From Asa Gray 24 February 1868
Summary
AG is writing notice of American edition of Variation [Nation 6 (1868): 234–6].
Pangenesis is "as good an hypothesis as one can now make".
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 161 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5921 |
From A. R. Wallace 24 February 1868
Summary
Responds to CD’s queries on polygamy in birds and orang.
Discusses sexual selection and secondary characters; colours and sexual preference.
Expresses his admiration for Pangenesis; it is superior to Herbert Spencer’s theory.
ARW differs somewhat with CD’s chapter on causes of variability [ch. 22 in Variation]. Thinks several of CD’s arguments are unsound.
Briefly discusses how natural selection might aid in producing sterility between allied species.
Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 106: B70–2, DAR 86: A10–11 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5922 |
From John Murray 24 February [1868]
Summary
Second issue [of Variation] is ready.
Murray thinks that the Athenæum review was written by J. E. Gray [see 5931].
Author: | John Murray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 171: 356 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5923 |
From Robert McLachlan 24 February 1868
Summary
Reports that when August Meyer confined several distinct species of Phryganeidae they coupled and produced fertile ova, indicating that some specific characters are not so important so far as reproduction is concerned [see Descent 1: 342 n. 2].
Author: | Robert McLachlan |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A86–7 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5924 |
From W. S. Dallas 24 February 1868
Summary
Has difficulty translating Piderit’s use of verbissen.
Will hold F. Müller’s book until CD decides about translating it.
Author: | William Sweetland Dallas |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 24 Feb 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 162: 16 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5925 |
Dallas, W. S. | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (1) |
McLachlan, Robert | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | (1) |
Wallace, A. R. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (5) |
Darwin, C. R. | (5) |
Dallas, W. S. | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (1) |
McLachlan, Robert | (1) |
Murray, John (b) | (1) |