To Nature [before 3 April 1873]
Summary
Comments on article ["Perception and instinct in lower animals", Nature 7 (1871): 377–8].
Explains his contention that "many of the most wonderful instincts have been acquired, independently of habit, through the preservation of useful variations of pre-existing instincts". Cites examples: sterile workers of several species of social insects have acquired different instincts; movements of tumbler pigeons. Speculates that "many instincts have originated from modification or variations in the brain".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Nature |
| Date: | [before 3 Apr 1873] |
| Classmark: | Nature, 3 April 1873, pp. 417–18 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8838 |
To Nature [before 3 April 1873]
Summary
"The following fact with respect to the habits of ants, which I believe to be quite new, has been sent to me by a distinguished geologist, Mr J. D. Hague [see 8788]; and it appears well worth publishing."
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Nature |
| Date: | [before 3 Apr 1873] |
| Classmark: | Nature, 10 April 1873, pp. 443–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8853 |
