to J. B. Innes, 22 December [1862] ( Correspondence vol. 10), CD had expressed disbelief about a similar account of the transmutation of oats into wheat. CD discussed these cereal plants in Variation 1: 312–20, but did not mention any accounts of transmutation of one grain into another. It is not known which of CD’s sons was planning an experiment. CD had evidently met Arthur Gardiner Butler at the British Museum ; he referred to Butler’s observations on butterflies in notes dated 17 March 1868 ( …
To G. H. K. Thwaites 28 September [1868]
Summary
Asks him to thank E. L. Layard for trouble taken.
Says Zoological Society "very foolishly" wants no specimens of domestic varieties [from Ceylon].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | George Henry Kendrick Thwaites |
| Date: | 28 Sept [1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.343) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6395 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … K. Thwaites, 19 May [1868] , and letter from G. H. …
- … letter from G. H. K. Thwaites, 22 July 1868 , and letter from C. P. Layard to G. …
- … K. Thwaites, 22 July 1868 . No more recent letter from Thwaites has been found. In a …
- … O. Glenie, 27 November 1868 , and Correspondence vol. 17, letter from S. O. Glenie, …
- … K. Thwaites of 22 July 1868 . CD refers to Charles Parker Layard. See letter to G. H. …
- … 1868) . No recent correspondence with Edward Blyth concerning black-skinned fowl has been found. However, in 1855, Blyth mentioned difficulty in finding cocks of the black-skinned fowl and noted a similar comment by Edgar Leopold Layard in E. L. Layard 1853–4 , p. 63 (see Correspondence vol. 5, letter …
To J. J. Weir 4 April [1868]
Summary
CD thanks JJW for the mine of information his last "ten!" letters contain. Comments on sexual display of pheasants and colour preferences of pigeons.
Asks about hens that pair earliest in spring and about possible existence of unpaired birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 4 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6090 |
Matches: 9 hits
- … Descent 2: 118. Roland Trimen visited CD in London on 25 March 1868 (see letter to Roland …
- … letter to J. J. Weir, 27 March [1868] , and letter from J. J. Weir, 31 March 1868 and …
- … Trimen, [21 March 1868] ). See letter from Edward Hewitt, 28 March 1868 . In Descent 2: …
- … CD refers to ten letters from Weir dated between [after 27 February] 1868 and …
- … Weir, 24 March 1868 ), CD had asked whether he should forward Weir’s letter to Wallace, …
- … pheasant species. See letter from H. W. Weir, 28 March 1868 . Dun Hen Carrier: a female …
- … of male plumage. See letters from J. J. Weir, 7 March 1868 , 23 March 1868 , and 31 …
- … the Fringillidae, see the letter from J. J. Weir, 11 March 1868 . The order Gallinaceae …
- … 1868. Alfred Russel Wallace had asked Weir to carry out experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars would be refused by birds (see Correspondence vol. 15, letter …
Document type
| letter | (1412) |
| people | (37) |
| bibliography | (1) |
Author
| Darwin, C. R. | (591) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (71) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (33) |
| Weir, J. J. | (25) |
| Dallas, W. S. | (21) |
Addressee
| Darwin, C. R. | (790) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (58) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (28) |
| Tegetmeier, W. B. | (27) |
| Murray, John (b) | (19) |
Correspondent
| Darwin, C. R. | (1381) |
| Hooker, J. D. | (129) |
| Wallace, A. R. | (61) |
| Weir, J. J. | (42) |
| Gray, Asa | (33) |
Date
Search:
1868 letter in keywords
Evolution in Commentary
Evolution in Commentary
4 Items
Inheritance
Summary
It was crucial to Darwin’s theories of species change that naturally occurring variations could be inherited. But at the time when he wrote Origin, he had no explanation for how inheritance worked – it was just obvious that it did. Darwin’s attempt to…
Matches: 1 hits
- … 'Hypotheses may often be of service to science, when they involve a certain portion of …
Sexual selection
Summary
Although natural selection could explain the differences between species, Darwin realised that (other than in the reproductive organs themselves) it could not explain the often marked differences between the males and females of the same species. So what…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Although natural selection could explain the differences between species, Darwin realised that …
The writing of "Origin"
Summary
From a quiet rural existence at Down in Kent, filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on the transmutation of species, Darwin was jolted into action in 1858 by the arrival of an unexpected letter (no longer extant) from Alfred Russel Wallace outlining a…
Matches: 1 hits
- … When I was in spirits I sometimes fancied that my book w d be successful; but I never even …
Natural Selection: the trouble with terminology Part I
Summary
Darwin encountered problems with the term ‘natural selection’ even before Origin appeared. Everyone from the Harvard botanist Asa Gray to his own publisher came up with objections. Broadly these divided into concerns either that its meaning simply wasn’t…
Matches: 1 hits
- … I suppose “natural selection” was bad term but to change it now, I think, would make confusion …
