Darwin Correspondence Project

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Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

April 26

Madam

I am much obliged for your kindness in writing to me. I think it wd. have been an advantage if I had used the word fascination, but I intended to express some such idea when I join to charm admire &c, the word excite.—

I fear that it wd. be very rash to use the illustration of the snake, as very few naturalists believe in snakes having any such power; though I myself am inclined to be a believer.

Madam | Your obliged servant | Ch. Darwin

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f1 7719f.f1
The year is established by the address, with `Bromley' crossed out and `Beckenham' added by hand, a form that CD used from April 1869 to May 1871, and by the reference to Descent (see n. 3, below), which was published in 1871.
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f2 7719f.f2
See letter from E. J. Pfeiffer, [before 26 April 1871].
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f3 7719f.f3
CD refers to Descent 2: 124, where he states that male birds `best able by their various charms to please or excite the female, are under ordinary circumstances accepted'.
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f4 7719f.f4
See letter from E. J. Pfeiffer, [before 26 April 1871].

Darwin Correspondence Project

Darwin, C. R. to Pfeiffer, E. J.

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