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Darwin Correspondence Project

To John Murray   2 November [1867]1

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

Nov 2.

My dear Sir

Many thanks about the index. I have returned the M.S. with a note to Mr Dallas; it seems very well done but rather too full.2

With respect to the story of a hybrid from an ass and a bull (for I presume you refer to such) it is utterly incredible.3 Many similar stories have been propagated, but on investigation have proved entirely false.

The explanation has generally been a slight monstrosity.

My dear Sir | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

Footnotes

The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from W. S. Dallas, 4 November 1867.
CD refers to William Sweetland Dallas’s specimen of the index for Variation (see letter from John Murray, 1 November [1867]). Neither the enclosure nor CD’s note to Dallas has been found.

Bibliography

Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.

Summary

Dallas’ index [for Variation] well done but rather too full.

A hybrid from an ass and a bull is utterly incredible.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-5667
From
Charles Robert Darwin
To
John Murray
Sent from
Down
Source of text
National Library of Scotland (John Murray Archive) (Ms.42152 ff. 176–177)
Physical description
LS 2pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5667,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5667.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 15

letter