To Roland Trimen 21 February [1868]1
Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.
Feb. 21st
My dear Mr Trimen
You are always most kind in aiding me. The argument of the Lasiocampa strikes me as very good—but what an intricate subject it is!—2 I have had excellent letters from Stainton & Bates.3 The latter is much staggered.— Have you ever heard or observed other cases like the Lasiocampa. I think I have seen in England many Butterflies pursuing one.—4
But here comes a doubt may not the same male serve more than one female. I think I will write to Dr. Wallace of Colchester.—5
My women-kind have insisted on coming to London for all March, much to my grief; but I shall get some good, for I shall see some of my friends, & you amongst the number.—6
With very sincere thanks | Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
I shall go doggedly on collecting facts througout the animal kingdom, & possibly at the end some little light may be acquired.— I am getting some of the chief domestic animals tabulated.7
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Summary
RT’s argument about the Lasiocampa strikes him as very good; asks for any similar cases. Wonders whether male butterflies may serve more than one female.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5908
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Roland Trimen
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Royal Entomological Society (Trimen papers, box 21: 65)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5908,” accessed on 17 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5908.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 16