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Title: More Letters of Charles Darwin Volume II
Volume II (of II)
Author: Charles Darwin
Editor: Francis Darwin and A.C. Seward
Posting Date: December 1, 2008 [EBook #2740]
Release Date: July, 2001
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MORE LETTERS OF CHARLES DARWIN ***
Produced by Sue Asscher
MORE LETTERS OF CHARLES DARWIN
By Charles Darwin
A RECORD OF HIS WORK IN A SERIES OF HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED LETTERS
EDITED BY FRANCIS DARWIN, FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, AND A.C. SEWARD,
FELLOW OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
IN TWO VOLUMES
Transcriber's Notes:
All biographical footnotes of both volumes appear at the end of Volume
II.
All other notes by Charles Darwin's editors appear in the text, in
brackets () with a Chapter/Note or Letter/Note number.
VOLUME II.
DEDICATED WITH AFFECTION AND RESPECT, TO
SIR JOSEPH HOOKER
IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIS LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP WITH CHARLES DARWIN
"You will never know how much I owe to you for your constant kindness
and encouragement"
CHARLES DARWIN TO SIR JOSEPH HOOKER, SEPTEMBER 14, 1862
MORE LETTERS OF CHARLES DARWIN
VOLUME II
CHAPTER 2.VII.--GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.
1843-1882 (Continued) (1867-1882.)
LETTER 378. J.D. HOOKER TO CHARLES DARWIN. Kew, January 20th, 1867.
Prof. Miquel, of Utrecht, begs me to ask you for your carte, and offers
his in return. I grieve to bother you on such a subject. I am sick and
tired of this carte correspondence. I cannot conceive what Humboldt's
Pyrenean violet is: no such is mentioned in Webb, and no alpine one at
all. I am sorry I forgot to mention the stronger African affinity of
the eastern Canary Islands. Thank you for mentioning it. I cannot admit,
without further analysis, that most of the peculiar Atlantic Islands
genera were derived from Europe, and have since become extinct there.
I have rather thought that many are only altered forms of existing
European genera; but this is a very difficult point, and would require
a careful study of such genera and allies with this object in view. The
subject has often presented itself to me as a grand one for analytic
botany. No doubt its establishment would account for the community of
the peculiar genera on the several groups and islets, but whilst so
many species are common we must allow for a good deal of migration of
peculiar genera too.
By Jove! I will write out next mail to the Governor of St. Helena for
boxes of earth, and you shall have them to grow. Thanks for telling me
of having suggested to me the working out of proportions of plants with
irregular flowers in islands. I thought it was a deuced deal too good
an idea to have arisen spontaneously in my block, though I did not
recollect your having done so. No doubt your suggestion was crystallised
in some corner of my sensorium. I should like to work out the point.
Have you Kerguelen Land amongst your volcanic islands? I have a curious
book of a sealer who was wrecked on the island, and who mentions a
volcanic mountain and hot springs at the S.W. end; it is called the
"Wreck of the Favourite." (378/1. "Narrative of the Wreck of the
'Favourite' on the Island of Desolation; detailing the Adventures,
Sufferings and Privations of John Munn; an Historical Account of the
Island and its Whale and Sea Fisheries." Edited by W.B. Clarke: London,
1850.)
LETTER 379. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, March 17th, 1867.
It is a long time since I have written, but I cannot boast that I have
refrained from charity towards you, but from having lots of work...You
ask what I have been doing. Nothing but blackening proofs with
corrections. I do not believe any man in England naturally writes so
vile a style as I do...
In your paper on "Insular Floras" (page 9) there is what I must think an
error, which I before pointed out to you: viz., you say that the plants
which are wholly distinct from those of nearest continent are often
very common instead of very rare. (379/1. "Insular Floras," pamphlet
reprinted from the "Gardeners' Chronicle," page 9: "As a general
rule the species of the mother continent are proportionally the most
abundant, and cover the greatest surface of the islands. The peculiar
species are rarer, the peculiar genera of continental affinity are rarer
still; whilst the plants having no affinity with those of the mother
continent are often very common." In a letter of March 20th, 1867,
Sir Joseph explains that in the case of the Atlantic islands it is the
"peculiar genera of EUROPEAN AFFINITY that are so rare," while Clethra,
Dracaena and the Laurels, which have no European affinity, are common.)
Etty (379/2. Mr. Darwin's daughter, now Mrs. Litchfield.), who has read
your paper with great interest, was confounded by this sentence. By the
way, I have stumbled on two old notes: one, that twenty-two species of
European birds occasionally arrive as chance wanderers to the Azores;
and, secondly, that trunks of American trees have been known to be
washed on the shores of the Canary Islands by the Gulf-stream, which
returns southward from the Azores. What poor papers those of A. Murray
are in "Gardeners' Chronicle." What conclusions he draws from a single
Carabus (379/3. "Dr. Hooker on Insular Floras" ("Gardeners' Chronicle,"
1867, pages 152, 181). The reference to the Carabidous beetle
(Aplothorax) is at page 181.), and that a widely ranging genus! He seems
to me conceited; you and I are fair game geologically, but he refers to
Lyell, as if his opinion on a geological point was worth no more than
his own. I have just bought, but not read a sentence of, Murray's
big book (379/4. "Geographical Distribution of Mammals," 1866.),
second-hand, for 30s., new, so I do not envy the publishers. It is clear
to me that the man cannot reason. I have had a very nice letter from
Scott at Calcutta (379/5. See Letter 150.): he has been making some
good observations on the acclimatisation of seeds from plants of same
species, grown in different countries, and likewise on how far European
plants will stand the climate of Calcutta. He says he is astonished
how well some flourish, and he maintains, if the land were unoccupied,
several could easily cross, spreading by seed, the Tropics from north to
south, so he knows how to please me; but I have told him to be cautious,
else he will have dragons down on him...
As the Azores are only about two-and-a-half times more distant from
America (in the same latitude) than from Europe, on the occasional
migration view (especially as oceanic currents come directly from
West Indies and Florida, and heavy gales of wind blow from the same
direction), a large percentage of the flora ought to be American; as it
is, we have only the Sanicula, and at present we have no explanation of
this apparent anomaly, or only a feeble indication of an explanation in
the birds of the Azores being all European.
LETTER 380. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, March 21st [1867].
Many thanks for your pleasant and very amusing letter. You have been
treated shamefully by Etty and me, but now that I know the facts,
the sentence seems to me quite clear. Nevertheless, as we have both
blundered, it would be well to modify the sentence something as follows:
"whilst, on the other hand, the plants which are related to those
of distant continents, but have no affinity with those of the mother
continent, are often very common." I forget whether you explain this
circumstance, but it seems to me very mysterious (380/1. Sir Joseph
Hooker wrote (March 23rd, 1867): "I see you 'smell a rat' in the matter
of insular plants that are related to those of [a] distant continent
being common. Yes, my beloved friend, let me make a clean breast of
it. I only found it out after the lecture was in print!...I have
been waiting ever since to 'think it out,' and write to you about it,
coherently. I thought it best to squeeze it in, anyhow or anywhere,
rather than leave so curious a fact unnoticed.")...Do always remember
that nothing in the world gives us so much pleasure as seeing you here
whenever you can come. I chuckle over what you say of And. Murray, but I
must grapple with his book some day.
LETTER 381. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 31st [1867].
Mr. [J.P. Mansel] Weale sent to me from Natal a small packet of dry
locust dung, under 1/2 oz., with the statement that it is believed that
they introduce new plants into a district. (381/1. See Volume I., Letter
221.) This statement, however, must be very doubtful. From this packet
seven plants have germinated, belonging to at least two kinds of
grasses. There is no error, for I dissected some of the seeds out of
the middle of the pellets. It deserves notice that locusts are sometimes
blown far out to sea. I caught one 370 miles from Africa, and I have
heard of much greater distances. You might like to hear the following
case, as it relates to a migratory bird belonging to the most wandering
of all orders--viz. the woodcock. (381/2. "Origin," Edition VI., page
328.) The tarsus was firmly coated with mud, weighing when dry 9 grains,
and from this the Juncus bufonius, or toad rush, germinated. By the way,
the locust case verifies what I said in the "Origin," that many possible
means of distribution would be hereafter discovered. I quite agree about
the extreme difficulty of the distribution of land mollusca. You will
have seen in the last edition of "Origin" (381/3. "Origin," Edition IV.,
page 429. The reference is to MM. Marten's (381/4. For Marten's read
Martins' [the name is wrongly spelt in the "Origin of Species."])
experiments on seeds "in a box in the actual sea.") that my observations
on the effects of sea-water have been confirmed. I still suspect that
the legs of birds which roost on the ground may be an efficient means;
but I was interrupted when going to make trials on this subject, and
have never resumed it.
We shall be in London in the middle of latter part of November, when I
shall much enjoy seeing you. Emma sends her love, and many thanks for
Lady Lyell's note.
LETTER 382. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, Wednesday [1867].
I daresay there is a great deal of truth in your remarks on the glacial
affair, but we are in a muddle, and shall never agree. I am bigoted to
the last inch, and will not yield. I cannot think how you can attach so
much weight to the physicists, seeing how Hopkins, Hennessey, Haughton,
and Thomson have enormously disagreed about the rate of cooling of the
crust; remembering Herschel's speculations about cold space (382/1.
The reader will find some account of Herschel's views in Lyell's
"Principles," 1872, Edition XI., Volume I., page 283.), and bearing in
mind all the recent speculations on change of axis, I will maintain to
the death that your case of Fernando Po and Abyssinia is worth ten
times more than the belief of a dozen physicists. (382/2. See "Origin,"
Edition VI., page 337: "Dr. Hooker has also lately shown that several of
the plants living on the upper parts of the lofty island of Fernando Po
and on the neighbouring Cameroon mountains, in the Gulf of Guinea, are
closely related to those in the mountains of Abyssinia, and likewise to
those of temperate Europe." Darwin evidently means that such facts as
these are better evidence of the gigantic periods of time occupied by
evolutionary changes than the discordant conclusions of the physicists.
See "Linn. Soc. Journ." Volume VII., page 180, for Hooker's general
conclusions; also Hooker and Ball's "Marocco," Appendix F, page 421. For
the case of Fernando Po see Hooker ("Linn. Soc. Journ." VI., 1861, page
3, where he sums up: "Hence the result of comparing Clarence Peak flora
[Fernando Po] with that of the African continent is--(1) the intimate
relationship with Abyssinia, of whose flora it is a member, and from
which it is separated by 1800 miles of absolutely unexplored country;
(2) the curious relationship with the East African islands, which are
still farther off; (3) the almost total dissimilarity from the Cape
flora." For Sir J.D. Hooker's general conclusions on the Cameroon plants
see "Linn. Soc. Journ." VII., page 180. More recently equally striking
cases have come to light: for instance, the existence of a Mediterranean
genus, Adenocarpus, in the Cameroons and on Kilima Njaro, and nowhere
else in Africa; and the probable migration of South African forms along
the highlands from the Natal District to Abysinnia. See Hooker, "Linn.
Soc. Journ." XIV., 1874, pages 144-5.) Your remarks on my regarding
temperate plants and disregarding the tropical plants made me at first
uncomfortable, but I soon recovered. You say that all botanists would
agree that many tropical plants could not withstand a somewhat cooler
climate. But I have come not to care at all for general beliefs without
the special facts. I have suffered too often from this: thus I found in
every book the general statement that a host of flowers were fertilised
in the bud, that seeds could not withstand salt water, etc., etc. I
would far more trust such graphic accounts as that by you of the mixed
vegetation on the Himalayas and other such accounts. And with respect to
tropical plants withstanding the slowly coming on cool period, I trust
to such facts as yours (and others) about seeds of the same species
from mountains and plains having acquired a slightly different climatal
constitution. I know all that I have said will excite in you savage
contempt towards me. Do not answer this rigmarole, but attack me to your
heart's content, and to that of mine, whenever you can come here, and
may it be soon.
LETTER 383. J.D. HOOKER TO CHARLES DARWIN. Kew, 1870.
(383/1. The following extract from a letter of Sir J.D. Hooker shows the
tables reversed between the correspondents.)
Grove is disgusted at your being disquieted about W. Thomson. Tell
George from me not to sit upon you with his mathematics. When I
threatened your tropical cooling views with the facts of the physicists,
you snubbed me and the facts sweetly, over and over again; and now,
because a scarecrow of x+y has been raised on the selfsame facts, you
boo-boo. Take another dose of Huxley's penultimate G. S. Address, and
send George back to college. (383/2. Huxley's Anniversary Address to the
Geological Society, 1869 ("Collected Essays," VIII., page 305). This is
a criticism of Lord Kelvin's paper "On Geological Time" ("Trans. Geolog.
Soc. Glasgow," III.). At page 336 Mr. Huxley deals with Lord Kelvin's
"third line of argument, based on the temperature of the interior of the
earth." This was no doubt the point most disturbing to Mr. Darwin, since
it led Lord Kelvin to ask (as quoted by Huxley), "Are modern geologists
prepared to say that all life was killed off the earth 50,000, 100,000,
or 200,000 years ago?" Mr. Huxley, after criticising Lord Kelvin's data
and conclusion, gives his conviction that the case against Geology has
broken down. With regard to evolution, Huxley (page 328) ingeniously
points out a case of circular reasoning. "But it may be said that it
is biology, and not geology, which asks for so much time--that the
succession of life demands vast intervals; but this appears to me to
be reasoning in a circle. Biology takes her time from geology. The only
reason we have for believing in the slow rate of the change in living
forms is the fact that they persist through a series of deposits which,
geology informs us, have taken a long while to make. If the geological
clock is wrong, all the naturalist will have to do is to modify his
notions of the rapidity of change accordingly.")
LETTER 384. TO J.D. HOOKER. February 3rd [1868].
I am now reading Miquel on "Flora of Japan" (384/1. Miquel, "Flore du
Japon": "Archives Neerlandaises" ii., 1867.), and like it: it is rather
a relief to me (though, of course, not new to you) to find so very
much in common with Asia. I wonder if A. Murray's (384/2. "Geographical
Distribution of Mammals," by Andrew Murray, 1866. See Chapter V., page
47. See Letter 379.) notion can be correct, that a [profound] arm of
the sea penetrated the west coast of N. America, and prevented the
Asiatico-Japan element colonising that side of the continent so much
as the eastern side; or will climate suffice? I shall to the day of my
death keep up my full interest in Geographical Distribution, but I doubt
whether I shall ever have strength to come in any fuller detail than in
the "Origin" to this grand subject. In fact, I do not suppose any man
could master so comprehensive a subject as it now has become, if all
kingdoms of nature are included. I have read Murray's book, and am
disappointed--though, as you said, here and there clever thoughts occur.
How strange it is, that his view not affording the least explanation of
the innumerable adaptations everywhere to be seen apparently does not
in the least trouble his mind. One of the most curious cases which he
adduces seems to me to be the two allied fresh-water, highly peculiar
porpoises in the Ganges and Indus; and the more distantly allied form
of the Amazons. Do you remember his explanation of an arm of the sea
becoming cut off, like the Caspian, converted into fresh-water, and then
divided into two lakes (by upheaval), giving rise to two great rivers.
But no light is thus thrown on the affinity of the Amazon form. I now
find from Flower's paper (384/3. "Zoolog. Trans." VI., 1869, page 115.
The toothed whales are divided into the Physeteridae, the Delphinidae,
and the Platanistidae, which latter is placed between the two
other families, and is divided into the sub-families Iniinae and
Platanistinae.) that these fresh-water porpoises form two sub-families,
making an extremely isolated and intermediate, very small family. Hence
to us they are clearly remnants of a large group; and I cannot doubt
we here have a good instance precisely like that of ganoid fishes, of a
large ancient marine group, preserved exclusively in fresh-water, where
there has been less competition, and consequently little modification.
(384/4. See Volume I., Letter 95.) What a grand fact that is which
Miquel gives of the beech not extending beyond the Caucasus, and then
reappearing in Japan, like your Himalayan Pinus, and the cedar of
Lebanon. (384/5. For Pinus read Deodar. The essential identity of the
deodar and the cedar of Lebanon was pointed out in Hooker's "Himalayan
Journals" in 1854 (Volume I., page 257.n). In the "Nat. History Review,"
January, 1862, the question is more fully dealt with by him, and the
distribution discussed. The nearest point at which cedars occur is the
Bulgar-dagh chain of Taurus--250 miles from Lebanon. Under the name of
Cedrus atlantica the tree occurs in mass on the borders of Tunis, and as
Deodar it first appears to the east in the cedar forests of Afghanistan.
Sir J.D. Hooker supposes that, during a period of greater cold, the
cedars on the Taurus and on Lebanon lived many thousand feet nearer the
sea-level, and spread much farther to the east, meeting similar belts
of trees descending and spreading westward from Afghanistan along the
Persian mountains.) I know of nothing that gives one such an idea of the
recent mutations in the surface of the land as these living "outlyers."
In the geological sense we must, I suppose, admit that every yard of
land has been successively covered with a beech forest between the
Caucasus and Japan!
I have not yet seen (for I have not sent to the station) Falconer's
works. When you say that you sigh to think how poor your reprinted
memoirs would appear, on my soul I should like to shake you till your
bones rattled for talking such nonsense. Do you sigh over the "Insular
Floras," the Introduction to New Zealand Flora, to Australia, your
Arctic Flora, and dear Galapagos, etc., etc., etc.? In imagination I am
grinding my teeth and choking you till I put sense into you. Farewell. I
have amused myself by writing an audaciously long letter. By the way, we
heard yesterday that George has won the second Smith's Prize, which I am
excessively glad of, as the Second Wrangler by no means always succeeds.
The examination consists exclusively of [the] most difficult subjects,
which such men as Stokes, Cayley, and Adams can set.
LETTER 385. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. March 8th, 1868.
...While writing a few pages on the northern alpine forms of plants
on the Java mountains I wanted a few cases to refer to like Teneriffe,
where there are no northern forms and scarcely any alpine. I expected
the volcanoes of Hawaii would be a good case, and asked Dr. Seemann
about them. It seems a man has lately published a list of Hawaiian
plants, and the mountains swarm with European alpine genera and
some species! (385/1. "This turns out to be inaccurate, or greatly
exaggerated. There are no true alpines, and the European genera are
comparatively few. See my 'Island Life,' page 323."--A.R.W.) Is not this
most extraordinary, and a puzzler? They are, I believe, truly oceanic
islands, in the absence of mammals and the extreme poverty of birds and
insects, and they are within the Tropics.
Will not that be a hard nut for you when you come to treat in detail on
geographical distribution? I enclose Seemann's note, which please return
when you have copied the list, if of any use to you.
LETTER 386. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, February 21st [1870].
I read yesterday the notes on Round Island (386/1. In Wallace's "Island
Life," page 410, Round Island is described as an islet "only about a
mile across, and situated about fourteen miles north-east of Mauritius."
Wallace mentions a snake, a python belonging to the peculiar and
distinct genus Casarea, as found on Round Island, and nowhere else in
the world. The palm Latania Loddigesii is quoted by Wallace as "confined
to Round Island and two other adjacent islets." See Baker's "Flora of
the Mauritius and the Seychelles." Mr. Wallace says that, judging from
the soundings, Round Island was connected with Mauritius, and that when
it was "first separated [it] would have been both much larger and much
nearer the main island.") which I owe to you. Was there ever such an
enigma? If, in the course of a week or two, you can find time to let me
hear what you think, I should very much like to hear: or we hope to be
at Erasmus' on March 4th for a week. Would there be any chance of your
coming to luncheon then? What a case it is. Palms, screw-pines, four
snakes--not one being in main island--lizards, insects, and not one
land bird. But, above everything, such a proportion of individual
monocotyledons! The conditions do not seem very different from the Tuff
Galapagos Island, but, as far as I remember, very few monocotyledons
there. Then, again, the island seems to have been elevated. I wonder
much whether it stands out in the line of any oceanic current, which
does not so forcibly strike the main island? But why, oh, why should so
many monocotyledons have come there? or why should they have survived
there more than on the main island, if once connected? So, again, I
cannot conceive that four snakes should have become extinct in Mauritius
and survived on Round Island. For a moment I thought that Mauritius
might be the newer island, but the enormous degradation which the outer
ring of rocks has undergone flatly contradicts this, and the marine
remains on the summit of Round Island indicate the island to be
comparatively new--unless, indeed, they are fossil and extinct marine
remains. Do tell me what you think. There never was such an enigma.
I rather lean to separate immigration, with, of course, subsequent
modification; some forms, of course, also coming from Mauritius.
Speaking of Mauritius reminds me that I was so much pleased the day
before yesterday by reading a review of a book on the geology of St.
Helena, by an officer who knew nothing of my hurried observations, but
confirms nearly all that I have said on the general structure of the
island, and on its marvellous denudation. The geology of that island was
like a novel.
LETTER 387. TO A. BLYTT. Down, March 28th, 1876.
(387/1. The following refers to Blytt's "Essay on the Immigration of the
Norwegian Flora during Alternating Rainy and Dry Periods," Christiania,
1876.)
I thank you sincerely for your kindness in having sent me your work on
the "Immigration of the Norwegian Flora," which has interested me in the
highest degree. Your view, supported as it is by various facts, appears
to me the most important contribution towards understanding the present
distribution of plants, which has appeared since Forbes' essay on the
effects of the Glacial Period.
LETTER 388. TO AUG. FOREL. Down, June 19th, 1876.
I hope you will allow me to suggest an observation, should any
opportunity occur, on a point which has interested me for many
years--viz., how do the coleoptera which inhabit the nests of ants
colonise a new nest? Mr. Wallace, in reference to the presence of such
coleoptera in Madeira, suggests that their ova may be attached to the
winged female ants, and that these are occasionally blown across the
ocean to the island. It would be very interesting to discover whether
the ova are adhesive, and whether the female coleoptera are guided by
instinct to attach them to the female ants (388/1. Dr. Sharp is good
enough to tell us that he is not aware of any such adaptation. Broadly
speaking, the distribution of the nest-inhabiting beetles is due to
co-migration with the ants, though in some cases the ants transport the
beetles. Sitaris and Meloe are beetles which live "at the expense of
bees of the genus Anthophora." The eggs are laid not in but near the
bees' nest; in the early stage the larva is active and has the instinct
to seize any hairy object near it, and in this way they are carried by
the Anthophora to the nest. Dr. Sharp states that no such preliminary
stage is known in the ant's-nest beetles. For an account of Sitaris and
Meloe, see Sharp's "Insects," II., page 272.); or whether the larvae
pass through an early stage, as with Sitaris or Meloe, or cling to the
bodies of the females. This note obviously requires no answer. I trust
that you continue your most interesting investigations on ants.
