To J. T. Moggridge 9 October [1872]1
Sevenoaks
Oct. 9
My dear Mr. Moggridge
I have just received your note, forwarded to me from my home. I thank you very truly for your intended present, and I am sure that your book will interest me greatly.2 I am delighted that you have taken up the very difficult and most interesting subject of the habits of insects, on which Englishmen have done so little. How incomparably more valuable are such researches than the mere description of a thousand species.— I dare say you have thought of experimenting on the mental powers of the spiders, by fixing their trapdoors open in different ways and at different angles, and observing what they will do.3
We have been here some days and intend staying some weeks, for I was quite worn out with work and cannot be idle at home.4
I sincerely hope that your health is not worse.5
Believe me | Your’s very truly | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Moggridge, John Traherne. 1873. Harvesting ants and trap-door spiders: notes and observations on their habits and dwellings. London: L. Reeve & Co.
Summary
Discusses JTM’s research on habits of insects. "How incomparably more valuable are such researches than the mere description of a thousand species."
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8550
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- John Traherne Moggridge
- Sent from
- Sevenoaks
- Source of text
- DAR 146: 378
- Physical description
- C 1p
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8550,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8550.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20