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Darwin Correspondence Project

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

Dobson refers to his Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum (Dobson 1878).

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 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11472.xml

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