(PLATE: MR. A.R. WALLACE, 1878. From a photograph by Maull & Fox.)
LETTER 389. TO A.R. WALLACE.
(389/1. Published in "Life and Letters," III., page 230.)
(389/2. The following five letters refer to Mr. Wallace's "Geographical
Distribution of Animals," 1876.)
[Hopedene] (389/3. Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood's house in Surrey.), June 5th,
1876.
I must have the pleasure of expressing to you my unbounded admiration
of your book (389/4. "Geographical Distribution," 1876.), though I have
read only to page 184--my object having been to do as little as
possible while resting. I feel sure that you have laid a broad and safe
foundation for all future work on Distribution. How interesting it will
be to see hereafter plants treated in strict relation to your views; and
then all insects, pulmonate molluscs and fresh-water fishes, in greater
detail than I suppose you have given to these lower animals. The point
which has interested me most, but I do not say the most valuable point,
is your protest against sinking imaginary continents in a quite
reckless manner, as was stated by Forbes, followed, alas, by Hooker,
and caricatured by Wollaston and [Andrew] Murray! By the way, the main
impression that the latter author has left on my mind is his utter want
of all scientific judgment. I have lifted up my voice against the above
view with no avail, but I have no doubt that you will succeed, owing
to your new arguments and the coloured chart. Of a special value, as it
seems to me, is the conclusion that we must determine the areas, chiefly
by the nature of the mammals. When I worked many years ago on this
subject, I doubted much whether the now-called Palaearctic and Nearctic
regions ought to be separated; and I determined if I made another region
that it should be Madagascar. I have, therefore, been able to appreciate
your evidence on these points. What progress Palaeontology has made
during the last twenty years! but if it advances at the same rate in the
future, our views on the migration and birthplace of the various groups
will, I fear, be greatly altered. I cannot feel quite easy about the
Glacial period, and the extinction of large mammals, but I must hope
that you are right. I think you will have to modify your belief about
the difficulty of dispersal of land molluscs; I was interrupted when
beginning to experimentise on the just hatched young adhering to the
feet of ground-roosting birds. I differ on one other point--viz. in the
belief that there must have existed a Tertiary Antarctic continent, from
which various forms radiated to the southern extremities of our present
continents. But I could go on scribbling forever. You have written, as
I believe, a grand and memorable work, which will last for years as the
foundation for all future treatises on Geographical Distribution.
P.S.--You have paid me the highest conceivable compliment, by what
you say of your work in relation to my chapters on distribution in the
"Origin," and I heartily thank you for it.
LETTER 390. FROM A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. The Dell, Grays, Essex,
June 7th, 1876.
Many thanks for your very kind letter. So few people will read my book
at all regularly, that a criticism from one who does so will be very
welcome. If, as I suppose, it is only to page 184 of Volume I. that you
have read, you cannot yet quite see my conclusions on the points you
refer to (land molluscs and Antarctic continent). My own conclusion
fluctuated during the progress of the book, and I have, I know,
occasionally used expressions (the relics of earlier ideas) which are
not quite consistent with what I say further on. I am positively against
any Southern continent as uniting South America with Australia or New
Zealand, as you will see at Volume I., pages 398-403, and 459-66. My
general conclusions as to distribution of land mollusca are at Volume
II., pages 522-9. (390/1. "Geographical Distribution" II., pages 524,
525. Mr. Wallace points out that "hardly a small island on the globe but
has some land-shells peculiar to it"--and he goes so far as to say that
probably air-breathing mollusca have been chiefly distributed by air-
or water-carriage, rather than by voluntary dispersal on the land.) When
you have read these passages, and looked at the general facts which lead
to them, I shall be glad to hear if you still differ from me.
Though, of course, present results as to the origin and migrations of
genera of mammals will have to be modified owing to new discoveries, I
cannot help thinking that much will remain unaffected, because in all
geographical and geological discoveries the great outlines are soon
reached, the details alone remain to be modified. I also think much of
the geological evidence is now so accordant with, and explanatory of,
Geographical Distribution, that it is prima facie correct in outline.
Nevertheless, such vast masses of new facts will come out in the next
few years that I quite dread the labour of incorporating them in a new
edition.
I hope your health is improved; and when, quite at your leisure, you
have waded through my book, I trust you will again let me have a few
lines of friendly criticism and advice.
LETTER 391. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, June 17th, 1876.
I have now finished the whole of Volume I., with the same interest and
admiration as before; and I am convinced that my judgment was right
and that it is a memorable book, the basis of all future work on the
subject. I have nothing particular to say, but perhaps you would like to
hear my impressions on two or three points. Nothing has struck me more
than the admirable and convincing manner in which you treat Java. To
allude to a very trifling point, it is capital about the unadorned head
of the Argus-pheasant. (391/1. See "Descent of Man," Edition I., pages
90 and 143, for drawings of the Argus pheasant and its markings. The
ocelli on the wing feathers were favourite objects of Mr. Darwin,
and sometimes formed the subject of the little lectures which on rare
occasions he would give to a visitor interested in Natural History. In
Mr. Wallace's book the meaning of the ocelli comes in by the way, in the
explanation of Plate IX., "A Malayan Forest with some of its peculiar
Birds." Mr. Wallace (volume i., page 340) points out that the head of
the Argus pheasant is, during the display of the wings, concealed from
the view of a spectator in front, and this accounts for the absence of
bright colour on the head--a most unusual point in a pheasant. The case
is described as a "remarkable confirmation of Mr. Darwin's views, that
gaily coloured plumes are developed in the male bird for the purpose
of attractive display." For the difference of opinion between the two
naturalists on the broad question of coloration see "Life and Letters,"
III., page 123. See Letters 440-453.) How plain a thing is, when it is
once pointed out! What a wonderful case is that of Celebes: I am glad
that you have slightly modified your views with respect to Africa.
(391/2. "I think this must refer to the following passage in 'Geog.
Dist. of Animals,' Volume I., pages 286-7. 'At this period (Miocene)
Madagascar was no doubt united with Africa, and helped to form a great
southern continent which must at one time have extended eastward as far
as Southern India and Ceylon; and over the whole of this the lemurine
type no doubt prevailed.' At the time this was written I had not paid
so much attention to islands, and in my "Island Life" I have given ample
reasons for my belief that the evidence of extinct animals does not
require any direct connection between Southern India and Africa."--Note
by Mr. Wallace.) And this leads me to say that I cannot swallow the
so-called continent of Lemuria--i.e., the direct connection of Africa
and Ceylon. (391/3. See "Geographical Distribution," I., page 76. The
name Lemuria was proposed by Mr. Sclater for an imaginary submerged
continent extending from Madagascar to Ceylon and Sumatra. Mr. Wallace
points out that if we confine ourselves to facts Lemuria is reduced to
Madagascar, which he makes a subdivision of the Ethiopian Region.) The
facts do not seem to me many and strong enough to justify so immense a
change of level. Moreover, Mauritius and the other islands appear to
me oceanic in character. But do not suppose that I place my judgment
on this subject on a level with yours. A wonderfully good paper was
published about a year ago on India, in the "Geological Journal," I
think by Blanford. (391/4. H.F. Blanford "On the Age and Correlations
of the Plant-bearing Series of India and the Former Existence of an
Indo-Oceanic Continent" ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." XXXI., 1875, page
519). The name Gondwana-Land was subsequently suggested by Professor
Suess for this Indo-Oceanic continent. Since the publication of
Blanford's paper, much literature has appeared dealing with the evidence
furnished by fossil plants, etc., in favour of the existence of a vast
southern continent.) Ramsay agreed with me that it was one of the
best published for a long time. The author shows that India has been a
continent with enormous fresh-water lakes, from the Permian period to
the present day. If I remember right, he believes in a former connection
with S. Africa.
I am sure that I read, some twenty to thirty years ago in a French
journal, an account of teeth of Mastodon found in Timor; but the
statement may have been an error. (391/5. In a letter to Falconer
(Letter 155), January 5th, 1863, Darwin refers to the supposed
occurrence of Mastodon as having been "smashed" by Falconer.)
With respect to what you say about the colonising of New Zealand,
I somewhere have an account of a frog frozen in the ice of a Swiss
glacier, and which revived when thawed. I may add that there is an
Indian toad which can resist salt-water and haunts the seaside. Nothing
ever astonished me more than the case of the Galaxias; but it does
not seem known whether it may not be a migratory fish like the salmon.
(391/6. The only genus of the Galaxidae, a family of fresh-water fishes
occurring in New Zealand, Tasmania, and Tierra del Fuego, ranging north
as far as Queensland and Chile (Wallace's "Geographical Distribution,"
II., page 448).)
LETTER 392. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, June 25th, 1876.
I have been able to read rather more quickly of late, and have finished
your book. I have not much to say. Your careful account of the temperate
parts of South America interested me much, and all the more from knowing
something of the country. I like also much the general remarks towards
the end of the volume on the land molluscs. Now for a few criticisms.
Page 122. (392/1. The pages refer to Volume II. of Wallace's
"Geographical Distribution.")--I am surprised at your saying that
"during the whole Tertiary period North America was zoologically far
more strongly contrasted with South America than it is now." But we know
hardly anything of the latter except during the Pliocene period; and
then the mastodon, horse, several great edentata, etc., etc., were
common to the north and south. If you are right, I erred greatly in my
"Journal," where I insisted on the former close connection between the
two.
Page 252 and elsewhere.--I agree thoroughly with the general principle
that a great area with many competing forms is necessary for much and
high development; but do you not extend this principle too far--I should
say much too far, considering how often several species of the same
genus have been developed on very small islands?
Page 265.--You say that the Sittidae extend to Madagascar, but there
is no number in the tabular heading. [The number (4) was erroneously
omitted.--A.R.W.]
Page 359.--Rhinochetus is entered in the tabular heading under No. 3
of the neotropical subregions. [An error: should have been the
Australian.--A.R.W.]
Reviewers think it necessary to find some fault; and if I were to
review you, the sole point which I should blame is your not giving very
numerous references. These would save whoever follows you great
labour. Occasionally I wished myself to know the authority for certain
statements, and whether you or somebody else had originated certain
subordinate views. Take the case of a man who had collected largely on
some island, for instance St. Helena, and who wished to work out the
geographical relations of his collections: he would, I think, feel very
blank at not finding in your work precise references to all that had
been written on St. Helena. I hope you will not think me a confoundedly
disagreeable fellow.
I may mention a capital essay which I received a few months ago
from Axel Blytt (392/2. Axel Blytt, "Essay on the Immigration of
the Norwegian Flora." Christiania, 1876. See Letter 387.) on the
distribution of the plants of Scandinavia; showing the high probability
of there having been secular periods alternately wet and dry, and of the
important part which they have played in distribution.
I wrote to Forel (392/3. See Letter 388.), who is always at work
on ants, and told him your views about the dispersal of the blind
coleoptera, and asked him to observe.
I spoke to Hooker about your book, and feel sure that he would like
nothing better than to consider the distribution of plants in relation
to your views; but he seemed to doubt whether he should ever have time.
And now I have done my jottings, and once again congratulate you on
having brought out so grand a work. I have been a little disappointed at
the review in "Nature." (392/4. June 22nd, 1876, pages 165 et seq.)
LETTER 393. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. Rosehill, Dorking, July
23rd, 1876.
I should have replied sooner to your last kind and interesting letters,
but they reached me in the midst of my packing previous to removal here,
and I have only just now got my books and papers in a get-at-able state.
And first, many thanks for your close observation in detecting the two
absurd mistakes in the tabular headings.
As to the former greater distinction of the North and South American
faunas, I think I am right. The edentata being proved (as I hold)
to have been mere temporary migrants into North America in the
post-Pliocene epoch, form no part of its Tertiary fauna. Yet in South
America they were so enormously developed in the Pliocene epoch that
we know, if there is any such thing as evolution, etc., that strange
ancestral forms must have preceded them in Miocene times.
Mastodon, on the other hand, represented by one or two species only,
appears to have been a late immigrant into South America from the north.
The immense development of ungulates (in varied families, genera, and
species) in North America during the whole Tertiary epoch is, however,
the great feature which assimilates it to Europe, and contrasts it
with South America. True camels, hosts of hog-like animals, true
rhinoceroses, and hosts of ancestral horses, all bring the North
American [fauna] much nearer to the Old World than it is now. Even the
horse, represented in all South America by Equus only, was probably a
temporary immigrant from the north.
As to extending too far the principle (yours) of the necessity of
comparatively large areas for the development of varied faunas, I may
have done so, but I think not. There is, I think, every probability that
most islands, etc., where a varied fauna now exists, have been once more
extensive--eg., New Zealand, Madagascar: where there is no such evidence
(e.g., Galapagos), the fauna is very restricted.
Lastly, as to want of references: I confess the justice of your
criticism; but I am dreadfully unsystematic. It is my first large work
involving much of the labour of others. I began with the intention of
writing a comparatively short sketch, enlarged it, and added to it bit
by bit; remodelled the tables, the headings, and almost everything else,
more than once, and got my materials in such confusion that it is a
wonder it has not turned out far more crooked and confused than it is.
I, no doubt, ought to have given references; but in many cases I found
the information so small and scattered, and so much had to be combined
and condensed from conflicting authorities, that I hardly knew how
to refer to them or where to leave off. Had I referred to all authors
consulted for every fact, I should have greatly increased the bulk of
the book, while a large portion of the references would be valueless
in a few years, owing to later and better authorities. My experience
of referring to references has generally been most unsatisfactory. One
finds, nine times out of ten, the fact is stated, and nothing more; or a
reference to some third work not at hand!
I wish I could get into the habit of giving chapter and verse for every
fact and extract; but I am too lazy, and generally in a hurry, having to
consult books against time, when in London for a day.
However, I will try to do something to mend this matter, should I have
to prepare another edition.
I return you Forel's letter. It does not advance the question much;
neither do I think it likely that even the complete observation he
thinks necessary would be of much use, because it may well be that the
ova, or larvae, or imagos of the beetles are not carried systematically
by the ants, but only occasionally, owing to some exceptional
circumstances. This might produce a great effect in distribution, yet be
so rare as never to come under observation.
Several of your remarks in previous letters I shall carefully consider.
I know that, compared with the extent of the subject, my book is in
many parts crude and ill-considered; but I thought, and still think, it
better to make some generalisations wherever possible, as I am not at
all afraid of having to alter my views in many points of detail. I was
so overwhelmed with zoological details, that I never went through the
Geological Society's "Journal" as I ought to have done, and as I mean to
do before writing more on the subject.
LETTER 394. TO F. BUCHANAN WHITE.
(394/1. "Written in acknowledgment of a copy of a paper (published by me
in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society") on the Hemiptera of St.
Helena, but discussing the origin of the whole fauna and flora of that
island."--F.B.W.)
Down, September 23rd. [1878].
I have now read your paper, and I hope that you will not think me
presumptuous in writing another line to say how excellent it seems to
me. I believe that you have largely solved the problem of the affinities
of the inhabitants of this most interesting little island, and this is a
delightful triumph.
LETTER 395. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, July 22nd [1879].
I have just read Ball's Essay. (395/1. The late John Ball's lecture
"On the Origin of the Flora of the Alps" in the "Proceedings of the R.
Geogr. Soc." 1879. Ball argues (page 18) that "during ancient Palaeozoic
times, before the deposition of the Coal-measures, the atmosphere
contained twenty times as much carbonic acid gas and considerably less
oxygen than it does at present." He further assumes that in such an
atmosphere the percentage of CO2 in the higher mountains would be
excessively different from that at the sea-level, and appends the result
of calculations which gives the amount of CO2 at the sea-level as 100
per 10,000 by weight, at a height of 10,000 feet as 12.5 per 10,000.
Darwin understands him to mean that the Vascular Cryptogams and
Gymnosperms could stand the sea-level atmosphere, whereas the
Angiosperms would only be able to exist in the higher regions where the
percentage of CO2 was small. It is not clear to us that Ball relies so
largely on the condition of the atmosphere as regards CO2. If he does
he is clearly in error, for everything we know of assimilation points
to the conclusion that 100 per 10,000 (1 per cent.) is by no means a
hurtful amount of CO2, and that it would lead to an especially vigorous
assimilation. Mountain plants would be more likely to descend to the
plains to share in the rich feast than ascend to higher regions to avoid
it. Ball draws attention to the imperfection of our plant records as
regards the floras of mountain regions. It is, he thinks, conceivable
that there existed a vegetation on the Carboniferous mountains of which
no traces have been preserved in the rocks. See "Fossil Plants as Tests
of Climate," page 40, A.C. Seward, 1892.
Since the first part of this note was written, a paper has been read
(May 29th, 1902) by Dr. H.T. Brown and Mr. F. Escombe, before the Royal
Society on "The Influence of varying amounts of Carbon Dioxide in the
Air on the Photosynthetic Process of Leaves, and on the Mode of Growth
of Plants." The author's experiments included the cultivation of several
dicotyledonous plants in an atmosphere containing in one case 180 to 200
times the normal amount of CO2, and in another between three and four
times the normal amount. The general results were practically identical
in the two sets of experiments. "All the species of flowering plants,
which have been the subject of experiment, appear to be accurately
'tuned' to an atmospheric environment of three parts of CO2 per 10,000,
and the response which they make to slight increases in this amount
are in a direction altogether unfavourable to their growth and
reproduction." The assimilation of carbon increases with the increase in
the partial pressure of the CO2. But there seems to be a disturbance
in metabolism, and the plants fail to take advantage of the increased
supply of CO2. The authors say:--"All we are justified in concluding is,
that if such atmospheric variations have occurred since the advent
of flowering plants, they must have taken place so slowly as never
to outrun the possible adaptation of the plants to their changing
conditions."
Prof. Farmer and Mr. S.E. Chandler gave an account, at the same meeting
of the Royal Society, of their work "On the Influence of an Excess of
Carbon Dioxide in the Air on the Form and Internal Structure of Plants."
The results obtained were described as differing in a remarkable way
from those previously recorded by Teodoresco ("Rev. Gen. Botanique,"
II., 1899
It is hoped that Dr. Horace Brown and Mr. Escombe will extend their
experiments to Vascular Cryptogams, and thus obtain evidence bearing
more directly upon the question of an increased amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere of the Coal-period forests.) It is pretty bold. The rapid
development as far as we can judge of all the higher plants within
recent geological times is an abominable mystery. Certainly it would be
a great step if we could believe that the higher plants at first could
live only at a high level; but until it is experimentally [proved] that
Cycadeae, ferns, etc., can withstand much more carbonic acid than the
higher plants, the hypothesis seems to me far too rash. Saporta believes
that there was an astonishingly rapid development of the high plants,
as soon [as] flower-frequenting insects were developed and favoured
intercrossing. I should like to see this whole problem solved. I
have fancied that perhaps there was during long ages a small isolated
continent in the S. Hemisphere which served as the birthplace of the
higher plants--but this is a wretchedly poor conjecture. It is odd
that Ball does not allude to the obvious fact that there must have
been alpine plants before the Glacial period, many of which would have
returned to the mountains after the Glacial period, when the climate
again became warm. I always accounted to myself in this manner for the
gentians, etc.
Ball ought also to have considered the alpine insects common to the
Arctic regions. I do not know how it may be with you, but my faith in
the glacial migration is not at all shaken.
LETTER 396. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN.
(396/1. This letter is in reply to Mr. Darwin's criticisms on Mr.
Wallace's "Island Life," 1880.)
Pen-y-Bryn, St. Peter's Road, Croydon, November 8th, 1880.
Many thanks for your kind remarks and notes on my book. Several of the
latter will be of use to me if I have to prepare a second edition, which
I am not so sure of as you seem to be.
1. In your remark as to the doubtfulness of paucity of fossils being due
to coldness of water, I think you overlook that I am speaking only of
water in the latitude of the Alps, in Miocene and Eocene times, when
icebergs and glaciers temporarily descended into an otherwise warm sea;
my theory being that there was no Glacial epoch at that time, but merely
a local and temporary descent of the snow-line and glaciers owing to
high excentricity and winter in aphelion.
2. I cannot see the difficulty about the cessation of the Glacial
period.
Between the Miocene and the Pleistocene periods geographical changes
occurred which rendered a true Glacial period possible with high
excentricity. When the high excentricity passed away the Glacial epoch
also passed away in the temperate zone; but it persists in the arctic
zone, where, during the Miocene, there were mild climates, and this
is due to the persistence of the changed geographical conditions. The
present arctic climate is itself a comparatively new and abnormal state
of things, due to geographical modification.
As to "epoch" and "period," I use them as synonyms to avoid repeating
the same word.
3. Rate of deposition and geological time. Here no doubt I may have
gone to an extreme, but my "28 million years" may be anything under 100
millions, as I state. There is an enormous difference between mean and
maximum denudation and deposition. In the case of the great faults
the upheaval along a given line would itself facilitate the denudation
(whether sub-aerial or marine) of the upheaved portion at a rate perhaps
a hundred times above the average, just as valleys have been denuded
perhaps a hundred times faster than plains and plateaux. So local
subsidence might itself lead to very rapid deposition. Suppose a portion
of the Gulf of Mexico, near the mouths of the Mississippi, were to
subside for a few thousand years, it might receive the greater portion
of the sediment from the whole Mississippi valley, and thus form strata
at a very rapid rate.
4. You quote the Pampas thistles, etc., against my statement of the
importance of preoccupation. But I am referring especially to St.
Helena, and to plants naturally introduced from the adjacent continents.
Surely if a certain number of African plants reached the island, and
became modified into a complete adaptation to its climatic conditions,
they would hardly be expelled by other African plants arriving
subsequently. They might be so, conceivably, but it does not seem
probable. The cases of the Pampas, New Zealand, Tahiti, etc., are
very different, where highly developed aggressive plants have been
artificially introduced. Under nature it is these very aggressive
species that would first reach any island in their vicinity, and, being
adapted to the island and colonising it thoroughly, would then hold
their own against other plants from the same country, mostly less
aggressive in character.
