To Hubert Airy 10 [December] 18711
Down. Beckenham. | Kent
Nov. 10. 1871.
My dear Sir.
I am much obliged for your letter which has interested me; & the latter part has amused me much—2 I did not know that Lowe was an Evolutionist; though he called here once & was very agreeable—3
Though the action of the Platysma is not really of much importance to me, yet out of a sort of obstinacy I am disappointed that I cannot find out whether it contracts during a shivering fit, which is the point about which I am most curious— I have lately had letters from 2 medical men in hospitals who have been looking out & never once had an opportunity for observation—4
With respect to Phyllotaxy I formerly wasted some time on the subject, but found I had not mathematical knowledge enough for the work. Your view of the form of the bud being an important element is new to me—5 A trustworthy observer, Nägeli, has made one important statement that in the bud the position of the young leaves is not fixed with accuracy,—but is subsequently determined as the shoot elongates a little.— Not long ago I hunted in vain for the reference to Nägeli, to give to Mr Chauncey Wright, who has read in the U. States & will soon publish a paper on this subject.— He is a mathematician, & thinks he has solved the problem—6 Whenever I receive his paper I will lend it you— The Rev. G. Henslow not very long ago published a paper on the subject, but as I had already given it up in despair, I cannot give you a reference— It could easily be obtained at the Linn: Soc:7
Believe me my dear Sir with thanks. | Yours sincerely. | Ch Darwin.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Grant Duff, Mountstuart E. 1897–1905. Notes from a diary. 14 vols. London: John Murray.
Nägeli, Carl Wilhelm von. 1858–68. Beiträge zur Wissenschaftlichen Botanik. 4 pts in 1 vol. Leipzig: Wilhelm Englemann.
Summary
Discusses movement of ears and contraction of the platysma.
Discusses phyllotaxy, citing work of Carl Nägeli and Chauncey Wright.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8060
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Hubert Airy
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 143: 16
- Physical description
- C 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8060,” accessed on 23 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8060.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19