To Albert Günther 13 May [1872]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
May 13
My dear Dr. Günther
Will you have the kindness to answer me a simple question. Is the Horned Toad, of Oregon, the Tapaya Douglassii, a Batrachian or Lizard? I ask because I believe that the the Horned Frog of California, the Phrynosoma Cornuta is a Lizard.— If the names are synonyms, which is right; & have I spelled them rightly?2
I shall be anxious to hear, as I sincerely hope may be the case, that you are successful about promotion in B. Museum. I do not know whether I judged wisely but I thought my form of Testimonial would be the best for the Trustees, as many of them know nothing of science, but wd. regard a European reputation.3
Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Expression: The expression of the emotions in man and animals. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
Is the horned toad of Oregon a batrachian or a lizard?
Hopes AG will be promoted in the British Museum.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8324
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf (Albert) Günther
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8324,” accessed on
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20