I have not explained this so fully as I should have done in the book.
Your criticism is therefore useful.
5. My Chapter XXIII. is no doubt very speculative, and I cannot wonder
at your hesitating at accepting my views. To me, however, your theory of
hosts of existing species migrating over the tropical lowlands from the
N. temperate to the S. temperate zone appears more speculative and
more improbable. For where could the rich lowland equatorial flora have
existed during a period of general refrigeration sufficient for this?
and what became of the wonderfully rich Cape flora, which, if the
temperature of tropical Africa had been so recently lowered, would
certainly have spread northwards, and on the return of the heat
could hardly have been driven back into the sharply defined and very
restricted area in which it now exists.
As to the migration of plants from mountain to mountain not being so
probable as to remote islands, I think that is fully counterbalanced by
two considerations:--
a. The area and abundance of the mountain stations along such a range
as the Andes are immensely greater than those of the islands in the N.
Atlantic, for example.
b. The temporary occupation of mountain stations by migrating plants
(which I think I have shown to be probable) renders time a much more
important element in increasing the number and variety of the plants so
dispersed than in the case of islands, where the flora soon acquires
a fixed and endemic character, and where the number of species is
necessarily limited.
No doubt direct evidence of seeds being carried great distances through
the air is wanted, but I am afraid can hardly be obtained. Yet I feel
the greatest confidence that they are so carried. Take, for instance,
the two peculiar orchids of the Azores (Habenaria sp.) What other mode
of transit is conceivable? The whole subject is one of great difficulty,
but I hope my chapter may call attention to a hitherto neglected factor
in the distribution of plants.
Your references to the Mauritius literature are very interesting, and
will be useful to me; and I again thank you for your valuable remarks.
LETTER 397. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(397/1. The following letters were written to Sir J.D. Hooker when he
was preparing his Address as President of the Geographical Section of
the British Association at its fiftieth meeting, at York. The second
letter (August 12th) refers to an earlier letter of August 6th,
published in "Life and Letters," III., page 246.)
4, Bryanston Street, W., Saturday, 26th [February, 1881].
I should think that you might make a very interesting address on
Geographical Distribution. Could you give a little history of the
subject. I, for one, should like to read such history in petto; but I
can see one very great difficulty--that you yourself ought to figure
most prominently in it; and this you would not do, for you are just the
man to treat yourself in a dishonourable manner. I should very much like
to see you discuss some of Wallace's views, especially his ignoring
the all-powerful effects of the Glacial period with respect to alpine
plants. (397/2. "Having been kindly permitted by Mr. Francis Darwin to
read this letter, I wish to explain that the above statement applies
only to my rejection of Darwin's view that the presence of arctic and
north temperate plants in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE was brought about
by the lowering of the temperature of the tropical regions during the
Glacial period, so that even 'the lowlands of these great continents
were everywhere tenanted under the equator by a considerable number of
temperate forms ("Origin of Species," Edition VI., page 338). My
own views are fully explained in Chapter XXIII. of my "Island Life,"
published in 1880. I quite accept all that Darwin, Hooker, and Asa Gray
have written about the effect of the Glacial epoch in bringing about
the present distribution of alpine and arctic plants in the NORTHERN
HEMISPHERE."--Note by Mr. Wallace.) I do not know what you think, but it
appears to me that he exaggerates enormously the influence of debacles
or slips and new surface of soil being exposed for the reception of
wind-blown seeds. What kinds of seeds have the plants which are common
to the distant mountain-summits in Africa? Wallace lately wrote to me
about the mountain plants of Madagascar being the same with those on
mountains in Africa, and seemed to think it proved dispersal by the
wind, without apparently having inquired what sorts of seeds the plants
bore. (397/3. The affinity with the flora of the Eastern African islands
was long ago pointed out by Sir J.D. Hooker, "Linn. Soc. Journal," VI.,
1861, page 3. Speaking of the plants of Clarence Peak in Fernando Po, he
says, "The next affinity is with Mauritius, Bourbon, and Madagascar:
of the whole 76 species, 16 inhabit these places and 8 more are closely
allied to plants from there. Three temperate species are peculiar to
Clarence Peak and the East African islands..." The facts to which
Mr. Wallace called Darwin's attention are given by Mr. J.G. Baker in
"Nature," December 9th, 1880, page 125. He mentions the Madagascar
Viola, which occurs elsewhere only at 7,000 feet in the Cameroons, at
10,000 feet in Fernando Po and in the Abyssinian mountains; and the same
thing is true of the Madagascar Geranium. In Mr. Wallace's letter
to Darwin, dated January 1st, 1881, he evidently uses the expression
"passing through the air" in contradistinction to the migration of a
species by gradual extension of its area on land. "Through the air"
would moreover include occasional modes of transport other than simple
carriage by wind: e.g., the seeds might be carried by birds, either
attached to the feathers or to the mud on their feet, or in their crops
or intestines.)
I suppose it would be travelling too far (though for the geographical
section the discussion ought to be far-reaching), but I should like
to see the European or northern element in the Cape of Good Hope
flora discussed. I cannot swallow Wallace's view that European plants
travelled down the Andes, tenanted the hypothetical Antarctic continent
(in which I quite believe), and thence spread to South Australia and the
Cape of Good Hope.
Moseley told me not long ago that he proposed to search at Kerguelen
Land the coal beds most carefully, and was absolutely forbidden to do
so by Sir W. Thomson, who said that he would undertake the work, and he
never once visited them. This puts me in a passion. I hope that you will
keep to your intention and make an address on distribution. Though I
differ so much from Wallace, his "Island Life" seems to me a wonderful
book.
Farewell. I do hope that you may have a most prosperous journey. Give my
kindest remembrances to Asa Gray.
LETTER 398. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, August 12th, 1881.
...I think that I must have expressed myself badly about Humboldt.
I should have said that he was more remarkable for his astounding
knowledge than for originality. I have always looked at him as, in fact,
the founder of the geographical distribution of organisms. I thought
that I had read that extinct fossil plants belonging to Australian forms
had lately been found in Australia, and all such cases seem to me very
interesting, as bearing on development.
I have been so astonished at the apparently sudden coming in of the
higher phanerogams, that I have sometimes fancied that development might
have slowly gone on for an immense period in some isolated continent or
large island, perhaps near the South Pole. I poured out my idle thoughts
in writing, as if I had been talking with you.
No fact has so interested me for a heap of years as your case of the
plants on the equatorial mountains of Africa; and Wallace tells me that
some one (Baker?) has described analogous cases on the mountains of
Madagascar (398/1. See Letter 397, note.)...I think that you ought to
allude to these cases.
I most fully agree that no problem is more interesting than that of
the temperate forms in the southern hemisphere, common to the north. I
remember writing about this after Wallace's book appeared, and hoping
that you would take it up. The frequency with which the drainage from
the land passes through mountain-chains seems to indicate some general
law--viz., the successive formation of cracks and lines of elevation
between the nearest ocean and the already upraised land; but that is too
big a subject for a note.
I doubt whether any insects can be shown with any probability to have
been flower feeders before the middle of the Secondary period. Several
of the asserted cases have broken down.
Your long letter has stirred many pleasant memories of long past days,
when we had many a discussion and many a good fight.
LETTER 399. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, August 21st, 1881.
I cannot aid you much, or at all. I should think that no one could
have thought on the modification of species without thinking of
representative species. But I feel sure that no discussion of any
importance had been published on this subject before the "Origin,"
for if I had known of it I should assuredly have alluded to it in the
"Origin," as I wished to gain support from all quarters. I did not then
know of Von Buch's view (alluded to in my Historical Introduction in all
the later editions). Von Buch published his "Isles Canaries" in 1836,
and he here briefly argues that plants spread over a continent and
vary, and the varieties in time come to be species. He also argues that
closely allied species have been thus formed in the SEPARATE valleys of
the Canary Islands, but not on the upper and open parts. I could lend
you Von Buch's book, if you like. I have just consulted the passage.
I have not Baer's papers; but, as far as I remember, the subject is not
fully discussed by him.
I quite agree about Wallace's position on the ocean and continent
question.
To return to geographical distribution: As far as I know, no one ever
discussed the meaning of the relation between representative species
before I did, and, as I suppose, Wallace did in his paper before the
Linnean Society. Von Buch's is the nearest approach to such discussion
known to me.
LETTER 400. TO W.D. CRICK.
(400/1. The following letters are interesting not only for their own
sake, but because they tell the history of the last of Mr. Darwin's
publications--his letter to "Nature" on the "Dispersal of Freshwater
Bivalves," April 6th, 1882.)
Down, February 21st, 1882.
Your fact is an interesting one, and I am very much obliged to you for
communicating it to me. You speak a little doubtfully about the name of
the shell, and it would be indispensable to have this ascertained with
certainty. Do you know any good conchologist in Northampton who could
name it? If so I should be obliged if you would inform me of the result.
Also the length and breadth of the shell, and how much of leg (which
leg?) of the Dytiscus [a large water-beetle] has been caught. If you
cannot get the shell named I could take it to the British Museum when I
next go to London; but this probably will not occur for about six weeks,
and you may object to lend the specimen for so long a time.
I am inclined to think that the case would be worth communicating to
"Nature."
P.S.--I suppose that the animal in the shell must have been alive when
the Dytiscus was captured, otherwise the adductor muscle of the shell
would have relaxed and the shell dropped off.
LETTER 401. TO W.D. CRICK. Down, February 25th, 1882.
I am much obliged for your clear and distinct answers to my questions.
I am sorry to trouble you, but there is one point which I do not fully
understand. Did the shell remain attached to the beetle's leg from the
18th to the 23rd, and was the beetle kept during this time in the air?
Do I understand rightly that after the shell had dropped off, both being
in water, that the beetle's antenna was again temporarily caught by the
shell?
I presume that I may keep the specimen till I go to London, which will
be about the middle of next month.
I have placed the shell in fresh-water, to see if the valve will open,
and whether it is still alive, for this seems to me a very interesting
point. As the wretched beetle was still feebly alive, I have put it in
a bottle with chopped laurel leaves, that it may die an easy and quicker
death. I hope that I shall meet with your approval in doing so.
One of my sons tells me that on the coast of N. Wales the bare fishing
hooks often bring up young mussels which have seized hold of the points;
but I must make further enquiries on this head.
LETTER 402. TO W.D. CRICK. Down, March 23rd, 1882.
I have had a most unfortunate and extraordinary accident with your
shell. I sent it by post in a strong box to Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys to be
named, and heard two days afterwards that he had started for Italy.
I then wrote to the servant in charge of his house to open the parcel
(within which was a cover stamped and directed to myself) and return
it to me. This servant, I suppose, opened the box and dropped the glass
tube on a stone floor, and perhaps put his foot on it, for the tube and
shell were broken into quite small fragments. These were returned to me
with no explanation, the box being quite uninjured. I suppose you would
not care for the fragments to be returned or the Dytiscus; but if you
wish for them they shall be returned. I am very sorry, but it has not
been my fault.
It seems to me almost useless to send the fragments of the shell to the
British Museum to be named, more especially as the umbo has been lost.
It is many years since I have looked at a fresh-water shell, but I
should have said that the shell was Cyclas cornea. (402/1. It was Cyclas
cornea.) Is Sphaenium corneum a synonym of Cyclas? Perhaps you could
tell by looking to Mr. G. Jeffreys' book. If so, may we venture to call
it so, or shall I put an (?) to the name?
As soon as I hear from you I will send my letter to "Nature." Do you
take in "Nature," or shall I send you a copy?
CHAPTER 2.VIII.--MAN.
I. Descent of Man.--II. Sexual Selection.--III. Expression of the
Emotions.
2.VIII.I. DESCENT OF MAN, 1860-1882.
LETTER 403. TO C. LYELL. Down, April 27th [1860].
I cannot explain why, but to me it would be an infinite satisfaction to
believe that mankind will progress to such a pitch that we should [look]
back at [ourselves] as mere Barbarians. I have received proof-sheets
(with a wonderfully nice letter) of very hostile review by Andrew
Murray, read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh. (403/1. "On Mr.
Darwin's Theory of the Origin of Species," by Andrew Murray. "Proc. Roy.
Soc., Edinb." Volume IV., pages 274-91, 1862. The review concludes with
the following sentence: "I have come to be of opinion that Mr. Darwin's
theory is unsound, and that I am to be spared any collision between my
inclination and my convictions" (referring to the writer's belief in
Design).) But I am tired with answering it. Indeed I have done nothing
the whole day but answer letters.
LETTER 404. TO L. HORNER.
(404/1. The following letter occurs in the "Memoir of Leonard Horner,
edited by his daughter Katherine M. Lyell," Volume II., page 300
(privately printed, 1890).)
Down, March 20th [1861].
I am very much obliged for your Address (404/2. Mr. Horner's Anniversary
Address to the Geological Society ("Proc. Geol. Soc." XVII., 1861).)
which has interested me much...I thought that I had read up pretty well
on the antiquity of man; but you bring all the facts so well together in
a condensed focus, that the case seems much clearer to me. How curious
about the Bible! (404/3. At page lxviii. Mr. Horner points out that the
"chronology, given in the margin of our Bibles," i.e., the statement
that the world was created 4004 B.C., is the work of Archbishop Usher,
and is in no way binding on those who believe in the inspiration of
Scripture. Mr. Horner goes on (page lxx): "The retention of the marginal
note in question is by no means a matter of indifference; it is untrue,
and therefore it is mischievous." It is interesting that Archbishop
Sumner and Dr. Dawes, Dean of Hereford, wrote with approbation of Mr.
Horner's views on Man. The Archbishop says: "I have always considered
the first verse of Genesis as indicating, rather than denying, a
PREADAMITE world" ("Memoir of Leonard Horner, II.", page 303).) I declare
I had fancied that the date was somehow in the Bible. You are coming out
in a new light as a Biblical critic. I must thank you for some remarks
on the "Origin of Species" (404/4. Mr. Horner (page xxxix) begins by
disclaiming the qualifications of a competent critic, and confines
himself to general remarks on the philosophic candour and freedom from
dogmatism of the "Origin": he does, however, give an opinion on the
geological chapters IX. and X. As a general criticism he quotes Mr.
Huxley's article in the "Westminster Review," which may now be read in
"Collected Essays," II., page 22.) (though I suppose it is almost as
incorrect to do so as to thank a judge for a favourable verdict): what
you have said has pleased me extremely. I am the more pleased, as I
would rather have been well attacked than have been handled in the
namby-pamby, old-woman style of the cautious Oxford Professor. (404/5.
This no doubt refers to Professor Phillips' "Life on the Earth," 1860, a
book founded on the author's "Rede Lecture," given before the University
of Cambridge. Reference to this work will be found in "Life and
Letters," II., pages 309, 358, 373.)
LETTER 405. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(405/1. Mr. Wallace was, we believe, the first to treat the evolution of
Man in any detail from the point of view of Natural Selection,
namely, in a paper in the "Anthropological Review and Journal of the
Anthropological Society," May 1864, page clviii. The deep interest with
which Mr. Darwin read his copy is graphically recorded in the continuous
series of pencil-marks along the margins of the pages. His views are
fully given in Letter 406. The phrase, "in this case it is too far,"
refers to Mr. Wallace's habit of speaking of the theory of Natural
Selection as due entirely to Darwin.)
May 22nd 1864.
I have now read Wallace's paper on Man, and think it MOST striking and
original and forcible. I wish he had written Lyell's chapters on Man.
(405/2. See "Life and Letters," III., page 11 et seq. for Darwin's
disappointment over Lyell's treatment of the evolutionary question in
his "Antiquity of Man"; see also page 29 for Lyell's almost pathetic
words about his own position between the discarded faith of many years
and the new one not yet assimilated. See also Letters 132, 164, 170.) I
quite agree about his high-mindedness, and have long thought so; but in
this case it is too far, and I shall tell him so. I am not sure that
I fully agree with his views about Man, but there is no doubt, in my
opinion, on the remarkable genius shown by the paper. I agree, however,
to the main new leading idea.
LETTER 406. TO A.R. WALLACE.
(406/1. This letter was published in "Life and Letters," III., page 89.)
Down, [May] 28th [1864].
I am so much better that I have just finished a paper for the Linnean
Society (406/2. On the three forms, etc., of Lythrum.); but I am not yet
at all strong, I felt much disinclination to write, and therefore you
must forgive me for not having sooner thanked you for your paper on
Man (406/3. "Anthropological Review," May 1864.) received on the 11th.
(406/4. Mr. Wallace wrote, May 10th, 1864: "I send you now my little
contribution to the theory of the origin of man. I hope you will be able
to agree with me. If you are able [to write] I shall be glad to have
your criticisms. I was led to the subject by the necessity of explaining
the vast mental and cranial differences between man and the apes
combined with such small structural differences in other parts of the
body,--and also by an endeavour to account for the diversity of human
races combined with man's almost perfect stability of form during all
historical epochs." But first let me say that I have hardly ever in my
life been more struck by any paper than that on "Variation," etc., etc.,
in the "Reader." (406/5. "Reader," April 16th, 1864, an abstract of Mr.
Wallace: "On the Phenomena of Variation and Geographical Distribution
as illustrated by the Papilionidae of the Malayan Region." "Linn.
Soc. Trans." XXV.) I feel sure that such papers will do more for the
spreading of our views on the modification of species than any separate
treatises on the simple subject itself. It is really admirable; but you
ought not in the Man paper to speak of the theory as mine; it is just
as much yours as mine. One correspondent has already noticed to me your
"high-minded" conduct on this head.
But now for your Man paper, about which I should like to write more than
I can. The great leading idea is quite new to me--viz. that during late
ages the mind will have been modified more than the body; yet I had got
as far as to see with you, that the struggle between the races of man
depended entirely on intellectual and moral qualities. The latter part
of the paper I can designate only as grand and most eloquently done. I
have shown your paper to two or three persons who have been here, and
they have been equally struck with it. I am not sure that I go with you
on all minor points: when reading Sir G. Grey's account of the constant
battles of Australian savages, I remember thinking that Natural
Selection would come in, and likewise with the Esquimaux, with whom the
art of fishing and managing canoes is said to be hereditary. I rather
differ on the rank, under a classificatory point of view, which you
assign to man; I do not think any character simply in excess ought ever
to be used for the higher divisions. Ants would not be separated from
other hymenopterous insects, however high the instinct of the one, and
however low the instincts of the other. With respect to the differences
of race, a conjecture has occurred to me that much may be due to the
correlation of complexion (and consequently hair) with constitution.
Assume that a dusky individual best escaped miasma, and you will
readily see what I mean. I persuaded the Director-General of the Medical
Department of the Army to send printed forms to the surgeons of all
regiments in tropical countries to ascertain this point, but I daresay
I shall never get any returns. Secondly, I suspect that a sort of sexual
selection has been the most powerful means of changing the races of man.
I can show that the different races have a widely different standard of
beauty. Among savages the most powerful men will have the pick of
the women, and they will generally leave the most descendants. I have
collected a few notes on man, but I do not suppose I shall ever use
them. Do you intend to follow out your views? and if so, would you like
at some future time to have my few references and notes? I am sure I
hardly know whether they are of any value, and they are at present in a
state of chaos.
There is much more that I should like to write, but I have not strength.
P.S. Our aristocracy is handsomer (more hideous according to a Chinese
or Negro) than the middle classes, from [having the] pick of the women;
but oh, what a scheme is primogeniture for destroying Natural Selection!
I fear my letter will be barely intelligible to you.
LETTER 406* A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. 5, Westbourne Grove Terrace,
W., May 29th [1864].
You are always so ready to appreciate what others do, and especially to
overestimate my desultory efforts, that I cannot be surprised at your
very kind and flattering remarks on my papers. I am glad, however, that
you have made a few critical observations (and am only sorry that you
were not well enough to make more), as that enables me to say a few
words in explanation.
My great fault is haste. An idea strikes me, I think over it for a few
days, and then write away with such illustrations as occur to me while
going on. I therefore look at the subject almost solely from one
point of view. Thus, in my paper on Man (406*/1. Published in the
"Anthropological Review," 1864.), I aim solely at showing that brutes
are modified in a great variety of ways by Natural Selection, but that
in none of these particular ways can Man be modified, because of the
superiority of his intellect. I therefore no doubt overlook a few
smaller points in which Natural Selection may still act on men and
brutes alike. Colour is one of them, and I have alluded to this in
correlation to constitution, in an abstract I have made at Sclater's
request for the "Natural History Review." (406*/2. "Nat. Hist. Review,"
1864, page 328.) At the same time, there is so much evidence of
migrations and displacements of races of man, and so many cases of
peoples of distinct physical characters inhabiting the same or similar
regions, and also of races of uniform physical characters inhabiting
widely dissimilar regions,--that the external characteristics of the
chief races of man must, I think, be older than his present geographical
distribution, and the modifications produced by correlation to
favourable variations of constitution be only a secondary cause of
external modification. I hope you may get the returns from the Army.
(406*/3. Measurements taken of more than one million soldiers in the
United States showed that "local influences of some kind act directly
on structure."--"Descent of Man," 1901, page 45.) They would be very
interesting, but I do not expect the results would be favourable to your
view.
With regard to the constant battles of savages leading to selection of
physical superiority, I think it would be very imperfect and subject to
so many exceptions and irregularities that it would produce no definite
result. For instance: the strongest and bravest men would lead, and
expose themselves most, and would therefore be most subject to wounds
and death. And the physical energy which led to any one tribe delighting
in war, might lead to its extermination, by inducing quarrels with
all surrounding tribes and leading them to combine against it. Again,
superior cunning, stealth, and swiftness of foot, or even better
weapons, would often lead to victory as well as mere physical strength.
Moreover, this kind of more or less perpetual war goes on amongst savage
peoples. It could lead, therefore, to no differential characters, but
merely to the keeping up of a certain average standard of bodily and
mental health and vigour.
So with selection of variations adapted to special habits of life as
fishing, paddling, riding, climbing, etc., etc., in different races,
no doubt it must act to some extent, but will it be ever so rigid as to
induce a definite physical modification, and can we imagine it to have
had any part in producing the distinct races that now exist?
