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Darwin Correspondence Project

To Albert Günther   13 January [1870]

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

Jan 13th

My dear Dr. Günther

I am very much obliged to you. The sight of the proofs has pleased me more than anything which has happened to me for some weeks.1 Pray tell Mr Ford2 (or show him this note) that I am delighted with their appearance. I hope you are pleased with them, for they all illustrate facts which I give wholly on your authority. I declare I think the sexual differences in the Chæmelions look more wonderful in the figures than in the real specimens.3 They will make my chapter capital. Pray tell Mr Ford that I am excessively pleased, also, with the feathers, which look far better than I thought possible.4 I long to see those of the Argus Pheasant & Peacock—5 There ought to be a drawing of the head of female salmon.—6

Accept my cordial thanks for all your extraordinary kindness

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

The Callionymus also is beautiful.— I lately saw some one who said he did not believe fishes ever differed much sexually!7

Footnotes

CD refers to the proofs of the woodcuts for Descent.
See Descent 2: 35, fig. 35, and 36, fig. 36.
See figures in Descent 2: 63–6.
See Descent 2: 137, fig. 53; 143, fig. 56; 144, fig. 57; 146, fig. 58; 149, fig. 59.
See Descent 2: 5, fig. 27.
The woodcuts of Callionymus lyra (the dragonet) show a male and a female fish.

Bibliography

Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.

Summary

Delighted with proofs of illustrations [for Descent]. Hopes AG is pleased with them, as they illustrate facts given on his authority.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-7077
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
Albrecht Carl Ludwig Gotthilf (Albert) Günther
Sent from
Down
Source of text
Shrewsbury School, Taylor Library
Physical description
ALS 3pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7077,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7077.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 18

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