To Gerard Krefft 17 February 1873
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Feb 17 1873
My dear Sir
I am very much obliged for yr kind letter; & am much pleased that you have been interested in my Descent of Man—1
I have been glad to hear about the monkey throwing stones.2 The photos of the skulls seem very curious, but as I have never attended much to skulls & as it is a pity that such interesting drawings should be wasted, I will send them to Mr Busk who will appreciate them better than any one else in England.3
I shall feel much obliged for any observations which you may be inclined to communicate to me; & I heartily wish so excellent an observer had less of his time taken up with routine work—
I published, a year ago, a new, & I hope, much improved ed. of my Origin of Species,4 & I have thought that you might like to possess a copy & will therefore send one.
Pray believe me | dear Sir | yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin
P.S. As you are so kind as to offer me information,5 will you observe & tell me, whether during rainy weather, (or at other times in damp & shady valleys) the worms throw up on the grass-lawns or plains, or in the woods many vermiform castings or little heaps of their earthy excrement? You will remember the appearance of lawns in the Spring & autumn in Europe.— In India I hear that the ground is covered during the rainy season with gigantic castings.—6 Is Australia too dry for the worms thus to act?
I have opened my letter to insert this, & shd. be grateful for an answer—
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Earthworms: The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1881.
Origin 6th ed.: The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
Is glad JLGK has been interested in Descent.
Thanks him for his observations on monkey behaviour [see 8698]
and drawings of skulls, which CD has sent to George Busk.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8768
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Johann Louis Gerard (Gerard) Krefft
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Mitchell Library, Sydney (MLMSS 5828)
- Physical description
- LS(A) 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8768,” accessed on 23 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8768.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21