The sexual selection you allude to will also, I think, have been equally
uncertain in its results. In the very lowest tribes there is rarely much
polygamy, and women are more or less a matter of purchase. There is also
little difference of social condition, and I think it rarely happens
that any healthy and undeformed man remains without wife and children.
I very much doubt the often-repeated assertion that our aristocracy
are more beautiful than the middle classes. I allow that they present
specimens of the highest kind of beauty, but I doubt the average. I have
noticed in country places a greater average amount of good looks among
the middle classes, and besides we unavoidably combine in our idea of
beauty, intellectual expression, and refinement of manner, which often
makes the less appear the more beautiful. Mere physical beauty--i.e. a
healthy and regular development of the body and features approaching to
the mean and type of European man, I believe is quite as frequent in one
class of society as the other, and much more frequent in rural districts
than in cities.
With regard to the rank of man in zoological classification, I fear I
have not made myself intelligible. I never meant to adopt Owen's or any
other such views, but only to point out that from one point of view he
was right. I hold that a distinct family for Man, as Huxley allows, is
all that can possibly be given him zoologically. But at the same time,
if my theory is true, that while the animals which surrounded him have
been undergoing modification in all parts of their bodies to a generic
or even family degree of difference, he has been changing almost wholly
in the brain and head--then in geological antiquity the SPECIES man may
be as old as many mammalian families, and the origin of the FAMILY man
may date back to a period when some of the ORDERS first originated.
As to the theory of Natural Selection itself, I shall always maintain it
to be actually yours and yours only. You had worked it out in details I
had never thought of, years before I had a ray of light on the subject,
and my paper would never have convinced anybody or been noticed as more
than an ingenious speculation, whereas your book has revolutionised the
study of Natural History, and carried away captive the best men of
the present age. All the merit I claim is the having been the means of
inducing you to write and publish at once. I may possibly some day go a
little more into this subject (of Man), and if I do will accept the kind
offer of your notes.
I am now, however, beginning to write the "Narrative of my Travels,"
which will occupy me a long time, as I hate writing narrative, and after
Bates' brilliant success rather fear to fail.
I shall introduce a few chapters on Geographical Distribution and other
such topics. Sir C. Lyell, while agreeing with my main argument on Man,
thinks I am wrong in wanting to put him back into Miocene times, and
thinks I do not appreciate the immense interval even to the later
Pliocene. But I still maintain my view, which in fact is a logical
result of my theory; for if man originated in later Pliocene, when
almost all mammalia were of closely allied species to those now living,
and many even identical, then man has not been stationary in bodily
structure while animals have been varying, and my theory will be proved
to be all wrong.
In Murchison's address to the Geographical Society, just delivered, he
points out Africa as being the oldest existing land. He says there is
no evidence of its having been ever submerged during the Tertiary epoch.
Here then is evidently the place to find early man. I hope something
good may be found in Borneo, and that the means may be found to explore
the still more promising regions of tropical Africa, for we can expect
nothing of man very early in Europe.
It has given me great pleasure to find that there are symptoms of
improvement in your health. I hope you will not exert yourself too soon
or write more than is quite agreeable to you. I think I made out every
word of your letter, though it was not always easy.
(406*/4. For Wallace's later views see Letter 408, note.)
LETTER 407. TO W. TURNER.
(407/1. Sir William Turner is frequently referred to in the "Descent of
Man" as having supplied Mr. Darwin with information.)
Down, December 14th [1866].
Your kindness when I met you at the Royal Society makes me think that
you would grant me the favour of a little information, if in your power.
I am preparing a book on Domestic Animals, and as there has been so much
discussion on the bearing of such views as I hold on Man, I have some
thoughts of adding a chapter on this subject. The point on which I
want information is in regard to any part which may be fairly called
rudimentary in comparison with the same part in the Quadrumana or any
other mammal. Now the os coccyx is rudimentary as a tail, and I am
anxious to hear about its muscles. Mr. Flower found for me in some work
that its one muscle (with striae) was supposed only to bring this bone
back to its proper position after parturition. This seems to me hardly
credible. He said he had never particularly examined this part, and when
I mentioned your name, he said you were the most likely man to give me
information.
Are there any traces of other muscles? It seems strange if there are
none. Do you know how the muscles are in this part in the anthropoid
apes? The muscles of the ear in man may, I suppose, in most cases be
considered as rudimentary; and so they seem to be in the anthropoids;
at least, I am assured in the Zoological Gardens they do not erect their
ears. I gather there are a good many muscles in various parts of the
body which are in this same state: could you specify any of the best
cases? The mammae in man are rudimentary. Are there any other glands or
other organs which you can think of? I know I have no right whatever to
ask all these questions, and can only say that I should be grateful for
any information. If you tell me anything about the os coccyx or other
structures, I hope that you will permit me to quote the statement on
your authority, as that would add so greatly to its value.
Pray excuse me for troubling you, and do not hurry yourself in the least
in answering me.
I do not know whether you would care to possess a copy, but I told my
publisher to send you a copy of the new edition of the "Origin" last
month.
LETTER 408. TO W. TURNER. Down, February 1st [1867].
I thank you cordially for all your full information, and I regret much
that I have given you such great trouble at a period when your time is
so much occupied. But the facts were so valuable to me that I cannot
pretend that I am sorry that I did trouble you; and I am the less so,
as from what you say I hope you may be induced some time to write a full
account of all rudimentary structures in Man: it would be a very curious
and interesting memoir. I shall at present give only a brief abstract
of the chief facts which you have so very kindly communicated to me, and
will not touch on some of the doubtful points. I have received far more
information than I ventured to anticipate. There is one point which has
occurred to me, but I suspect there is nothing in it. If, however, there
should be, perhaps you will let me have a brief note from you, and if
I do not hear I will understand there is nothing in the notion. I have
included the down on the human body and the lanugo on the foetus as a
rudimentary representation of a hairy coat. (408/1. "Descent of Man"
I., page 25; II., page 375.) I do not know whether there is any direct
functional connection between the presence of hair and the panniculus
carnosus (408/2. Professor Macalister draws our attention to the fact
that Mr. Darwin uses the term panniculus in the generalised sense of any
sheet of muscle acting on the skin.) (to put the question under
another point of view, is it the primary or aboriginal function of the
panniculus to move the dermal appendages or the skin itself?); but both
are superficial, and would perhaps together become rudimentary. I was
led to think of this by the places (as far as my ignorance of anatomy
has allowed me to judge) of the rudimentary muscular fasciculi which you
specify. Now, some persons can move the skin of their hairy heads; and
is this not effected by the panniculus? How is it with the eyebrows? You
specify the axillae and the front region of the chest and lower part of
scapulae: now, these are all hairy spots in man. On the other hand,
the neck, and as I suppose the covering of the gluteus medius, are not
hairy; so, as I said, I presume there is nothing in this notion. If
there were, the rudiments of the panniculus ought perhaps to occur more
plainly in man than in woman...
P.S.--If the skin on the head is moved by the panniculus, I think I
ought just to allude to it, as some men alone having power to move the
skin shows that the apparatus is generally rudimentary.
(408/3. In March 1869 Darwin wrote to Mr. Wallace: "I shall be intensely
curious to read the "Quarterly." I hope you have not murdered too
completely your own and my child." The reference is to Mr. Wallace's
review, in the April number of the "Quarterly," of Lyell's "Principles
of Geology" (tenth edition), and of the sixth edition of the "Elements
of Geology." Mr. Wallace points out that here for the first time Sir C.
Lyell gave up his opposition to evolution; and this leads Mr. Wallace to
give a short account of the views set forth in the "Origin of Species."
In this article Mr. Wallace makes a definite statement as to his views
on the evolution of man, which were opposed to those of Mr. Darwin. He
upholds the view that the brain of man, as well as the organs of speech,
the hand and the external form, could not have been evolved by Natural
Selection (the child he is supposed to murder). At page 391 he writes:
"In the brain of the lowest savages, and, as far as we know, of the
prehistoric races, we have an organ...little inferior in size and
complexity to that of the highest types...But the mental requirements
of the lowest savages, such as the Australians or the Andaman Islanders,
are very little above those of many animals...How, then, was an organ
developed so far beyond the needs of its possessor? Natural Selection
could only have endowed the savage with a brain a little superior
to that of an ape, whereas he actually possesses one but very little
inferior to that of the average members of our learned societies." This
passage is marked in Mr. Darwin's copy with a triply underlined "No,"
and with a shower of notes of exclamation. It was probably the first
occasion on which he realised the extent of this great and striking
divergence in opinion between himself and his colleague.
He had, however, some indication of it in Wallace's paper on Man,
"Anthropological Review," 1864. (See Letter 406). He wrote to Lyell,
May 4th, 1869, "I was dreadfully disappointed about Man; it seems to me
incredibly strange." And to Mr. Wallace, April 14th, 1869, "If you had
not told me, I should have thought that [your remarks on Man] had been
added by some one else. As you expected, I differ grievously from you,
and I am very sorry for it."
LETTER 409. TO T.H. HUXLEY. Down, Thursday, February 21st [1868-70?].
I received the Jermyn Street programme, but have hardly yet considered
it, for I was all day on the sofa on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bad though
I was, I thought with constant pleasure of your very great kindness in
offering to read the proofs of my essay on man. I do not know whether
I said anything which might have appeared like a hint, but I assure you
that such a thought had never even momentarily passed through my mind.
Your offer has just made all the difference, that I can now write,
whether or no my essay is ever printed, with a feeling of satisfaction
instead of vague dread.
Beg my colleague, Mrs. Huxley, not to forget the corrugator supercilii:
it will not be easy to catch the exact moment when the child is on the
point of crying, and is struggling against the wrinkling up [of] its
little eyes; for then I should expect the corrugator, from being little
under the command of the will, would come into play in checking or
stopping the wrinkling. An explosion of tears would tell nothing.
LETTER 410. TO FRANCIS GALTON. Down, December 23rd [1870?].
I have only read about fifty pages of your book (to the Judges) (410/1.
"Hereditary Genius: an Inquiry into its Laws and Consequences," by
Francis Galton, London, 1869. "The Judges of England between 1660 and
1865" is the heading of a section of this work (page 55). See "Descent
of Man" (1901), page 41.), but I must exhale myself, else something
will go wrong in my inside. I do not think I ever in all my life read
anything more interesting and original. And how well and clearly you
put every point! George, who has finished the book, and who expressed
himself just in the same terms, tells me the earlier chapters are
nothing in interest to the later ones! It will take me some time to get
to these later chapters, as it is read aloud to me by my wife, who is
also much interested. You have made a convert of an opponent in one
sense, for I have always maintained that, excepting fools, men did not
differ much in intellect, only in zeal and hard work; and I still think
[this] is an eminently important difference. I congratulate you on
producing what I am convinced will prove a memorable work. I look
forward with intense interest to each reading, but it sets me thinking
so much that I find it very hard work; but that is wholly the fault of
my brain, and not of your beautifully clear style.
LETTER 411. TO W.R. GREG. March 21st [1871?].
Many thanks for your note. I am very glad indeed to read remarks made by
a man who possesses such varied and odd knowledge as you do, and who is
so acute a reasoner. I have no doubt that you will detect blunders of
many kinds in my book. (411/1. "The Descent of Man.") Your MS. on the
proportion of the sexes at birth seems to me extremely curious, and I
hope that some day you will publish it. It certainly appears that the
males are decreasing in the London districts, and a most strange fact
it is. Mr. Graham, however, I observe in a note enclosed, does not seem
inclined to admit your conclusion. I have never much considered the
subject of the causes of the proportion. When I reflected on queen
bees producing only males when not impregnated, whilst some other
parthenogenetic insects produced, as far as known, only females, the
subject seemed to me hopelessly obscure. It is, however, pretty clear
that you have taken the one path for its solution. I wished only to
ascertain how far with various animals the males exceeded the females,
and I have given all the facts which I could collect. As far as I
know, no other data have been published. The equality of the sexes with
race-horses is surprising. My remarks on mankind are quite superficial,
and given merely as some sort of standard for comparison with the lower
animals. M. Thury is the writer who makes the sex depend on the period
of impregnation. His pamphlet was sent me from Geneva. (411/2. "Memoire
sur la loi de Production des Sexes," 2nd edition, 1863 (a pamphlet
published by Cherbuliez, Geneva).) I can lend it you if you like. I
subsequently read an account of experiments which convinced me that
M. Thury was in error; but I cannot remember what they were, only the
impression that I might safely banish this view from my mind. Your
remarks on the less ratio of males in illegitimate births strikes me
as the most doubtful point in your MS.--requiring two assumptions, viz.
that the fathers in such cases are relatively too young, and that the
result is the same as when the father is relatively too old.
My son, George, who is a mathematician, and who read your MS. with much
interest, has suggested, as telling in the right direction, but whether
sufficient is another question, that many more illegitimate children
are murdered and concealed shortly after birth, than in the case of
legitimate children; and as many more males than females die during the
first few days of life, the census of illegitimate children practically
applies to an older age than with legitimate children, and would thus
slightly reduce the excess of males. This might possibly be worth
consideration. By a strange coincidence a stranger writes to me this
day, making the very same suggestion.
I am quite delighted to hear that my book interests you enough to lead
you to read it with some care.
LETTER 412. TO FRANCIS GALTON. Down, January 4th, 1873.
Very many thanks for "Fraser" (412/1. "Hereditary Improvement," by
Francis Galton, "Fraser's Magazine," January 1873, page 116.): I have
been greatly interested by your article. The idea of castes being
spontaneously formed and leading to intermarriage (412/2. "My object is
to build up, by the mere process of extensive enquiry and publication of
results, a sentiment of caste among those who are naturally gifted,
and to procure for them, before the system has fairly taken root, such
moderate social favours and preference, no more no less, as would seem
reasonable to those who were justly informed of the precise measure of
their importance to the nation" (loc. cit., page 123).) is quite new
to me, and I should suppose to others. I am not, however, so hopeful
as you. Your proposed Society (412/3. Mr. Galton proposes that "Some
society should undertake three scientific services: the first, by
means of a moderate number of influential local agencies, to institute
continuous enquiries into the facts of human heredity; the second to be
a centre of information on heredity for breeders of animals and plants;
and the third to discuss and classify the facts that were collected"
(loc. cit., page 124).) would have awfully laborious work, and I doubt
whether you could ever get efficient workers. As it is, there is much
concealment of insanity and wickedness in families; and there would
be more if there was a register. But the greatest difficulty, I think,
would be in deciding who deserved to be on the register. How few are
above mediocrity in health, strength, morals and intellect; and how
difficult to judge on these latter heads. As far as I see, within the
same large superior family, only a few of the children would deserve
to be on the register; and these would naturally stick to their own
families, so that the superior children of distinct families would have
no good chance of associating much and forming a caste. Though I see so
much difficulty, the object seems a grand one; and you have pointed out
the sole feasible, yet I fear utopian, plan of procedure in improving
the human race. I should be inclined to trust more (and this is part
of your plan) to disseminating and insisting on the importance of the
all-important principle of inheritance. I will make one or two minor
criticisms. Is it not possible that the inhabitants of malarious
countries owe their degraded and miserable appearance to the bad
atmosphere, though this does not kill them, rather than to "economy of
structure"? I do not see that an orthognathous face would cost more
than a prognathous face; or a good morale than a bad one. That is a fine
simile (page 119) about the chip of a statue (412/4. "...The life of the
individual is treated as of absolutely no importance, while the race is
as everything; Nature being wholly careless of the former except as a
contributor to the maintenance and evolution of the latter. Myriads
of inchoate lives are produced in what, to our best judgment, seems a
wasteful and reckless manner, in order that a few selected specimens
may survive, and be the parents of the next generation. It is as though
individual lives were of no more consideration than are the senseless
chips which fall from the chisel of the artist who is elaborating some
ideal form from a rude block" (loc. cit., page 119).); but surely Nature
does not more carefully regard races than individuals, as (I believe I
have misunderstood what you mean) evidenced by the multitude of races
and species which have become extinct. Would it not be truer to say that
Nature cares only for the superior individuals and then makes her new
and better races? But we ought both to shudder in using so freely the
word "Nature" (412/5. See Letter 190, Volume I.) after what De Candolle
has said. Again let me thank you for the interest received in reading
your essay.
Many thanks about the rabbits; your letter has been sent to Balfour:
he is a very clever young man, and I believe owes his cleverness to
Salisbury blood. This letter will not be worth your deciphering. I have
almost finished Greg's "Enigmas." (412/6. "The Enigmas of Life," 1872.)
It is grand poetry--but too Utopian and too full of faith for me; so
that I have been rather disappointed. What do you think about it? He
must be a delightful man.
I doubt whether you have made clear how the families on the Register are
to be kept pure or superior, and how they are to be in course of time
still further improved.
LETTER 413. TO MAX MULLER. Down, July 3rd, 1873.
(413/1. In June, 1873, Professor Max Muller sent to Mr. Darwin a copy of
the sixth edition of his "Lectures on the Science of Language" (413/2.
A reference to the first edition occurs in "Life and Letters," II., page
390.), with a letter concluding with these words: "I venture to send
you my three lectures, trusting that, though I differ from some of your
conclusions, you will believe me to be one of your diligent readers and
sincere admirers.")
I am much obliged for your kind note and present of your lectures. I
am extremely glad to have received them from you, and I had intended
ordering them.
I feel quite sure from what I have read in your works that you would
never say anything of an honest adversary to which he would have any
just right to object; and as for myself, you have often spoken highly of
me--perhaps more highly than I deserve.
As far as language is concerned I am not worthy to be your adversary, as
I know extremely little about it, and that little learnt from very few
books. I should have been glad to have avoided the whole subject,
but was compelled to take it up as well as I could. He who is fully
convinced, as I am, that man is descended from some lower animal, is
almost forced to believe a priori that articulate language has been
developed from inarticulate cries (413/3. "Descent of Man" (1901), page
133.); and he is therefore hardly a fair judge of the arguments opposed
to this belief.
(413/4. In October, 1875, Mr. Darwin again wrote cordially to Professor
Max Muller on receipt of a pamphlet entitled "In Self-Defence" (413/5.
Printed in "Chips from a German Workshop," Volume IV., 1875, page 473.),
which is a reply to Professor Whitney's "Darwinism and Language" in the
"North American Review," July 1874. This essay had been brought before
the "general reader" in England by an article of Mr. G. Darwin's in the
"Contemporary Review," November, 1874, page 894, entitled, "Professor
Whitney on the Origin of Language." The article was followed by
"My reply to Mr. Darwin," contributed by Professor Muller to the
"Contemporary Review," January, 1875, page 305.)
LETTER 414. G. ROLLESTON TO CHARLES DARWIN. British Association,
Bristol, August 30th, 1875.
(414/1. In the first edition of the "Descent of Man" Mr. Darwin wrote:
"It is a more curious fact that savages did not formerly waste away, as
Mr. Bagehot has remarked, before the classical nations, as they now
do before modern civilised nations..."(414/2. Bagehot, "Physics and
Politics," "Fortnightly Review," April, 1868, page 455.) In the second
edition (page 183) the statement remains, but a mass of evidence
(pages 183-92) is added, to which reference occurs in the reply to the
following letter.)
At pages 4-5 of the enclosed Address (414/3. "British Association
Reports," 1875, page 142.) you will find that I have controverted Mr.
Bagehot's view as to the extinction of the barbarians in the times of
classical antiquity, as also the view of Poppig as to there being
some occult influence exercised by civilisation to the disadvantage of
savagery when the two come into contact.
I write to say that I took up this subject without any wish to impugn
any views of yours as such, but with the desire of having my say upon
certain anti-sanitarian transactions and malfeasance of which I had had
a painful experience.
On reading however what I said, and had written somewhat hastily, it has
struck me that what I have said might bear the former interpretation in
the eyes of persons who might not read other papers of mine, and indeed
other parts of the same Address, in which my adhesion, whatever it
is worth, to your views in general is plainly enough implied. I have
ventured to write this explanation to you for several reasons.
LETTER 415. TO G. ROLLESTON. Bassett, Southampton, September 2nd [1875].
I am much obliged to you for having sent me your Address, which has
interested me greatly. I quite subscribe to what you say about Mr.
Bagehot's striking remark, and wish I had not quoted it. I can perceive
no sort of reflection or blame on anything which I have written, and I
know well that I deserve many a good slap on the face. The decrease of
savage populations interests me much, and I should like you some time
to look at a discussion on this subject which I have introduced in the
second edition of the "Descent of Man," and which you can find (for I
have no copy here) in the list of additions. The facts have convinced me
that lessened fertility and the poor constitution of the children is one
chief cause of such decrease; and that the case is strictly parallel to
the sterility of many wild animals when made captive, the civilisation
of savages and the captivity of wild animals leading to the same result.
LETTER 416. TO ERNST KRAUSE. Down, June 30th, 1877.
I have been much interested by your able argument against the belief
that the sense of colour has been recently acquired by man. (416/1.
See "Kosmos," June 1877, page 264, a review of Dr. Hugo Magnus' "Die
Geschichtliche Entwickelung des Farbensinnes," 1877. The first part is
chiefly an account of the author's views; Dr. Krause's argument begins
at page 269. The interest felt by Mr. Darwin is recorded by the numerous
pencil-marks on the margin of his copy.) The following observation bears
on this subject.
I attended carefully to the mental development of my young children, and
with two, or as I believe three of them, soon after they had come to the
age when they knew the names of all common objects, I was startled by
observing that they seemed quite incapable of affixing the right names
to the colours in coloured engravings, although I tried repeatedly to
teach them. I distinctly remember declaring that they were colour-blind,
but this afterwards proved a groundless fear.
On communicating this fact to another person he told me that he had
observed a nearly similar case. Therefore the difficulty which young
children experience either in distinguishing, or more probably in naming
colours, seems to deserve further investigation. I will add that it
formerly appeared to me that the gustatory sense, at least in the
case of my own infants, and very young children, differed from that of
grown-up persons. This was shown by their not disliking rhubarb mixed
with a little sugar and milk, which is to us abominably nauseous; and
in their strong taste for the sourest and most austere fruits, such as
unripe gooseberries and crabapples.
