To Osbert Salvin 1 November [1871]
Down, | Beckenham, Kent.
Nov. 1
My dear Mr Salvin
How good you have been. I have been very glad to see the 2 specimens, especially the Merganetta, for as far as fitness for sifting is concerned, it is a capital link between the Shoveller & common duck. I could hardly have desired a better; & so is in some slight degree the Aix.1 I soaked the heads for an hour or two, & now they are drying on my table.2 & tomorrow or day after I will send them to station. Thanks to you, I have worked out my case far better than I ever dreamed of doing
Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
P.S. I will send the Box off to night by our Carrier. to London & by Deliverance Coy to you.— Carriage paid whole way.— I think this safer than Railway.—
November 1st.—
Footnotes
Bibliography
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
He appreciates the two specimens [skins of Mergenetta and Aix sponsa], especially the Mergenetta, which as far as sifting is concerned, is a capital link between the shoveller and the common duck. Arrangements for their return.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8045A
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Osbert Salvin
- Sent from
- Down
- Postmark
- NO 2 71
- Source of text
- Sybil Rampen (private collection)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8045A,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8045A.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 19
