From G. E. Dobson 12 April 1878
Royal Victoria Hospital, | Netley, | Southampton.
12th. April 1878.
Dear Dr. Darwin
By same post I send you two specimens of monstrous fuchsia flowers in which the connective of the anthers of some of the stamens appears to have assumed a petaloid structure and appearance. They were the first flowers that appeared upon a fuchsia tree in my greenhouse, subsequent flowers have developed all their organs symmetrically. Perhaps you have seen this monstrosity before; however I send them on the chance that they may prove interesting to you in connection with your studies on the morpology of the flower.
I would feel greatly obliged if you would kindly spare me a little of your valuable time to let me know whether, during your visit to the Galapagos Islands you observed any Bats there. I am writing the introduction to my Natural History of the Order Chiroptera (which will be published about the end of this month in the form of a Brit. Mus. Catalogue)1 and in treating of the Geographical Distribution of the Species I find it impossible to obtain any information as to the presence or absence of Bats in the Galapagos Group, and in this difficulty I take the liberty of asking your kind assistance.
I remain, | dear Dr. Darwin, | very faithfully yours | G E Dobson
Footnotes
Bibliography
Dobson, G. E. 1878. Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum. London: The Trustees.
Summary
Sends CD two specimens of Fuchsia monstrosities.
He is writing on the geographical distribution of Cheiroptera and can find no information on presence or absence of bats in the Galapagos. Did CD see any there?
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11472
- From
- George Edward Dobson
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- R. Victoria Hosp., Netley
- Source of text
- DAR 162: 193
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11472,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11472.xml