(PLATE: G.J. ROMANES, 1891. Elliott & Fry, photo. Walker and Cockerell,
ph. sc.)
LETTER 417. TO G.J. ROMANES. [Barlaston], August 20th, 1878.
(417/1. Part of this letter (here omitted) is published in "Life and
Letters," III., page 225, and the whole in the "Life and Letters of G.J.
Romanes," page 74. The lecture referred to was on animal intelligence,
and was given at the Dublin meeting of the British Association.)
...The sole fault which I find with your lecture is that it is too
short, and this is a rare fault. It strikes me as admirably clear and
interesting. I meant to have remonstrated that you had not discussed
sufficiently the necessity of signs for the formation of abstract ideas
of any complexity, and then I came on the discussion on deaf mutes. This
latter seems to me one of the richest of all the mines, and is worth
working carefully for years, and very deeply. I should like to read
whole chapters on this one head, and others on the minds of the higher
idiots. Nothing can be better, as it seems to me, than your several
lines or sources of evidence, and the manner in which you have arranged
the whole subject. Your book will assuredly be worth years of hard
labour; and stick to your subject. By the way, I was pleased at your
discussing the selection of varying instincts or mental tendencies;
for I have often been disappointed by no one having ever noticed this
notion.
I have just finished "La Psychologie, son Present et son Avenir,"
1876, by Delboeuf (a mathematician and physicist of Belgium) in about a
hundred pages. It has interested me a good deal, but why I hardly know;
it is rather like Herbert Spencer. If you do not know it, and would care
to see it, send me a postcard.
Thank Heaven, we return home on Thursday, and I shall be able to go on
with my humdrum work, and that makes me forget my daily discomfort.
Have you ever thought of keeping a young monkey, so as to observe its
mind? At a house where we have been staying there were Sir A. and Lady
Hobhouse, not long ago returned from India, and she and he kept [a]
young monkey and told me some curious particulars. One was that her
monkey was very fond of looking through her eyeglass at objects, and
moved the glass nearer and further so as to vary the focus. This struck
me, as Frank's son, nearly two years old (and we think much of his
intellect!!) is very fond of looking through my pocket lens, and I have
quite in vain endeavoured to teach him not to put the glass close down
on the object, but he always will do so. Therefore I conclude that a
child under two years is inferior in intellect to a monkey.
Once again I heartily congratulate you on your well-earned present, and
I feel assured, grand future success.
(417/2. Later in the year Mr. Darwin wrote: "I am delighted to hear that
you mean to work the comparative Psychology well. I thought your letter
to the "Times" very good indeed. (417/3. Romanes wrote to the "Times"
August 28th, 1878, expressing his views regarding the distinction
between man and the lower animals, in reply to criticisms contained in
a leading article in the "Times" of August 23rd on his lecture at the
Dublin meeting of the British Association.) Bartlett, at the Zoological
Gardens, I feel sure, would advise you infinitely better about
hardiness, intellect, price, etc., of monkey than F. Buckland; but with
him it must be viva voce.
"Frank says you ought to keep a idiot, a deaf mute, a monkey, and a baby
in your house.")
LETTER 418. TO G.A. GASKELL. Down, November 15th, 1878.
(418/1. This letter has been published in Clapperton's "Scientific
Meliorism," 1885, page 340, together with Mr. Gaskell's letter of
November 13th (page 337). Mr. Gaskell's laws are given in his letter of
November 13th, 1878. They are:--
I. The Organological Law:
Natural Selection, or the Survival of the Fittest.
II. The Sociological Law:
Sympathetic Selection, or Indiscriminate Survival.
III. The Moral Law:
Social Selection, or the Birth of the Fittest.)
Your letter seems to me very interesting and clearly expressed, and I
hope that you are in the right. Your second law appears to be largely
acted on in all civilised countries, and I just alluded to it in my
remarks to the effect (as far as I remember) that the evil which would
follow by checking benevolence and sympathy in not fostering the weak
and diseased would be greater than by allowing them to survive and then
to procreate.
With regard to your third law, I do not know whether you have read an
article (I forget when published) by F. Galton, in which he proposes
certificates of health, etc., for marriage, and that the best should be
matched. I have lately been led to reflect a little, (for, now that I
am growing old, my work has become [word indecipherable] special) on the
artificial checks, but doubt greatly whether such would be advantageous
to the world at large at present, however it may be in the distant
future. Suppose that such checks had been in action during the last
two or three centuries, or even for a shorter time in Britain, what a
difference it would have made in the world, when we consider America,
Australia, New Zealand, and S. Africa! No words can exaggerate the
importance, in my opinion, of our colonisation for the future history of
the world.
If it were universally known that the birth of children could be
prevented, and this were not thought immoral by married persons, would
there not be great danger of extreme profligacy amongst unmarried women,
and might we not become like the "arreoi" societies in the Pacific? In
the course of a century France will tell us the result in many ways, and
we can already see that the French nation does not spread or increase
much.
I am glad that you intend to continue your investigations, and I hope
ultimately may publish on the subject.
LETTER 419. TO K. HOCHBERG. Down, January 13th, 1879.
I am much obliged for your note and for the essay which you have sent
me. I am a poor german scholar, and your german is difficult; but I
think that I understand your meaning, and hope at some future time, when
more at leisure, to recur to your essay. As far as I can judge, you have
made a great advance in many ways in the subject; and I will send your
paper to Mr. Edmund Gurney (The late Edmund Gurney, author of "The Power
of Sound," 1880.), who has written on and is much interested in the
origin of the taste for music. In reading your essay, it occurred to me
that facility in the utterance of prolonged sounds (I do not think that
you allude to this point) may possibly come into play in rendering them
musical; for I have heard it stated that those who vary their voices
much, and use cadences in long continued speaking, feel less fatigued
than those who speak on the same note.
LETTER 420. TO G.J. ROMANES. Down, February 5th, 1880.
(420/1. Romanes was at work on what ultimately came to be a book on
animal intelligence. Romanes's reply to this letter is given in his
"Life," page 95. The table referred to is published as a frontispiece to
his "Mental Evolution in Animals," 1885.)
As I feared, I cannot be of the least use to you. I could not venture to
say anything about babies without reading my Expression book and paper
on Infants, or about animals without reading the "Descent of Man" and
referring to my notes; and it is a great wrench to my mind to change
from one subject to another.
I will, however, hazard one or two remarks. Firstly, I should have
thought that the word "love" (not sexual passion), as shown very low in
the scale, to offspring and apparently to comrades, ought to have come
in more prominently in your table than appears to be the case. Secondly,
if you give any instance of the appreciation of different stimulants by
plants, there is a much better case than that given by you--namely,
that of the glands of Drosera, which can be touched roughly two or three
times and do not transmit any effect, but do so if pressed by a weight
of 1/78000 grain ("Insectivorous Plants" 263). On the other hand, the
filament of Dionoea may be quietly loaded with a much greater weight,
while a touch by a hair causes the lobes to close instantly. This has
always seemed to me a marvellous fact. Thirdly, I have been accustomed
to look at the coming in of the sense of pleasure and pain as one of the
most important steps in the development of mind, and I should think it
ought to be prominent in your table. The sort of progress which I have
imagined is that a stimulus produced some effect at the point affected,
and that the effect radiated at first in all directions, and then that
certain definite advantageous lines of transmission were acquired,
inducing definite reaction in certain lines. Such transmission
afterwards became associated in some unknown way with pleasure or pain.
These sensations led at first to all sorts of violent action, such as
the wriggling of a worm, which was of some use. All the organs of sense
would be at the same time excited. Afterwards definite lines of action
would be found to be the most useful, and so would be practised. But it
is of no use my giving you my crude notions.
LETTER 421. TO S. TOLVER PRESTON. Down, May 22nd, 1880.
(421/1. Mr. Preston wrote (May 20th, 1880) to the effect that
"self-interest as a motive for conduct is a thing to be commended--and
it certainly [is] I think...the only conceivable rational motive of
conduct: and always is the tacitly recognised motive in all rational
actions." Mr. Preston does not, of course, commend selfishness, which is
not true self-interest.
There seem to be two ways of looking at the case given by Darwin. The
man who knows that he is risking his life,--realising that the personal
satisfaction that may follow is not worth the risk--is surely admirable
from the strength of character that leads him to follow the social
instinct against his purely personal inclination. But the man who
blindly obeys the social instinct is a more useful member of a social
community. He will act with courage where even the strong man will
fail.)
Your letter appears to me an interesting and valuable one; but I have
now been working for some years exclusively on the physiology of plants,
and all other subjects have gone out of my head, and it fatigues me
much to try and bring them back again into my head. I am, moreover,
at present very busy, as I leave home for a fortnight's rest at the
beginning of next week. My conviction as yet remains unchanged, that
a man who (for instance) jumps into a river to save a life without a
second's reflection (either from an innate tendency or from one gained
by habit) is deservedly more honoured than a man who acts deliberately
and is conscious, for however short a time, that the risk and sacrifice
give him some inward satisfaction.
You are of course familiar with Herbert Spencer's writings on Ethics.
(422/1. The observations to which the following letters refer were
continued by Mr. Wallis, who gave an account of his work in an
interesting paper in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society," March
2nd, 1897. The results on the whole confirm the belief that traces of an
ancestral pointed ear exist in man.)
LETTER 422. TO H.M. WALLIS. Down, March 22nd, 1881.
I am very much obliged for your courteous and kind note. The fact which
you communicate is quite new to me, and as I was laughed at about the
tips to human ears, I should like to publish in "Nature" some time your
fact. But I must first consult Eschricht, and see whether he notices
this fact in his curious paper on the lanugo on human embryos; and
secondly I ought to look to monkeys and other animals which have tufted
ears, and observe how the hair grows. This I shall not be able to do for
some months, as I shall not be in London until the autumn so as to go to
the Zoological Gardens. But in order that I may not hereafter throw away
time, will you be so kind as to inform me whether I may publish your
observation if on further search it seems desirable?
LETTER 423. TO H.M. WALLIS. Down, March 31st, 1881.
I am much obliged for your interesting letter. I am glad to hear that
you are looking to other ears, and will visit the Zoological Gardens.
Under these circumstances it would be incomparably better (as more
authentic) if you would publish a notice of your observations in
"Nature" or some scientific journal. Would it not be well to confine
your attention to infants, as more likely to retain any primordial
character, and offering less difficulty in observing. I think, though,
it would be worth while to observe whether there is any relation (though
probably none) between much hairiness on the ears of an infant and
the presence of the "tip" on the folded margin. Could you not get an
accurate sketch of the direction of the hair of the tip of an ear?
The fact which you communicate about the goat-sucker is very curious.
About the difference in the power of flight in Dorkings, etc., may it
not be due merely to greater weight of body in the adults?
I am so old that I am not likely ever again to write on general and
difficult points in the theory of Evolution.
I shall use what little strength is left me for more confined and easy
subjects.
LETTER 424. TO MRS. TALBOT.
(Mrs. Emily Talbot was secretary of the Education Department of the
American Social Science Association, Boston, Mass. A circular and
register was issued by the Department, and answers to various questions
were asked for. See "Nature," April 28th, page 617, 1881. The above
letter was published in "The Field Naturalist," Manchester, 1883, page
5, edited by Mr. W.E. Axon, to whom we are indebted for a copy.)
Down, July 19th [1881?]
In response to your wish, I have much pleasure in expressing the
interest which I feel in your proposed investigation on the mental and
bodily development of infants. Very little is at present accurately
known on this subject, and I believe that isolated observations will add
but little to our knowledge, whereas tabulated results from a very large
number of observations, systematically made, would probably throw
much light on the sequence and period of development of the several
faculties. This knowledge would probably give a foundation for some
improvement in our education of young children, and would show us
whether the system ought to be followed in all cases.
I will venture to specify a few points of inquiry which, as it seems to
me, possess some scientific interest. For instance, does the education
of the parents influence the mental powers of their children at any
age, either at a very early or somewhat more advanced stage? This could
perhaps be learned by schoolmasters and mistresses if a large number
of children were first classed according to age and their mental
attainments, and afterwards in accordance with the education of their
parents, as far as this could be discovered. As observation is one of
the earliest faculties developed in young children, and as this power
would probably be exercised in an equal degree by the children of
educated and uneducated persons, it seems not impossible that any
transmitted effect from education could be displayed only at a somewhat
advanced age. It would be desirable to test statistically, in a similar
manner, the truth of the oft-repeated statement that coloured children
at first learn as quickly as white children, but that they afterwards
fall off in progress. If it could be proved that education acts not only
on the individual, but, by transmission, on the race, this would be a
great encouragement to all working on this all-important subject. It is
well known that children sometimes exhibit, at a very early age,
strong special tastes, for which no cause can be assigned, although
occasionally they may be accounted for by reversion to the taste or
occupation of some progenitor; and it would be interesting to learn how
far such early tastes are persistent and influence the future career
of the individual. In some instances such tastes die away without
apparently leaving any after effect, but it would be desirable to know
how far this is commonly the case, as we should then know whether it
were important to direct as far as this is possible the early tastes
of our children. It may be more beneficial that a child should follow
energetically some pursuit, of however trifling a nature, and thus
acquire perseverance, than that he should be turned from it because
of no future advantage to him. I will mention one other small point of
inquiry in relation to very young children, which may possibly prove
important with respect to the origin of language; but it could be
investigated only by persons possessing an accurate musical ear.
Children, even before they can articulate, express some of their
feelings and desires by noises uttered in different notes. For instance,
they make an interrogative noise, and others of assent and dissent,
in different tones; and it would, I think, be worth while to ascertain
whether there is any uniformity in different children in the pitch of
their voices under various frames of mind.
I fear that this letter can be of no use to you, but it will serve to
show my sympathy and good wishes in your researches.
2.VIII.II. SEXUAL SELECTION, 1866-1872.
LETTER 425. TO JAMES SHAW. Down, February 11th [1866].
I am much obliged to you for your kindness in sending me an abstract of
your paper on beauty. (425/1. A newspaper report of a communication to
the "Dumfries Antiquarian and Natural History Society.") In my opinion
you take quite a correct view of the subject. It is clear that Dr.
Dickson has either never seen my book, or overlooked the discussion
on sexual selection. If you have any precise facts on birds' "courtesy
towards their own image in mirror or picture," I should very much like
to hear them. Butterflies offer an excellent instance of beauty being
displayed in conspicuous parts; for those kinds which habitually display
the underside of the wing have this side gaudily coloured, and this is
not so in the reverse case. I daresay you will know that the males of
many foreign butterflies are much more brilliantly coloured than the
females, as in the case of birds. I can adduce good evidence from two
large classes of facts (too large to specify) that flowers have become
beautiful to make them conspicuous to insects. (425/2. This letter is
published in "A Country Schoolmaster, James Shaw." Edited by Robert
Wallace, Edinburgh, 1899.)
(425/3. Mr. Darwin wrote again to Mr. Shaw in April, 1866:--)
I am much obliged for your kind letter and all the great trouble which
you have taken in sending to all the various and interesting facts on
birds admiring themselves. I am very glad to hear of these facts. I have
just finished writing and adding to a new edition of the "Origin," and
in this I have given, without going into details (so that I shall not be
able to use your facts), some remarks on the subject of beauty.
LETTER 426. TO A.D. BARTLETT. Down, February 16th [1867?]
I want to beg two favours of you. I wish to ascertain whether the
Bower-Bird discriminates colours. (426/1. Mr. Bartlett does not seem to
have supplied any information on the point in question. The evidence for
the Bower-Bird's taste in colour is in "Descent of Man," II., page 112.)
Will you have all the coloured worsted removed from the cage and bower,
and then put all in a row, at some distance from bower, the enclosed
coloured worsted, and mark whether the bird AT FIRST makes any
selection. Each packet contains an equal quantity; the packets had
better be separate, and each thread put separate, but close
together; perhaps it would be fairest if the several colours were put
alternately--one thread of bright scarlet, one thread of brown, etc.,
etc. There are six colours. Will you have the kindness to tell me
whether the birds prefer one colour to another?
Secondly, I very much want several heads of the fancy and
long-domesticated rabbits, to measure the capacity of skull. I want
only small kinds, such as Himalaya, small Angora, Silver Grey, or any
small-sized rabbit which has long been domesticated. The Silver Grey
from warrens would be of little use. The animals must be adult, and the
smaller the breed the better. Now when any one dies would you send me
the carcase named; if the skin is of any value it might be skinned, but
it would be rather better with skin, and I could make a present to
any keeper to whom the skin is a perquisite. This would be of great
assistance to me, if you would have the kindness thus to aid me.
LETTER 427. TO W.B. TEGETMEIER.
(427/1. We are not aware that the experiment here suggested has ever
been carried out.)
Down, March 5th [1867].
I write on the bare and very improbable chance of your being able
to try, or get some trustworthy person to try, the following little
experiment. But I may first state, as showing what I want, that it has
been stated that if two long feathers in the tail of the male Widow-Bird
at the Cape of Good Hope are pulled out, no female will pair with him.
Now, where two or three common cocks are kept, I want to know, if the
tail sickle-feathers and saddle-feathers of one which had succeeded in
getting wives were cut and mutilated and his beauty spoiled, whether he
would continue to be successful in getting wives. This might be tried
with drakes or peacocks, but no one would be willing to spoil for a
season his peacocks. I have no strength or opportunity of watching my
own poultry, otherwise I would try it. I would very gladly repay all
expenses of loss of value of the poultry, etc. But, as I said, I have
written on the most improbable chance of your interesting any one to
make the trial, or having time and inclination yourself to make it.
Another, and perhaps better, mode of making the trial would be to turn
down to some hens two or three cocks, one being injured in its plumage.
I am glad to say that I have begun correcting proofs. (427/2. "The
Variation of Animals and Plants.") I hope that you received safely the
skulls which you so kindly lent me.
LETTER 428. TO W.B. TEGETMEIER. Down, March 30th [1867].
I am much obliged for your note, and shall be truly obliged if you will
insert any question on the subject. That is a capital remark of yours
about the trimmed game cocks, and shall be quoted by me. (428/1.
"Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume II., page 117. "Mr. Tegetmeier is
convinced that a game cock, though disfigured by being dubbed with his
hackles trimmed, would be accepted as readily as a male retaining all
his natural ornaments.") Nevertheless I am still inclined from many
facts strongly to believe that the beauty of the male bird determines
the choice of the female with wild birds, however it may be under
domestication. Sir R. Heron has described how one pied peacock was extra
attentive to the hens. This is a subject which I must take up as soon as
my present book is done.
I shall be most particularly obliged to you if you will dye with magenta
a pigeon or two. (428/2. "Mr. Tegetmeier, at my request, stained some
of his birds with magenta, but they were not much noticed by the
others."--"Descent of Man" (1901), page 637.) Would it not be better
to dye the tail alone and crown of head, so as not to make too great
difference? I shall be very curious to hear how an entirely crimson
pigeon will be received by the others as well as his mate.
P.S.--Perhaps the best experiment, for my purpose, would be to colour a
young unpaired male and turn him with other pigeons, and observe whether
he was longer or quicker than usual in mating.
LETTER 429. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, April 29th [1867].
I have been greatly interested by your letter, but your view is not new
to me. (429/1. We have not been able to find Mr. Wallace's letter to
which this is a reply. It evidently refers to Mr. Wallace's belief in
the paramount importance of protection in the evolution of colour. This
is clear from the P.S. to the present letter and from the passages in
the "Origin" referred to. The first reference, Edition IV., page 240,
is as follows: "We can sometimes plainly see the proximate cause of the
transmission of ornaments to the males alone; for a pea-hen with the
long tail of the male bird would be badly fitted to sit on her eggs, and
a coal-black female capercailzie would be far more conspicuous on her
nest, and more exposed to danger, than in her present modest attire."
The passages in Edition I. (pages 89, 101) do not directly bear on the
question of protection.) If you will look at page 240 of the fourth
edition of the "Origin" you will find it very briefly given with
two extreme examples of the peacock and black grouse. A more general
statement is given at page 101, or at page 89 of the first edition,
for I have long entertained this view, though I have never had space to
develop it. But I had not sufficient knowledge to generalise as far as
you do about colouring and nesting. In your paper perhaps you will just
allude to my scanty remark in the fourth edition, because in my Essay
on Man I intend to discuss the whole subject of sexual selection,
explaining as I believe it does much with respect to man. I have
collected all my old notes, and partly written my discussion, and it
would be flat work for me to give the leading idea as exclusively from
you. But, as I am sure from your greater knowledge of Ornithology and
Entomology that you will write a much better discussion than I could,
your paper will be of great use to me. Nevertheless I must discuss the
subject fully in my Essay on Man. When we met at the Zoological Society,
and I asked you about the sexual differences in kingfishers, I had this
subject in view; as I had when I suggested to Bates the difficulty about
gaudy caterpillars, which you have so admirably (as I believe it will
prove) explained. (429/2. See a letter of February 26th, 1867, to Mr.
Wallace, "Life and Letters" III., page 94.) I have got one capital case
(genus forgotten) of a [Australian] bird in which the female has long
tail-plumes, and which consequently builds a different nest from all her
allies. (429/3. Menura superba: see "Descent of Man" (1901), page 687.
Rhynchoea, mentioned a line or two lower down, is discussed in the
"Descent," page 727. The female is more brightly coloured than the male,
and has a convoluted trachea, elsewhere a masculine character. There
seems some reason to suppose that "the male undertakes the duty of
incubation.") With respect to certain female birds being more brightly
coloured than the males, and the latter incubating, I have gone a little
into the subject, and cannot say that I am fully satisfied. I remember
mentioning to you the case of Rhynchoea, but its nesting seems unknown.
In some other cases the difference in brightness seemed to me hardly
sufficiently accounted for by the principle of protection. At the
Falkland Islands there is a carrion hawk in which the female (as I
ascertained by dissection) is the brightest coloured, and I doubt
whether protection will here apply; but I wrote several months ago to
the Falklands to make enquiries. The conclusion to which I have been
leaning is that in some of these abnormal cases the colour happened to
vary in the female alone, and was transmitted to females alone, and that
her variations have been selected through the admiration of the male.
