To E. W. V. Harcourt 12 June [1856]
Summary
Would like to compare the length of the wings of non-migratory and migratory swallows.
Wonders if EWVH could show him skins of Columba livia.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward William Vernon Harcourt |
Date: | 12 June [1856] |
Classmark: | Bodleian Libraries, Oxford (MS. Harcourt dep. adds. 346, fols. 252–4) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1900F |
To W. D. Fox 14 June [1856]
Summary
Does not intend to work systematically on cats. Their origin is in doubt and they have been crossed too many ways.
It would be valuable to know whether half-bred ducks are fertile inter se or with a third breed. Is investigating this with pigeons.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Darwin Fox |
Date: | 14 June [1856] |
Classmark: | Christ’s College Library, Cambridge (MS 53 Fox 98) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1901 |
To Charles Lyell 16 [June 1856]
Summary
Condemns theory of Edward Forbes and others that many islands were formerly connected to South America by now submerged continents.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 16 [June 1856] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.131) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1902 |
To J. S. Henslow 16 June [1856]
Summary
Sends a cultivated specimen of Myosotis (first generation) grown from seed sent by JSH. Asks for a tuft of flower.
Hopes JSH will publish a book on teaching botany, because he has no idea how to begin with his children.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Stevens Henslow |
Date: | 16 June [1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: A110–11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1903 |
To J. D. Hooker 17–18 [June 1856]
Summary
Comments on Huxley–Falconer dispute [see "On the method of palaeontology", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 18 (1856): 43–54].
Wollaston’s On the variation of species [1856].
Has exploded to Lyell against the extension of continents.
Plants common to Europe and NW. America as result of temperate climate.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 17–18 [June 1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 170 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1904 |
To Robert Everest? 18 June [1856]
Summary
Seeks to verify whether bulldogs have degenerated in India [see Variation 1: 37–8].
CD has "sometimes gone so far as to doubt whether climate has any influence even on colour".
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Robert Everest |
Date: | 18 June [1856] |
Classmark: | Barbara and Robert Pincus (private collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1906 |
To J. D. Hooker 22 June [1856]
Summary
CD sends reference for "Laburnum case", with comment on his own credulity.
Wants to quote JDH on plants endemic to NW. America.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 22 June [1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 165 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1908 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 24 June [1856]
Summary
Now has 89 pigeons. The laughing pigeons are safe at Down. Can WBT spare a pair of Mr Gulliver’s runts?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | 24 June [1856] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1909 |
To E. W. V. Harcourt 24 June [1856]
Summary
Thanks EWVH for his offer but he is not likely to go to London soon to visit John Leadbeater, the bird dealer; he could take a rock pigeon for comparison, but other skins he would have compare at the British Museum.
Would be obliged if EWVH could investigate domestic species in Egypt, especially a type of dog depicted in ancient monuments; and he is particularly interested in tumbler pigeons.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Edward William Vernon Harcourt |
Date: | 24 June [1856] |
Classmark: | Bodleian Libraries, Oxford (MS. Harcourt dep. adds. 346, fols. 255–7) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1909F |
To Charles Lyell 25 June [1856]
Summary
Criticises at length the concept of submerged continents attaching islands to the mainland in the recent period. Notes drastic alteration of geography required, the dissimilar species on opposite shores of continents, and differences between volcanic islands and mountains of mainland areas. Admits sea-bed subsidence, but not enough to engulf continents. Denies that theory can explain island flora and fauna.
Considers Edward Forbes’s idea a check on study of dissemination of species.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 25 June [1856] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.132) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1910 |
DCP-LETT-1912B
Summary
Cancelled: appears in 1917.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 5 July [1856] |
Classmark: | Charles Lyell’s notebook 213: 101–2? |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1912B |
To W. B. Tegetmeier [July 1856]
Summary
His laughers are well, and he has heard them emit an odd note.
Thinks there is an extra vertebra in the neck of the Scandaroon, but is not certain and may have blundered.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | [July 1856] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1913 |
To T. H. Huxley 1 July [1856]
Summary
Asks for information on geographical distribution of ascidians; are any closely allied species or genera found in north and south temperate zones that do not have representatives in the tropics?
Answers some questions on [cirripede] antennae.
If THH ever sees a tree washed ashore, will he observe whether any earth is embedded between roots?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Thomas Henry Huxley |
Date: | 1 July [1856] |
Classmark: | Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine Archives (Huxley 5: 175, 37–9) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1914 |
To J. E. Gray 1 July [1856]
Summary
Requests information on ranges of echinoderms for his essay on variation [Natural selection]. Are there genera with representative species in northern and southern seas, but none in tropics?
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Edward Gray |
Date: | 1 July [1856] |
Classmark: | Natural History Museum, Library and Archives (General Special Collections MSS DAR 69) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1915 |
To Charles Lyell 5 July [1856]
Summary
Discusses theory of submerged continental extensions. Objects that if it is applied to one island, it must be applied to all. Admits that some volcanoes may have been associated with subsidence, in contrast to his former view. Cites evidence from S. American Cordillera. Doubts that elevation associated with volcanoes is merely local, and that great ocean areas are necessarily sinking.
Says he will make his essay [on species] as complete as possible and will discuss CL’s Principles.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 5 July [1856] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.133) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1917 |
To J. D. Hooker 5 [July 1856]
Summary
CD cannot swallow continental extensions. Has written to Lyell giving a lengthy criticism of the concept [see 1910] and has asked Lyell to forward the letter to JDH.
Perhaps Aristolochia and Viscum are protandrous.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 5 [July 1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 166 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1918 |
To J. D. Hooker 5 July [1856]
Summary
Troubled by JDH’s connection between Antarctic island flora and Fuegia, which CD sees as part of a general relation to southern circumpolar flora. Encloses list [not found] of plants from Tristan d’Acunha.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 5 July [1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 167 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1919 |
DCP-LETT-1919A
Summary
Cancelled: appears in 1920.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 8 July [1856] |
Classmark: | Charles Lyell’s notebook II: 95–8? |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1919A |
To Charles Lyell 8 July [1856]
Summary
Thanks CL for loan of [Matthew Fontaine?] Maury’s map.
Discusses possibility of submerged continental extension including Madeira, Canaries, and Azores.
Mentions icebergs as carriers of European plants.
Hooker’s work on Antarctic flora.
Comments on coolness of tropics in glacial period and consequent migrations. Hooker’s views on this.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Charles Lyell, 1st baronet |
Date: | 8 July [1856] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.134) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1920 |
To J. D. Hooker 8 [July 1856]
Summary
CD writing species sketch; must cite cases favouring multiple creations.
Requests details on species JDH listed as common to Chile and New Zealand. Notes their genera are mundane.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Dalton Hooker |
Date: | 8 [July 1856] |
Classmark: | DAR 114: 168 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1921 |
letter | (189) |
Hooker, J. D. | (30) |
Tegetmeier, W. B. | (24) |
Lubbock, John | (10) |
Lyell, Charles | (9) |
Huxley, T. H. | (8) |