It is a very interesting subject, but I shall not be able to go on with
it for the next five or six months, as I am fully employed in correcting
dull proof-sheets. When I return to the work I shall find it much better
done by you than I could have succeeded in doing.
It is curious how we hit on the same ideas. I have endeavoured to show
in my MS. discussion that nearly the same principles account for young
birds not being gaily coloured in many cases, but this is too complex a
point for a note.
On reading over your letter again, and on further reflection, I do not
think (as far as I remember my words) that I expressed myself nearly
strongly enough on the value and beauty of your generalisation (429/4.
See Letter 203, Volume I.), viz., that all birds in which the female
is conspicuously or brightly coloured build in holes or under domes. I
thought that this was the explanation in many, perhaps most cases, but
do not think I should ever have extended my view to your generalisation.
Forgive me troubling you with this P.S.
LETTER 430. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, May 5th [1867].
The offer of your valuable notes is most generous, but it would vex me
to take so much from you, as it is certain that you could work up
the subject very much better than I could. Therefore I earnestly, and
without any reservation, hope that you will proceed with your paper, so
that I return your notes. You seem already to have well investigated the
subject. I confess on receiving your note that I felt rather flat at my
recent work being almost thrown away, but I did not intend to show this
feeling. As a proof how little advance I had made on the subject, I may
mention that though I had been collecting facts on the colouring, and
other sexual differences in mammals, your explanation with respect to
the females had not occurred to me. I am surprised at my own stupidity,
but I have long recognised how much clearer and deeper your insight into
matters is than mine. I do not know how far you have attended to the
laws of inheritance, so what follows may be obvious to you. I have begun
my discussion on sexual selection by showing that new characters often
appear in one sex and are transmitted to that sex alone, and that from
some unknown cause such characters apparently appear oftener in the
male than in the female. Secondly, characters may be developed and be
confined to the male, and long afterwards be transferred to the female.
Thirdly, characters may arise in either sex and be transmitted to both
sexes, either in an equal or unequal degree. In this latter case I have
supposed that the survival of the fittest has come into play with female
birds and kept the female dull-coloured. With respect to the absence of
spurs in the female gallinaceous birds, I presume that they would be
in the way during incubation; at least I have got the case of a German
breed of fowls in which the hens were spurred, and were found to disturb
and break their eggs much. With respect to the females of deer not
having horns, I presume it is to save the loss of organised matter. In
your note you speak of sexual selection and protection as sufficient to
account for the colouring of all animals, but it seems to me doubtful
how far this will come into play with some of the lower animals, such as
sea anemones, some corals, etc., etc. On the other hand Hackel (430/1.
See "Descent of Man" (1901) page 402.) has recently well shown that
the transparency and absence of colour in the lower oceanic animals,
belonging to the most different classes, may be well accounted for on
the principle of protection.
Some time or other I should like much to know where your paper on the
nests of birds has appeared, and I shall be extremely anxious to read
your paper in the "Westminster Review." (430/2. "Westminster Review,"
July, 1867.) Your paper on the sexual colouring of birds will, I have
no doubt, be very striking. Forgive me, if you can, for a touch of
illiberality about your paper.
LETTER 431. TO A.R. WALLACE. March 19th, 1868.
(431/1. "The Variation of Animals and Plants" having been published on
January 30th, 1868, Mr. Darwin notes in his diary that on February 4th
he "Began on Man and Sexual Selection." He had already (in 1864 and
1867) corresponded with Mr. Wallace on these questions--see for
instance the "Life and Letters," III., page 89; but, owing to various
interruptions, serious work on the subject did not begin until 1869. The
following quotations show the line of work undertaken early in 1868.
Mr. Wallace wrote (March 19th, 1868): "I am glad you have got good
materials on sexual selection. It is no doubt a difficult subject.
One difficulty to me is, that I do not see how the constant MINUTE
variations, which are sufficient for Natural Selection to work with,
could be SEXUALLY selected. We seem to require a series of bold and
abrupt variations. How can we imagine that an inch in the tail of the
peacock, or 1/4-inch in that of the Bird of Paradise, would be noticed
and preferred by the female.")
In regard to sexual selection. A girl sees a handsome man, and without
observing whether his nose or whiskers are the tenth of an inch longer
or shorter than in some other man, admires his appearance and says she
will marry him. So, I suppose, with the pea-hen; and the tail has been
increased in length merely by, on the whole, presenting a more gorgeous
appearance. J. Jenner Weir, however, has given me some facts showing
that birds apparently admire details of plumage.
LETTER 432. TO F. MULLER. March 28th [1868].
I am particularly obliged to you for your observations on the
stridulation of the two sexes of Lamellicorns. (432/1. We are unable
to find any mention of F. Muller's observations on this point; but
the reference is clearly to Darwin's observations on Necrophorus and
Pelobius, in which the stridulating rasp was bigger in the males in the
first individuals examined, but not so in succeeding specimens. "Descent
of Man," Edition II., Volume I., page 382.) I begin to fear that I am
completely in error owing to that common cause, viz. mistaking at first
individual variability for sexual difference.
I go on working at sexual selection, and, though never idle, I am able
to do so little work each day that I make very slow progress. I knew
from Azara about the young of the tapir being striped, and about young
deer being spotted (432/2. Fritz Muller's views are discussed in the
"Descent of Man," Edition II., Volume II., page 305.); I have often
reflected on this subject, and know not what to conclude about the loss
of the stripes and spots. From the geographical distribution of the
striped and unstriped species of Equus there seems to be something very
mysterious about the loss of stripes; and I cannot persuade myself
that the common ass has lost its stripes owing to being rendered more
conspicuous from having stripes and thus exposed to danger.
LETTER 433. TO J. JENNER WEIR.
(433/1. Mr. John Jenner Weir, to whom the following letters are
addressed, is frequently quoted in the "Descent of Man" as having
supplied Mr. Darwin with information on a variety of subjects.)
Down, February 27th [1868].
I must thank you for your paper on apterous lepidoptera (433/2.
Published by the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical and
Photographic Society, Greenwich, 1867. Mr. Weir's paper seems chiefly to
have interested Mr. Darwin as affording a good case of gradation in
the degree of degradation of the wings in various species.), which has
interested me exceedingly, and likewise for the very honourable mention
which you make of my name. It is almost a pity that your paper was
not published in some Journal in which it would have had a wider
distribution. It contained much that was new to me. I think the part
about the relation of the wings and spiracles and tracheae might have
been made a little clearer. Incidentally, you have done me a good
service by reminding me of the rudimentary spurs on the legs of the
partridge, for I am now writing on what I have called sexual selection.
I believe that I am not mistaken in thinking that you have attended much
to birds in confinement, as well as to insects. If you could call to
mind any facts bearing on this subject, with birds, insects, or any
animals--such as the selection by a female of any particular male--or
conversely of a particular female by a male, or on the rivalry between
males, or on the allurement of the females by the males, or any such
facts, I should be most grateful for the information, if you would have
the kindness to communicate it.
P.S.--I may give as instance of [this] class of facts, that Barrow
asserts that a male Emberiza (?) at the Cape has immensely long
tail-feathers during the breeding season (433/3. Barrow describes the
long tail feathers of Emberiza longicauda as enduring "but the season
of love." "An Account of Travels into the Interior of Southern Africa":
London, 1801, Volume I., page 244.); and that if these are cut off, he
has no chance of getting a wife. I have always felt an intense wish to
make analogous trials, but have never had an opportunity, and it is not
likely that you or any one would be willing to try so troublesome an
experiment. Colouring or staining the fine red breast of a bullfinch
with some innocuous matter into a dingy tint would be an analogous
case, and then putting him and ordinary males with a female. A
friend promised, but failed, to try a converse experiment with white
pigeons--viz., to stain their tails and wings with magenta or other
colours, and then observe what effect such a prodigious alteration would
have on their courtship. (433/4. See Letter 428.) It would be a fairer
trial to cut off the eyes of the tail-feathers of male peacocks; but who
would sacrifice the beauty of their bird for a whole season to please a
mere naturalist?
LETTER 434. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, February 29th [1868].
I have hardly ever received a note which has interested me more than
your last; and this is no exaggeration. I had a few cases of birds
perceiving slight changes in the dress of their owners, but your facts
are of tenfold value. I shall certainly make use of them, and need not
say how much obliged I should be for any others about which you feel
confident.
Do you know of any birds besides some of the gallinaceae which are
polygamous? Do you know of any birds besides pigeons, and, as it is
said, the raven, which pair for their whole lives?
Many years ago I visited your brother, who showed me his pigeons and
gave me some valuable information. Could you persuade him (but I fear
he would think it high treason) to stain a male pigeon some brilliant
colour, and observe whether it excited in the other pigeons, especially
the females, admiration or contempt?
For the chance of your liking to have a copy and being able to find some
parts which would interest you, I have directed Mr. Murray to send you
my recent book on "Variation under Domestication."
P.S.--I have somewhere safe references to cases of magpies, of which
one of a pair has been repeatedly (I think seven times) killed, and yet
another mate was always immediately found. (434/1. On this subject see
"Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume II., page 104, where Mr. Weir's
observations were made use of. This statement is quoted from Jenner
("Phil. Trans." 1824) in the "Descent of Man" (1901), page 620.) A
gamekeeper told me yesterday of analogous case. This perplexes me much.
Are there many unmarried birds? I can hardly believe it. Or will one of
a pair, of which the nest has been robbed, or which are barren, always
desert his or her mate for a strange mate with the attraction of a nest,
and in one instance with young birds in the nest? The gamekeeper said
during breeding season he had never observed a single or unpaired
partridge. How can the sexes be so equally matched?
P.S. 2nd.--I fear you will find me a great bore, but I will be as
reasonable as can be expected in plundering one so rich as you.
P.S. 3rd.--I have just received a letter from Dr. Wallace (434/2.
See "Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume I., pages 386-401, where
Dr. Wallace's observations are quoted.), of Colchester, about the
proportional numbers of the two sexes in Bombyx; and in this note,
apropos to an incidental remark of mine, he stoutly maintains that
female lepidoptera never notice the colours or appearance of the male,
but always receive the first male which comes; and this appears very
probable. He says he has often seen fine females receive old battered
and pale-tinted males. I shall have to admit this very great objection
to sexual selection in insects. His observations no doubt apply to
English lepidoptera, in most of which the sexes are alike. The brimstone
or orange-tip would be good to observe in this respect, but it is
hopelessly difficult. I think I have often seen several males following
one female; and what decides which male shall succeed? How is this about
several males; is it not so?
LETTER 435. TO J. JENNER WEIR. 6, Queen Anne Street, Cavendish Square,
W. [March 6th, 1868].
I have come here for a few weeks, for a little change and rest. Just as
I was leaving home I received your first note, and yesterday a second;
and both are most interesting and valuable to me. That is a very curious
observation about the goldfinch's beak (435/1. "Descent of Man,"
Edition I., Volume I., page 39. Mr. Weir is quoted as saying that the
birdcatchers can distinguish the males of the goldfinch, Carduelis
elegans, by their "slightly longer beaks."), but one would hardly like
to trust it without measurement or comparison of the beaks of several
male and female birds; for I do not understand that you yourself assert
that the beak of the male is sensibly longer than that of the female. If
you come across any acute birdcatchers (I do not mean to ask you to
go after them), I wish you would ask what is their impression on the
relative numbers of the sexes of any birds which they habitually catch,
and whether some years males are more numerous and some years females.
I see that I must trust to analogy (an unsafe support) for sexual
selection in regard to colour in butterflies. You speak of the brimstone
butterfly and genus Edusa (435/2. Colias Edusa.) (I forget what this is,
and have no books here, unless it is Colias) not opening their wings.
In one of my notes to Mr. Stainton I asked him (but he could or did not
answer) whether butterflies such as the Fritillaries, with wings bright
beneath and above, opened and shut their wings more than Vanessae, most
of which, I think, are obscure on the under surface. That is a most
curious observation about the red underwing moth and the robin (435/3.
"Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume I., page 395. Mr. Weir describes
the pursuit of a red-underwing, Triphoena pronuba, by a robin which was
attracted by the bright colour of the moth, and constantly missed the
insect by breaking pieces off the wing instead of seizing the body. Mr.
Wallace's facts are given on the same page.), and strongly supports a
suggestion (which I thought hardly credible) of A.R. Wallace, viz. that
the immense wings of some exotic lepidoptera served as a protection from
difficulty of birds seizing them. I will probably quote your case.
No doubt Dr. Hooker collected the Kerguelen moth, for I remember he told
me of the case when I suggested in the "Origin," the explanation of
the coleoptera of Madeira being apterous; but he did not know what had
become of the specimens.
I am quite delighted to hear that you are observing coloured birds
(435/4. "Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume II., page 110.), though the
probability, I suppose, will be that no sure result will be gained. I am
accustomed with my numerous experiments with plants to be well satisfied
if I get any good result in one case out of five.
You will not be able to read all my book--too much detail. Some of the
chapters in the second volume are curious, I think. If any man wants to
gain a good opinion of his fellow-men, he ought to do what I am doing,
pester them with letters.
LETTER 436. TO J. JENNER WEIR. 4, Chester Place, Regent's Park, N.W.,
March 13th [1868].
You make a very great mistake when you speak of "the risk of your notes
boring me." They are of the utmost value to me, and I am sure I shall
never be tired of receiving them; but I must not be unreasonable. I
shall give almost all the facts which you have mentioned in your two
last notes, as well as in the previous ones; and my only difficulty
will be not to give too much and weary my readers. Your last note is
especially valuable about birds displaying the beautiful parts of their
plumage. Audubon (436/1. In his "Ornithological Biography," 5 volumes,
Edinburgh, 1831-49.) gives a good many facts about the antics of birds
during courtship, but nothing nearly so much to the purpose as yours.
I shall never be able to resist giving the whole substance of your last
note. It is quite a new light to me, except with the peacock and Bird
of Paradise. I must now look to turkey's wings; but I do not think that
their wings are beautiful when opened during courtship. Its tail is
finely banded. How about the drake and Gallus bankiva? I forget how
their wings look when expanded. Your facts are all the more valuable
as I now clearly see that for butterflies I must trust to analogy
altogether in regard to sexual selection. But I think I shall make out a
strong case (as far as the rather deceitful guide of analogy will serve)
in the sexes of butterflies being alike or differing greatly--in moths
which do not display the lower surface of their wings not having them
gaudily coloured, etc., etc.--nocturnal moths, etc.--and in some male
insects fighting for the females, and attracting them by music.
My discussion on sexual selection will be a curious one--a mere
dovetailing of information derived from you, Bates, Wallace, etc., etc.,
etc.
We remain at above address all this month, and then return home. In the
summer, could I persuade you to pay us a visit of a day or two, and I
would try and get Bates and some others to come down? But my health is
so precarious, I can ask no one who will not allow me the privilege of
a poor old invalid; for talking, I find by long and dear-bought
experience, tries my head more than anything, and I am utterly incapable
of talking more than half an hour, except on rare occasions.
I fear this note is very badly written; but I was very ill all
yesterday, and my hand shakes to-day.
LETTER 437. TO J. JENNER WEIR. 4, Chester Place, Regent's Park, N.W.,
March 22nd [1868].
I hope that you will not think me ungrateful that I have not sooner
answered your note of the 16th; but in fact I have been overwhelmed both
with calls and letters; and, alas! one visit to the British Museum of an
hour or hour and a half does for me for the whole day.
I was particularly glad to hear your and your brother's statement about
the "gay" deceiver-pigeons. (437/1. Some cock pigeons "called by our
English fanciers gay birds are so successful in their gallantries that,
as Mr. H. Weir informs me, they must be shut up, on account of the
mischief which they cause.") I did not at all know that certain birds
could win the affections of the females more than other males, except,
indeed, in the case of the peacock. Conversely, Mr. Hewitt, I remember,
states that in making hybrids the cock pheasant would prefer certain hen
fowls and strongly dislike others. I will write to Mr. H. in a few days,
and ask him whether he has observed anything of this kind with pure
unions of fowls, ducks, etc. I had utterly forgotten the case of the
ruff (437/2. The ruff, Machetes pugnax, was believed by Montague to be
polygamous. "Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume I., page 270.), but now
I remember having heard that it was polygamous; but polygamy with birds,
at least, does not seem common enough to have played an important part.
So little is known of habits of foreign birds: Wallace does not even
know whether Birds of Paradise are polygamous. Have you been a large
collector of caterpillars? I believe so. I inferred from a letter from
Dr. Wallace, of Colchester, that he would account for Mr. Stainton
and others rearing more female than male by their having collected the
larger and finer caterpillars. But I misunderstood him, and he maintains
that collectors take all caterpillars, large and small, for that they
collect the caterpillars alone of the rarer moths or butterflies. What
think you? I hear from Professor Canestrini (437/3. See "Descent of Man"
(1901), page 385.) in Italy that females are born in considerable excess
with Bombyx mori, and in greater excess of late years than formerly!
Quatrefages writes to me that he believes they are equal in France.
So that the farther I go the deeper I sink into the mire. With cordial
thanks for your most valuable letters.
We remain here till April 1st, and then hurrah for home and quiet work.
LETTER 438. TO J. JENNER WEIR. 4, Chester Place, N.W., March 27th
[1868].
I hardly know which of your three last letters has interested me most.
What splendid work I shall have hereafter in selecting and arranging
all your facts. Your last letter is most curious--all about the
bird-catchers--and interested us all. I suppose the male chaffinch
in "pegging" approaches the captive singing-bird, from rivalry or
jealousy--if I am wrong please tell me; otherwise I will assume so. Can
you form any theory about all the many cases which you have given me,
and others which have been published, of when one [of a] pair is killed,
another soon appearing? Your fact about the bullfinches in your garden
is most curious on this head. (438/1. Mr. Weir stated that at Blackheath
he never saw or heard a wild bullfinch, yet when one of his caged males
died, a wild one in the course of a few days generally came and perched
near the widowed female, whose call-note is not loud. "Descent of Man"
(1901), page 623.) Are there everywhere many unpaired birds? What can
the explanation be?
Mr. Gould assures me that all the nightingales which first come over are
males, and he believes this is so with other migratory birds. But this
does not agree with what the bird-catchers say about the common linnet,
which I suppose migrates within the limits of England.
Many thanks for very curious case of Pavo nigripennis. (438/2. See
"Animals and Plants," Edition II., Volume I., page 306.) I am very glad
to get additional evidence. I have sent your fact to be inserted, if
not too late, in four foreign editions which are now printing. I am
delighted to hear that you approve of my book; I thought every mortal
man would find the details very tedious, and have often repented of
giving so many. You will find pangenesis stiff reading, and I fear will
shake your head in disapproval. Wallace sticks up for the great god Pan
like a man.
The fertility of hybrid canaries would be a fine subject for careful
investigation.
LETTER 439. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, April 4th [1868].
I read over your last ten (!) letters this morning, and made an index
of their contents for easy reference; and what a mine of wealth you
have bestowed on me. I am glad you will publish yourself on gay-coloured
caterpillars and birds (439/1. See "Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume
I., page 417, where Mr. Weir's experiments are given; they were made to
test Mr. Wallace's theory that caterpillars, which are protected against
birds by an unpleasant taste, have been rendered conspicuous, so that
they are easily recognised. They thus escape being pecked or tasted,
which to soft-skinned animals would be as fatal as being devoured. See
Mr. Jenner Weir's papers, "Transact. Entomolog. Soc." 1869, page 2;
1870, page 337. In regard to one of these papers Mr. Darwin wrote (May
13th, 1869): "Your verification of Wallace's suggestion seems to me
to amount to quite a discovery."); it seems to me much the best plan;
therefore, I will not forward your letter to Mr. Wallace. I was much
in the Zoological Gardens during my month in London, and picked up
what scraps of knowledge I could. Without my having mentioned your most
interesting observations on the display of the Fringillidae (439/2.
"Descent of Man" (1901), page 738.), Mr. Bartlett told me how the Gold
Pheasant erects his collar and turns from side to side, displaying it
to the hen. He has offered to give me notes on the display of all
Gallinaceae with which he is acquainted; but he is so busy a man that I
rather doubt whether he will ever do so.
I received about a week ago a remarkably kind letter from your brother,
and I am sorry to hear that he suffers much in health. He gave me some
fine facts about a Dun Hen Carrier which would never pair with a bird of
any other colour. He told me, also, of some one at Lewes who paints his
dog! and will inquire about it. By the way, Mr. Trimen tells me that as
a boy he used to paint butterflies, and that they long haunted the same
place, but he made no further observations on them. As far as colour is
concerned, I see I shall have to trust to mere inference from the males
displaying their plumage, and other analogous facts. I shall get
no direct evidence of the preference of the hens. Mr. Hewitt, of
Birmingham, tells me that the common hen prefers a salacious cock, but
is quite indifferent to colour.
Will you consider and kindly give me your opinion on the two following
points. Do very vigorous and well-nourished hens receive the male
earlier in the spring than weaker or poorer hens? I suppose that they
do. Secondly, do you suppose that the birds which pair first in the
season have any advantage in rearing numerous and healthy offspring over
those which pair later in the season? With respect to the mysterious
cases of which you have given me so many, in addition to those
previously collected, of when one bird of a pair is shot another
immediately supplying its place, I was drawing to the conclusion that
there must be in each district several unpaired birds; yet this seems
very improbable. You allude, also, to the unknown causes which keep down
the numbers of birds; and often and often have I marvelled over this
subject with respect to many animals.
LETTER 440. TO A.R. WALLACE.
(440/1. The following refers to Mr. Wallace's article "A Theory of
Birds' Nests," in Andrew Murray's "Journal of Travel," Volume I., page
73. He here treats in fuller detail the view already published in the
"Westminster Review," July 1867, page 38. The rule which Mr. Wallace
believes, with very few exceptions, to hold good is, "that when both
sexes are of strikingly gay and conspicuous colours, the nest is...such
as to conceal the sitting bird; while, whenever there is a striking
contrast of colours, the male being gay and conspicuous, the female dull
and obscure, the nest is open, and the sitting bird exposed to view."
At this time Mr. Wallace allowed considerably more influence to sexual
selection (in combination with the need of protection) than in his later
writings. The following extract from a letter from Mr. Wallace to Darwin
(July 23rd, 1877) fixes the period at which the change in his views
occurred: "I am almost afraid to tell you that in going over the subject
of the colours of animals, etc., etc., for a small volume of essays,
etc., I am preparing, I have come to conclusions directly opposed to
voluntary sexual selection, and believe that I can explain (in a general
way) all the phenomena of sexual ornaments and colours by laws of
development aided by simple 'Natural Selection.'" He finally rejected
Mr. Darwin's theory that colours "have been developed by the preference
of the females, the more ornamented males becoming the parents of each
successive generation." "Darwinism," 1889, page 285. See also Letters
442, 443, 449, 450, etc.)
Down, April 15th, [1868].
I have been deeply interested by your admirable article on birds' nests.
I am delighted to see that we really differ very little,--not more than
two men almost always will. You do not lay much or any stress on new
characters spontaneously appearing in one sex (generally the male), and
being transmitted exclusively, or more commonly only in excess, to that
sex. I, on the other hand, formerly paid far too little attention to
protection. I had only a glimpse of the truth; but even now I do not
go quite as far as you. I cannot avoid thinking rather more than you
do about the exceptions in nesting to the rule, especially the partial
exceptions, i.e., when there is some little difference between the sexes
in species which build concealed nests. I am not quite satisfied about
the incubating males; there is so little difference in conspicuousness
between the sexes. I wish with all my heart I could go the whole length
with you. You seem to think that male birds probably select the most
beautiful females; I must feel some doubt on this head, for I can find
no evidence of it. Though I am writing so carping a note, I admire the
article thoroughly.
And now I want to ask a question. When female butterflies are more
brilliant than their males you believe that they have in most cases, or
in all cases, been rendered brilliant so as to mimic some other species,
and thus escape danger. But can you account for the males not having
been rendered equally brilliant and equally protected? (440/2. See
Wallace in the "Westminster Review," July, 1867, page 37, on the
protection to the female insect afforded by its resemblance either to an
inanimate object or to another insect protected by its unpalatableness.
The cases are discussed in relation to the much greater importance (to
the species as a whole) of the preservation of the female insect with
her load of eggs than the male who may safely be sacrificed after
pairing. See Letter 189, note.) Although it may be most for the welfare
of the species that the female should be protected, yet it would be some
advantage, certainly no disadvantage, for the unfortunate male to enjoy
an equal immunity from danger. For my part, I should say that the female
alone had happened to vary in the right manner, and that the beneficial
variations had been transmitted to the same sex alone. Believing in
this, I can see no improbability (but from analogy of domestic animals
a strong probability) that variations leading to beauty must often have
occurred in the males alone, and been transmitted to that sex alone.
Thus I should account in many cases for the greater beauty of the male
over the female, without the need of the protective principle. I should
be grateful for an answer on the point.
LETTER 441. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, April 18th [1868].
You see that I have taken you at your word, and have not (owing to heaps
of stupid letters) earlier noticed your three last letters, which as
usual are rich in facts. Your letters make almost a little volume on my
table. I daresay you hardly knew yourself how much curious information
was lying in your mind till I began the severe pumping process. The case
of the starling married thrice in one day is capital, and beats the
case of the magpies of which one was shot seven times consecutively. A
gamekeeper here tells me that he has repeatedly shot one of a pair of
jays, and it has always been immediately replaced. I begin to think that
the pairing of birds must be as delicate and tedious an operation as
the pairing of young gentlemen and ladies. If I can convince myself that
there are habitually many unpaired birds, it will be a great aid to me
in sexual selection, about which I have lately had many troubles, and
am therefore rejoiced to hear in your last note that your faith keeps
staunch. That is a curious fact about the bullfinches all appearing to
listen to the German singer (441/1. See Letter 445, note.); and this
leads me to ask how much faith may I put in the statement that male
birds will sing in rivalry until they injure themselves. Yarrell
formerly told me that they would sometimes even sing themselves to
death. I am sorry to hear that the painted bullfinch turns out to be a
female; though she has done us a good turn in exhibiting her jealousy,
of which I had no idea.
Thank you for telling me about the wildness of the hybrid canaries:
nothing has hardly ever surprised me more than the many cases of
reversion from crossing. Do you not think it a very curious subject? I
have not heard from Mr. Bartlett about the Gallinaceae, and I daresay I
never shall. He told me about the Tragopan, and he is positive that the
blue wattle becomes gorged with blood, and not air.
Returning to the first of the last three letters. It is most curious the
number of persons of the name of Jenner who have had a strong taste for
Natural History. It is a pity you cannot trace your connection with the
great Jenner, for a duke might be proud of his blood.
I heard lately from Professor Rolleston of the inherited effects of an
injury in the same eye. Is the scar on your son's leg on the same side
and on exactly the same spot where you were wounded? And did the wound
suppurate, or heal by the first intention? I cannot persuade myself
of the truth of the common belief of the influence of the mother's
imagination on the child. A point just occurs to me (though it does
not at present concern me) about birds' nests. Have you read Wallace's
recent articles? (441/2. A full discussion of Mr. Wallace's views is
given in "Descent of Man," Edition I., Volume II., Chapter XV. Briefly,
Mr. Wallace's point is that the dull colour of the female bird is
protective by rendering her inconspicuous during incubation. Thus the
relatively bright colour of the male would not simply depend on sexual
selection, but also on the hen being "saved, through Natural Selection,
from acquiring the conspicuous colours of the male" (loc. cit., page
155).) I always distrust myself when I differ from him; but I cannot
admit that birds learn to make their nests from having seen them
whilst young. I must think it as true an instinct as that which leads a
caterpillar to suspend its cocoon in a particular manner. Have you had
any experience of birds hatched under a foster-mother making their nests
in the proper manner? I cannot thank you enough for all your kindness.
LETTER 442. TO A.R. WALLACE.
(442/1. Dr. Clifford Allbutt's view probably had reference to the fact
that the sperm-cell goes, or is carried, to the germ-cell, never vice
versa. In this letter Darwin gives the reason for the "law" referred
to. Mr. A.R. Wallace has been good enough to give us the following
note:--"It was at this time that my paper on 'Protective Resemblance'
first appeared in the 'Westminster Review,' in which I adduced the
greater, or rather, the more continuous, importance of the female
(in the lower animals) for the race, and my 'Theory of Birds' Nests'
('Journal of Travel and Natural History,' No. 2) in which I applied this
to the usually dull colours of female butterflies and birds. It is
to these articles as well as to my letters that Darwin chiefly
refers."--Note by Mr. Wallace, May 27th, 1902.)
Down, April 30th [1868].
Your letter, like so many previous ones, has interested me much. Dr.
Allbutt's view occurred to me some time ago, and I have written a short
discussion on it. It is, I think, a remarkable law, to which I have
found no exception. The foundation lies in the fact that in many cases
the eggs or seeds require nourishment and protection by the mother-form
for some time after impregnation. Hence the spermatozoa and antherozoids
travel in the lower aquatic animals and plants to the female, and pollen
is borne to the female organ. As organisms rise in the scale it seems
natural that the male should carry the spermatozoa to the female in his
own body. As the male is the searcher, he has required and gained more
eager passions than the female; and, very differently from you, I look
at this as one great difficulty in believing that the males select the
more attractive females; as far as I can discover, they are always ready
to seize on any female, and sometimes on many females. Nothing would
please me more than to find evidence of males selecting the more
attractive females. I have for months been trying to persuade myself of
this. There is the case of man in favour of this belief, and I know in
hybrid unions of males preferring particular females, but, alas, not
guided by colour. Perhaps I may get more evidence as I wade through my
twenty years' mass of notes.
I am not shaken about the female protected butterflies. I will grant
(only for argument) that the life of the male is of very little
value,--I will grant that the males do not vary, yet why has not the
protective beauty of the female been transferred by inheritance to the
male? The beauty would be a gain to the male, as far as we can see, as
a protection; and I cannot believe that it would be repulsive to the
female as she became beautiful. But we shall never convince each other.
I sometimes marvel how truth progresses, so difficult is it for one man
to convince another, unless his mind is vacant. Nevertheless, I myself
to a certain extent contradict my own remark, for I believe far more in
the importance of protection than I did before reading your articles.
I do not think you lay nearly stress enough in your articles on what
you admit in your letters: viz., "there seems to be some production of
vividness...of colour in the male independent of protection." This I
am making a chief point; and have come to your conclusion so far that
I believe that intense colouring in the female sex is often checked by
being dangerous.
That is an excellent remark of yours about no known case of male alone
assuming protective colours; but in the cases in which protection has
been gained by dull colours, I presume that sexual selection would
interfere with the male losing his beauty. If the male alone had
acquired beauty as a protection, it would be most readily overlooked, as
males are so often more beautiful than their females. Moreover, I grant
that the life of the male is somewhat less precious, and thus there
would be less rigorous selection with the male, so he would be less
likely to be made beautiful through Natural Selection for protection.
(442/2. This does not apply to sexual selection, for the greater the
excess of males, and the less precious their lives, so much the better
for sexual selection. [Note in original.]) But it seems to me a good
argument, and very good if it could be thoroughly established. I do not
know whether you will care to read this scrawl.
LETTER 443. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, May 5th [1868?].
I am afraid I have caused you a great deal of trouble in writing to me
at such length. I am glad to say that I agree almost entirely with
your summary, except that I should put sexual selection as an equal,
or perhaps as even a more important agent in giving colour than Natural
Selection for protection. As I get on in my work I hope to get clearer
and more decided ideas. Working up from the bottom of the scale, I have
as yet only got to fishes. What I rather object to in your articles is
that I do not think any one would infer from them that you place sexual
selection even as high as No. 4 in your summary. It was very natural
that you should give only a line to sexual selection in the summary to
the "Westminster Review," but the result at first to my mind was that
you attributed hardly anything to its power. In your penultimate
note you say "in the great mass of cases in which there is great
differentiation of colour between the sexes, I believe it is due almost
wholly to the need of protection to the female." Now, looking to the
whole animal kingdom, I can at present by no means admit this view; but
pray do not suppose that because I differ to a certain extent, I do not
thoroughly admire your several papers and your admirable generalisation
on birds' nests. With respect to this latter point, however, although,
following you, I suspect that I shall ultimately look at the whole case
from a rather different point of view.
You ask what I think about the gay-coloured females of Pieris. (443/1.
See "Westminster Review," July, 1867, page 37; also Letter 440.) I
believe I quite follow you in believing that the colours are wholly due
to mimicry; and I further believe that the male is not brilliant from
not having received through inheritance colour from the female, and from
not himself having varied; in short, that he has not been influenced by
selection.
I can make no answer with respect to the elephants. With respect to
the female reindeer, I have hitherto looked at the horns simply as the
consequence of inheritance not having been limited by sex.
Your idea about colour being concentrated in the smaller males seems
good, and I presume that you will not object to my giving it as your
suggestion.
LETTER 444. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, May 7th [1868].
I have now to thank you for no less than four letters! You are so kind
that I will not apologise for the trouble I cause you; but it has lately
occurred to me that you ought to publish a paper or book on the habits
of the birds which you have so carefully observed. But should you do
this, I do not think that my giving some of the facts for a special
object would much injure the novelty of your work. There is such a
multitude of points in these last letters that I hardly know what to
touch upon. Thanks about the instinct of nidification, and for your
answers on many points. I am glad to hear reports about the ferocious
female bullfinch. I hope you will have another try in colouring males.
I have now finished lepidoptera, and have used your facts about
caterpillars, and as a caution the case of the yellow-underwings. I
have now begun on fishes, and by comparing different classes of facts my
views are getting a little more decided. In about a fortnight or three
weeks I shall come to birds, and then I dare say that I shall be extra
troublesome. I will now enclose a few queries for the mere chance of
your being able to answer some of them, and I think it will save you
trouble if I write them on a separate slip, and then you can sometimes
answer by a mere "no" or "yes."
Your last letter on male pigeons and linnets has interested me much, for
the precise facts which you have given me on display are of the utmost
value for my work. I have written to Mr. Bartlett on Gallinaceae, but I
dare say I shall not get an answer. I had heard before, but am glad to
have confirmation about the ruffs being the most numerous. I am greatly
obliged to your brother for sending out circulars. I have not heard from
him as yet. I want to ask him whether he has ever observed when several
male pigeons are courting one female that the latter decides with which
male she will pair. The story about the black mark on the lambs must be
a hoax. The inaccuracy of many persons is wonderful. I should like to
tell you a story, but it is too long, about beans growing on the wrong
side of the pod during certain years.
Queries:
Does any female bird regularly sing?
Do you know any case of both sexes, more especially of the female,
[being] more brightly coloured whilst young than when come to maturity
and fit to breed? An imaginary instance would be if the female
kingfisher (or male) became dull coloured when adult.
Do you know whether the male and female wild canary bird differ in
plumage (though I believe I could find this out for myself), and do any
of the domestic breeds differ sexually?
Do you know any gallinaceous bird in which the female has well developed
spurs?
It is very odd that my memory should fail me, but I cannot remember
whether, in accordance with your views, the wing of Gallus bankiva (or
Game-Cock, which is so like the wild) is ornamental when he opens and
scrapes it before the female. I fear it is not; but though I have often
looked at wing of the wild and tame bird, I cannot call to mind the
exact colours. What a number of points you have attended to; I did
not know that you were a horticulturist. I have often marvelled at the
different growth of the flowering and creeping branches of the ivy; but
had no idea that they kept their character when propagated by cuttings.
There is a S. American genus (name forgotten just now) which differs
in an analogous manner but even greater degree, but it is difficult to
cultivate in our hot-house. I have tried and failed.
LETTER 445. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, May 30th [1868].
I am glad to hear your opinion on the nest-making instinct, for I am
Tory enough not to like to give up all old beliefs. Wallace's view
(445/1. See Letter 440, etc.) is also opposed to a great mass of
analogical facts. The cases which you mention of suddenly reacquired
wildness seem curious. I have also to thank you for a previous valuable
letter. With respect to spurs on female Gallinaceae, I applied to Mr.
Blyth, who has wonderful systematic knowledge, and he tells me that the
female Pavo muticus and Fire-back pheasants are spurred. From various
interruptions I get on very slowly with my Bird MS., but have already
often and often referred to your volume of letters, and have used
various facts, and shall use many more. And now I am ashamed to say
that I have more questions to ask; but I forget--you told me not to
apologise.
1. In your letter of April 14th you mention the case of about twenty
birds which seemed to listen with much interest to an excellent piping
bullfinch. (445/2. Quoted in the "Descent of Man" (1901), page 564. "A
bullfinch which had been taught to pipe a German waltz...when this bird
was first introduced into a room where other birds were kept and he
began to sing, all the others, consisting of about twenty linnets and
canaries, ranged themselves on the nearest side of their cages, and
listened with the greatest interest to the new performer.") What kind of
birds were these twenty?
2. Is it true, as often stated, that a bird reared by foster-parents,
and who has never heard the song of its own species, imitates to a
certain extent the song of the species which it may be in the habit of
hearing?
Now for a more troublesome point. I find it very necessary to make
out relation of immature plumage to adult plumage, both when the sexes
differ and are alike in the adult state. Therefore, I want much to learn
about the first plumage (answering, for instance, to the speckled state
of the robin before it acquires the red breast) of the several varieties
of the canary. Can you help me? What is the character or colour of the
first plumage of bright yellow or mealy canaries which breed true to
these tints? So with the mottled-brown canaries, for I believe that
there are breeds which always come brown and mottled. Lastly, in the
"prize-canaries," which have black wing- and tail-feathers during their
first (?) plumage, what colours are the wings and tails after the first
(?) moult or when adult? I should be particularly glad to learn this.
Heaven have mercy on you, for it is clear that I have none. I am going
to investigate this same point with all the breeds of fowls, as Mr.
Tegetmeier will procure for me young birds, about two months old, of all
the breeds.
In the course of this next month I hope you will come down here on the
Saturday and stay over the Sunday. Some months ago Mr. Bates said
he would pay me a visit during June, and I have thought it would be
pleasanter for you to come here when I can get him, so that you would
have a companion if I get knocked up, as is sadly too often my bad habit
and great misfortune.
Did you ever hear of the existence of any sub-breed of the canary in
which the male differs in plumage from the female?
LETTER 446. TO F. MULLER. Down, June 3rd [1868].
Your letter of April 22nd has much interested me. I am delighted that
you approve of my book, for I value your opinion more than that of
almost any one. I have yet hopes that you will think well of pangenesis.
I feel sure that our minds are somewhat alike, and I find it a great
relief to have some definite, though hypothetical view, when I reflect
on the wonderful transformations of animals, the re-growth of parts, and
especially the direct action of pollen on the mother form, etc. It often
appears to me almost certain that the characters of the parents are
"photographed" on the child, only by means of material atoms derived
from each cell in both parents, and developed in the child. I am sorry
about the mistake in regard to Leptotes. (446/1. See "Animals and
Plants," Edition I., Volume II., page 134, where it is stated that
Oncidium is fertile with Leptotes, a mistake corrected in the 2nd
edition.) I daresay it was my fault, yet I took pains to avoid such
blunders. Many thanks for all the curious facts about the unequal number
of the sexes in crustacea, but the more I investigate this subject
the deeper I sink in doubt and difficulty. Thanks, also, for the
confirmation of the rivalry of Cicadae. (446/2. See "Descent of Man,"
Edition I., Volume I., page 351, for F. Muller's observations; and for
a reference to Landois' paper.) I have often reflected with surprise on
the diversity of the means for producing music with insects, and still
more with birds. We thus get a high idea of the importance of song in
the animal kingdom. Please to tell me where I can find any account of
the auditory organs in the orthoptera? Your facts are quite new to me.
Scudder has described an annectant insect in Devonian strata, furnished
with a stridulating apparatus. (446/3. The insect is no doubt Xenoneura
antiquorum, from the Devonian rocks of New Brunswick. Scudder compared
a peculiar feature in the wing of this species to the stridulating
apparatus of the Locustariae, but afterwards stated that he had been led
astray in his original description, and that there was no evidence in
support of the comparison with a stridulating organ. See the "Devonian
Insects of New Brunswick," reprinted in S.H. Scudder's "Fossil Insects
of N. America," Volume I., page 179, New York, 1890.) I believe he is to
be trusted, and if so the apparatus is of astonishing antiquity. After
reading Landois' paper I have been working at the stridulating organ in
the lamellicorn beetles, in expectation of finding it sexual, but I have
only found it as yet in two cases, and in these it was equally developed
in both sexes. I wish you would look at any of your common lamellicorns
and take hold of both males and females and observe whether they make
the squeaking or grating noise equally. If they do not, you could
perhaps send me a male and female in a light little box. How curious
it is that there should be a special organ for an object apparently so
unimportant as squeaking. Here is another point: have you any Toucans?
if so, ask any trustworthy hunter whether the beaks of the males, or of
both sexes, are more brightly coloured during the breeding season than
at other times of the year? I have also to thank you for a previous
letter of April 3rd, with some interesting facts on the variation of
maize, the sterility of Bignonia and on conspicuous seeds. Heaven knows
whether I shall ever live to make use of half the valuable facts which
you have communicated to me...
LETTER 447. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, June 18th [1868].
Many thanks. I am glad that you mentioned the linnet, for I had much
difficulty in persuading myself that the crimson breast could be due to
change in the old feathers, as the books say. I am glad to hear of the
retribution of the wicked old she-bullfinch. You remember telling me how
many Weirs and Jenners have been naturalists; now this morning I have
been putting together all my references about one bird of a pair being
killed, and a new mate being soon found; you, Jenner Weir, have given
me some most striking cases with starlings; Dr. Jenner gives the most
curious case of all in "Philosophical Transactions" (447/1. "Phil.
Trans." 1824.), and a Mr. Weir gives the next most striking in
Macgillivray. (447/2. Macgillivray's "History of British Birds," Volume
I., page 570. See "Descent of Man" (1901), page 621.) Now, is this not
odd? Pray remember how very glad we shall be to see you here whenever
you can come.
Did some ancient progenitor of the Weirs and Jenners puzzle his brains
about the mating of birds, and has the question become indelibly fixed
in all your minds?
LETTER 448. TO A.R. WALLACE. August 19th [1868].
I had become, before my nine weeks' horrid interruption of all work,
extremely interested in sexual selection, and was making fair progress.
In truth it has vexed me much to find that the farther I get on the more
I differ from you about the females being dull-coloured for protection.
I can now hardly express myself as strongly, even, as in the "Origin."
This has much decreased the pleasure of my work. In the course of
September, if I can get at all stronger, I hope to get Mr. J. Jenner
Weir (who has been wonderfully kind in giving me information) to pay
me a visit, and I will then write for the chance of your being able to
come, and I hope bring with you Mrs. Wallace. If I could get several of
you together it would be less dull for you, for of late I have found
it impossible to talk with any human being for more than half an hour,
except on extraordinary good days.
(448/1. On September 16th Darwin wrote to Wallace on the same
subject:--)
You will be pleased to hear that I am undergoing severe distress about
protection and sexual selection; this morning I oscillated with joy
towards you; this evening I have swung back to the old position, out of
which I fear I shall never get.
LETTER 449. TO A.R. WALLACE.
(449/1. From "Life and Letters," Volume III., page 123.)
Down, September 23rd [1868].
I am very much obliged for all your trouble in writing me your long
letter, which I will keep by me and ponder over. To answer it would
require at least 200 folio pages! If you could see how often I have
rewritten some pages you would know how anxious I am to arrive as near
as I can to the truth. I lay great stress on what I know takes place
under domestication; I think we start with different fundamental
notions on inheritance. I find it is most difficult, but not, I think,
impossible to see how, for instance, a few red feathers appearing on the
head of a male bird, and which are at first transmitted to both sexes,
would come to be transmitted to males alone. It is not enough that
females should be produced from the males with red feathers, which
should be destitute of red feathers; but these females must have a
latent tendency to produce such feathers, otherwise they would cause
deterioration in the red head-feathers of their male offspring. Such
latent tendency would be shown by their producing the red feathers when
old, or diseased in their ovaria. But I have no difficulty in making the
whole head red if the few red feathers in the male from the first tended
to be sexually transmitted. I am quite willing to admit that the female
may have been modified, either at the same time or subsequently,
for protection by the accumulation of variations limited in their
transmission to the female sex. I owe to your writings the consideration
of this latter point. But I cannot yet persuade myself that females
alone have often been modified for protection. Should you grudge the
trouble briefly to tell me, whether you believe that the plainer head
and less bright colours of female chaffinch, the less red on the head
and less clean colours of female goldfinch, the much less red on the
breast of the female bullfinch, the paler crest of golden-crested wren,
etc., have been acquired by them for protection? I cannot think so, any
more than I can that the considerable differences between female and
male house-sparrow, or much greater brightness of male Parus caeruleus
(both of which build under cover) than of female Parus, are related to
protection. I even misdoubt much whether the less blackness of female
blackbird is for protection.
Again, can you give me reasons for believing that the moderate
differences between the female pheasant, the female Gallus bankiva,
the female of black grouse, the pea-hen, the female partridge, have all
special references to protection under slightly different conditions? I,
of course, admit that they are all protected by dull colours, derived,
as I think, from some dull-ground progenitor; and I account partly for
their difference by partial transference of colour from the male, and by
other means too long to specify; but I earnestly wish to see reason
to believe that each is specially adapted for concealment to its
environment.
I grieve to differ from you, and it actually terrifies me and makes me
constantly distrust myself. I fear we shall never quite understand each
other. I value the cases of bright-coloured, incubating male fisher, and
brilliant female butterflies, solely as showing that one sex may be made
brilliant without any necessary transference of beauty to the other sex;
for in these cases I cannot suppose that beauty in the other sex was
checked by selection.
I fear this letter will trouble you to read it. A very short answer
about your belief in regard to the female finches and Gallinaceae would
suffice.
LETTER 450. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. 9, St. Mark's Crescent,
N.W., September 27th, 1868.
Your view seems to be that variations occurring in one sex are
transmitted either to that sex exclusively or to both sexes equally, or
more rarely partially transferred. But we have every gradation of
sexual colours, from total dissimilarity to perfect identity. If this is
explained solely by the laws of inheritance, then the colours of one or
other sex will be always (in relation to the environment) a matter of
chance. I cannot think this. I think selection more powerful than laws
of inheritance, of which it makes use, as shown by cases of two, three
or four forms of female butterflies, all of which have, I have little
doubt, been specialised for protection.
To answer your first question is most difficult, if not impossible,
because we have no sufficient evidence in individual cases of slight
sexual difference, to determine whether the male alone has acquired his
superior brightness by sexual selection, or the female been made duller
by need of protection, or whether the two causes have acted. Many of the
sexual differences of existing species may be inherited differences from
parent forms, which existed under different conditions and had greater
or less need of protection.
I think I admitted before, the general tendency (probably) of males to
acquire brighter tints. Yet this cannot be universal, for many female
birds and quadrupeds have equally bright tints.
To your second question I can reply more decidedly. I do think the
females of the Gallinaceae you mention have been modified or been
prevented from acquiring the brighter plumage of the male, by need of
protection. I know that the Gallus bankiva frequents drier and more open
situations than the pea-hen of Java, which is found among grassy and
leafy vegetation, corresponding with the colours of the two. So the
Argus pheasant, male and female, are, I feel sure, protected by their
tints corresponding to the dead leaves of the lofty forest in which
they dwell, and the female of the gorgeous fire-back pheasant Lophura
viellottii is of a very similar rich brown colour.
I do not, however, at all think the question can be settled by
individual cases, but by only large masses of facts. The colours of the
mass of female birds seem to me strictly analogous to the colours of
both sexes of snipes, woodcocks, plovers, etc., which are undoubtedly
protective.
Now, supposing, on your view, that the colours of a male bird become
more and more brilliant by sexual selection, and a good deal of that
colour is transmitted to the female till it becomes positively injurious
to her during incubation, and the race is in danger of extinction; do
you not think that all the females who had acquired less of the male's
bright colours, or who themselves varied in a protective direction,
would be preserved, and that thus a good protective colouring would soon
be acquired?
If you admit that this could occur, and can show no good reason why it
should not often occur, then we no longer differ, for this is the main
point of my view.
Have you ever thought of the red wax-tips of the Bombycilla beautifully
imitating the red fructification of lichens used in the nest, and
therefore the FEMALES have it too? Yet this is a very sexual-looking
character.
If sexes have been differentiated entirely by sexual selection the
females can have no relation to environment. But in groups when both
sexes require protection during feeding or repose, as snipes, woodcock,
ptarmigan, desert birds and animals, green forest birds, etc., arctic
birds of prey, and animals, then both sexes are modified for protection.
Why should that power entirely cease to act when sexual differentiation
exists and when the female requires protection, and why should the
colour of so many FEMALE BIRDS seem to be protective, if it has not been
made protective by selection.
It is contrary to the principles of "Origin of Species," that colour
should have been produced in both sexes by sexual selection and
never have been modified to bring the female into harmony with the
environment. "Sexual selection is less rigorous than Natural Selection,"
and will therefore be subordinate to it.
I think the case of female Pieris pyrrha proves that females alone can
be greatly modified for protection. (450/1. My latest views on this
subject, with many new facts and arguments, will be found in the later
editions of my "Darwinism," Chapter X. (A.R.W.))
LETTER 451. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN.
(451/1. On October 4th, 1868, Mr. Wallace wrote again on the same
subject without adding anything of importance to his arguments of
September 27th. We give his final remarks:--)
October 4th, 1868.
I am sorry to find that our difference of opinion on this point is a
source of anxiety to you. Pray do not let it be so. The truth will come
out at last, and our difference may be the means of setting others to
work who may set us both right. After all, this question is only an
episode (though an important one) in the great question of the "Origin
of Species," and whether you or I are right will not at all affect the
main doctrine--that is one comfort.
I hope you will publish your treatise on "Sexual Selection" as a
separate book as soon as possible; and then, while you are going on with
your other work, there will no doubt be found some one to battle with me
over your facts on this hard problem.
LETTER 452. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, October 6th [1868].
Your letter is very valuable to me, and in every way very kind. I will
not inflict a long answer, but only answer your queries. There are
breeds (viz. Hamburg) in which both sexes differ much from each other
and from both sexes of Gallus bankiva; and both sexes are kept constant
by selection. The comb of the Spanish male has been ordered to be
upright, and that of Spanish female to lop over, and this has been
effected. There are sub-breeds of game fowl, with females very distinct
and males almost identical; but this, apparently, is the result of
spontaneous variation, without special selection. I am very glad to hear
of case of female Birds of Paradise.
I have never in the least doubted possibility of modifying female birds
alone for protection, and I have long believed it for butterflies. I
have wanted only evidence for the female alone of birds having had their
colour modified for protection. But then I believe that the variations
by which a female bird or butterfly could get or has got protective
colouring have probably from the first been variations limited in their
transmission to the female sex. And so with the variations of the
male: when the male is more beautiful than the female, I believe the
variations were sexually limited in their transmission to the males.
LETTER 453. TO B.D. WALSH. Down, October 31st, 1868.
(453/1. A short account of the Periodical Cicada (C. septendecim) is
given by Dr. Sharp in the Cambridge Natural History, Insects II., page
570. We are indebted to Dr. Sharp for calling our attention to Mr. C.L.
Marlatt's full account of the insect in "Bulletin No. 14 [NS.] of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture," 1898. The Cicada lives for long periods
underground as larva and pupa, so that swarms of the adults of one
race (septendecim) appear at intervals of 17 years, while those of the
southern form or race (tredecim) appear at intervals of 13 years.
This fact was first made out by Phares in 1845, but was overlooked or
forgotten, and was only re-discovered by Walsh and Riley in 1868, who
published a joint paper in the "American Entomologist," Volume I., page
63. Walsh appears to have adhered to the view that the 13- and 17-year
forms are distinct species, though, as we gather from Marlatt's paper
(page 14), he published a letter to Mr. Darwin in which he speaks of the
13-year form as an incipient species; see "Index to Missouri Entomolog.
Reports Bull. 6," U.S.E.C., page 58 (as given by Marlatt). With regard
to the cause of the difference in period of the two forms, Marlatt
(pages 15, 16) refers doubtfully to difference of temperature as the
determining factor. Experiments have been instituted by moving 17-year
eggs to the south, and vice versa with 13-year eggs. The results were,
however, not known at the time of publication of Marlatt's paper.)
I am very much obliged for the extracts about the "drumming," which will
be of real use to me.
I do not at all know what to think of your extraordinary case of the
Cicadas. Professor Asa Gray and Dr. Hooker were staying here, and I told
them of the facts. They thought that the 13-year and the 17-year forms
ought not to be ranked as distinct species, unless other differences
besides the period of development could be discovered. They thought the
mere rarity of variability in such a point was not sufficient, and I
think I concur with them. The fact of both the forms presenting the same
case of dimorphism is very curious. I have long wished that some one
would dissect the forms of the male stag-beetle with smaller mandibles,
and see if they were well developed, i.e., whether there was an
abundance of spermatozoa; and the same observations ought, I think,
to be made on the rarer form of your Cicada. Could you not get some
observer, such as Dr. Hartman (453/2. Mr. Walsh sent Mr. Darwin
an extract from Dr. Hartman's "Journal of the doings of a Cicada
septendecim," in which the females are described as flocking round the
drumming males. "Descent of Man" (1901), page 433.), to note whether the
females flocked in equal numbers to the "drumming" of the rarer form as
to the common form? You have a very curious and perplexing subject of
investigation, and I wish you success in your work.
LETTER 454. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, June 15th [1869?].
You must not suppose from my delay that I have not been much interested
by your long letter. I write now merely to thank you, and just to say
that probably you are right on all the points you touch on, except, as
I think, about sexual selection, which I will not give up. My belief in
it, however, is contingent on my general belief in sexual selection. It
is an awful stretcher to believe that a peacock's tail was thus formed;
but, believing it, I believe in the same principle somewhat modified
applied to man.
LETTER 455. TO G.H.K. THWAITES. Down, February 13th [N.D.]
I wrote a little time ago asking you an odd question about elephants,
and now I am going to ask you an odder. I hope that you will not think
me an intolerable bore. It is most improbable that you could get me
an answer, but I ask on mere chance. Macacus silenus (455/1. Macacus
silenus L., an Indian ape.) has a great mane of hair round neck, and
passing into large whiskers and beard. Now what I want most especially
to know is whether these monkeys, when they fight in confinement (and
I have seen it stated that they are sometimes kept in confinement), are
protected from bites by this mane and beard. Any one who watched them
fighting would, I think, be able to judge on this head. My object is to
find out with various animals how far the mane is of any use, or a mere
ornament. Is the male Macacus silenus furnished with longer hair than
the female about the neck and face? As I said, it is a hundred or a
thousand to one against your finding out any one who has kept these
monkeys in confinement.
LETTER 456. TO F. MULLER. Down, August 28th [1870].
I have to thank you very sincerely for two letters: one of April 25th,
containing a very curious account of the structure and morphology of
Bonatea. I feel that it is quite a sin that your letters should not all
be published! but, in truth, I have no spare strength to undertake any
extra work, which, though slight, would follow from seeing your letters
in English through the press--not but that you write almost as clearly
as any Englishman. This same letter also contained some seeds for Mr.
Farrer, which he was very glad to receive.
Your second letter, of July 5th, was chiefly devoted to mimicry in
lepidoptera: many of your remarks seem to me so good, that I have
forwarded your letter to Mr. Bates; but he is out of London having his
summer holiday, and I have not yet heard from him. Your remark about
imitators and imitated being of such different sizes, and the lower
surface of the wings not being altered in colour, strike me as the most
curious points. I should not be at all surprised if your suggestion
about sexual selection were to prove true; but it seems rather too
speculative to be introduced in my book, more especially as my book is
already far too speculative. The very same difficulty about brightly
coloured caterpillars had occurred to me, and you will see in my book
what, I believe, is the true explanation from Wallace. The same view
probably applies in part to gaudy butterflies. My MS. is sent to the
printers, and, I suppose, will be published in about three months:
of course I will send you a copy. By the way, I settled with Murray
recently with respect to your book (456/1. The translation of "Fur
Darwin," published in 1869.), and had to pay him only 21 pounds
2 shillings 3 pence, which I consider a very small price for the
dissemination of your views; he has 547 copies as yet unsold. This most
terrible war will stop all science in France and Germany for a long
time. I have heard from nobody in Germany, and know not whether your
brother, Hackel, Gegenbaur, Victor Carus, or my other friends are
serving in the army. Dohrn has joined a cavalry regiment. I have not yet
met a soul in England who does not rejoice in the splendid triumph of
Germany over France (456/2. See Letter 239, Volume I.): it is a most
just retribution against that vainglorious, war-liking nation. As the
posts are all in confusion, I will not send this letter through
France. The Editor has sent me duplicate copies of the "Revue des Cours
Scientifiques," which contain several articles about my views; so I send
you copies for the chance of your liking to see them.
LETTER 457. A.R. WALLACE TO CHARLES DARWIN. Holly House, Barking, E.,
January 27th, 1871.
Many thanks for your first volume (457/1. "The Descent of Man".), which
I have just finished reading through with the greatest pleasure and
interest; and I have also to thank you for the great tenderness with
which you have treated me and my heresies.
On the subject of "sexual selection" and "protection," you do not yet
convince me that I am wrong; but I expect your heaviest artillery will
be brought up in your second volume, and I may have to capitulate. You
seem, however, to have somewhat misunderstood my exact meaning, and I
do not think the difference between us is quite so great as you seem to
think it. There are a number of passages in which you argue against the
view that the female has in any large number of cases been "specially
modified" for protection, or that colour has generally been obtained by
either sex for purposes of protection. But my view is, as I thought
I had made it clear, that the female has (in most cases) been simply
prevented from acquiring the gay tints of the male (even when there was
a tendency for her to inherit it), because it was hurtful; and that,
when protection is not needed, gay colours are so generally acquired
by both sexes as to show that inheritance by both sexes of colour
variations is the most usual, when not prevented from acting by Natural
Selection. The colour itself may be acquired either by sexual selection
or by other unknown causes.
There are, however, difficulties in the very wide application you give
to sexual selection which at present stagger me, though no one was or
is more ready than myself to admit the perfect truth of the principle or
the immense importance and great variety of its applications.
Your chapters on "Man" are of intense interest--but as touching my
special heresy, not as yet altogether convincing, though, of course, I
fully agree with every word and every argument which goes to prove
the "evolution" or "development" of man out of a lower form. My ONLY
difficulties are, as to whether you have accounted for EVERY STEP of the
development by ascertained laws.
I feel sure that the book will keep up and increase your high
reputation, and be immensely successful, as it deserves to be...
LETTER 458. TO G.B. MURDOCH. Down, March 13th, 1871.
(458/1. We are indebted to Mr. Murdoch for a draft of his letter dated
March 10th, 1871. It is too long to be quoted at length; the following
citations give some idea of its contents: "In your 'Descent of Man,' in
treating of the external differences between males and females of the
same variety, have you attached sufficient importance to the different
amount and kind of energy expended by them in reproduction?" Mr. Murdoch
sums up: "Is it wrong, then, to suppose that extra growth, complicated
structure, and activity in one sex exist as escape-valves for surplus
vigour, rather than to please or fight with, though they may serve these
purposes and be modified by them?")
I am much obliged for your valuable letter. I am strongly inclined to
think that I have made a great and complete oversight with respect to
the subject which you discuss. I am the more surprised at this, as I
remember reflecting on some points which ought to have led me to your
conclusion. By an odd chance I received the day before yesterday a
letter from Mr. Lowne (author of an excellent book on the anatomy of
the Blow-fly) (458/2. "The Anatomy and Physiology of the Blow-fly (Musca
vomitaria L.)," by B.T. Lowne. London, 1870.) with a discussion very
nearly to the same effect as yours. His conclusions were drawn from
studying male insects with great horns, mandibles, etc. He informs me
that his paper on this subject will soon be published in the "Transact.
Entomolog. Society." (458/3. "Observations on Immature Sexuality and
Alternate Generation in Insects." By B.T. Lowne. "Trans. Entomolog.
Soc." 1871 [Read March 6th, 1871]. "I believe that certain cutaneous
appendages, as the gigantic mandibles and thoracic horns of many males,
are complemental to the sexual organs; that, in point of fact, they are
produced by the excess of nutriment in the male, which in the female
would go to form the generative organs and ova" (loc. cit., page 197).)
I am inclined to look at your and Mr. Lowne's view as specially valuable
from probably throwing light on the greater variability of male than
female animals, which manifestly has much bearing on sexual selection.
I will keep your remarks in mind whenever a new edition of my book is
demanded.
LETTER 459. TO GEORGE FRASER.
(459/1. The following letter refers to two letters to Mr. Darwin, in
which Mr. Fraser pointed out that illustrations of the theory of Sexual
Selection might be found amongst British butterflies and moths. Mr.
Fraser, in explanation of the letters, writes: "As an altogether unknown
and far from experienced naturalist, I feared to send my letters
for publication without, in the first place, obtaining Mr. Darwin's
approval." The information was published in "Nature," Volume III., April
20th, 1871, page 489. The article was referred to in the second edition
of the "Descent of Man" (1874), pages 312, 316, 319. Mr. Fraser
adds: "This is only another illustration of Mr. Darwin's great
conscientiousness in acknowledging suggestions received by him from the
most humble sources." (Letter from Mr. Fraser to F. Darwin, March 21,
1888.)
Down, April 14th [1871].
I am very much obliged for your letter and the interesting facts which
it contains, and which are new to me. But I am at present so much
engaged with other subjects that I cannot fully consider them; and, even
if I had time, I do not suppose that I should have anything to say worth
printing in a scientific journal. It would obviously be absurd in me to
allow a mere note of thanks from me to be printed. Whenever I have
to bring out a corrected edition of my book I will well consider
your remarks (which I hope that you will send to "Nature"), but
the difficulty will be that my friends tell me that I have already
introduced too many facts, and that I ought to prune rather than to
introduce more.
LETTER 460. TO E.S. MORSE. Down, December 3rd, 1871.
I am much obliged to you for having sent me your two interesting papers,
and for the kind writing on the cover. I am very glad to have my error
corrected about the protective colouring of shells. (460/1. "On Adaptive
Coloration of the Mollusca," "Boston Society of Natural History Proc."
Volume XIV., April 5th, 1871. Mr. Morse quotes from the "Descent of
Man," I., page 316, a passage to the effect that the colours of the
mollusca do not in general appear to be protective. Mr. Morse goes on to
give instances of protective coloration.) It is no excuse for my broad
statement, but I had in my mind the species which are brightly or
beautifully coloured, and I can as yet hardly think that the colouring
in such cases is protective.
LETTER 461. TO AUG. WEISMANN. Down, February 29th, 1872.
I am rejoiced to hear that your eyesight is somewhat better; but I fear
that work with the microscope is still out of your power. I have often
thought with sincere sympathy how much you must have suffered from your
grand line of embryological research having been stopped. It was very
good of you to use your eyes in writing to me. I have just received your
essay (461/1. "Ueber der Einfluss der Isolirung auf die Artbildung":
Leipzig, 1872.); but as I am now staying in London for the sake of rest,
and as German is at all times very difficult to me, I shall not be able
to read your essay for some little time. I am, however, very curious to
learn what you have to say on isolation and on periods of variation.
I thought much about isolation when I wrote in Chapter IV. on the
circumstances favourable to Natural Selection. No doubt there remains
an immense deal of work to do on "Artbildung." I have only opened a path
for others to enter, and in the course of time to make a broad and clear
high-road. I am especially glad that you are turning your attention to
sexual selection. I have in this country hardly found any naturalists
who agree with me on this subject, even to a moderate extent. They think
it absurd that a female bird should be able to appreciate the splendid
plumage of the male; but it would take much to persuade me that the
peacock does not spread his gorgeous tail in the presence of the female
in order to fascinate or excite her. The case, no doubt, is much more
difficult with insects. I fear that you will find it difficult to
experiment on diurnal lepidoptera in confinement, for I have never heard
of any of these breeding in this state. (461/2. We are indebted to Mr.
Bateson for the following note: "This belief does not seem to be well
founded, for since Darwin's time several species of Rhopalocera (e.g.
Pieris, Pararge, Caenonympha) have been successfully bred in confinement
without any special difficulty; and by the use of large cages members
even of strong-flying genera, such as Vanessa, have been induced to
breed.") I was extremely pleased at hearing from Fritz Muller that he
liked my chapter on lepidoptera in the "Descent of Man" more than any
other part, excepting the chapter on morals.
LETTER 462. TO H. MULLER. Down [May, 1872].
I have now read with the greatest interest your essay, which contains
a vast amount of matter quite new to me. (462/1. "Anwendung der
Darwin'schen Lehre auf Bienen," "Verhandl. d. naturhist. Vereins fur
preuss. Rheinld. u. Westf." 1872. References to Muller's paper occur in
the second edition of the "Descent of Man.") I really have no criticisms
or suggestions to offer. The perfection of the gradation in the
character of bees, especially in such important parts as the
mouth-organs, was altogether unknown to me. You bring out all such facts
very clearly by your comparison with the corresponding organs in the
allied hymenoptera. How very curious is the case of bees and wasps
having acquired, independently of inheritance from a common source, the
habit of building hexagonal cells and of producing sterile workers!
But I have been most interested by your discussion on secondary sexual
differences; I do not suppose so full an account of such differences in
any other group of animals has ever been published. It delights me
to find that we have independently arrived at almost exactly the
same conclusion with respect to the more important points deserving
investigation in relation to sexual selection. For instance, the
relative number of the two sexes, the earlier emergence of the males,
the laws of inheritance, etc. What an admirable illustration you give of
the transference of characters acquired by one sex--namely, that of the
male of Bombus possessing the pollen-collecting apparatus. Many of
your facts about the differences between male and female bees are
surprisingly parallel with those which occur with birds. The reading
your essay has given me great confidence in the efficacy of sexual
selection, and I wanted some encouragement, as extremely few naturalists
in England seem inclined to believe in it. I am, however, glad to find
that Prof. Weismann has some faith in this principle.
The males of Bombus follow one remarkable habit, which I think it would
interest you to investigate this coming summer, and no one could do
it better than you. (462/2. Mr. Darwin's observations on this curious
subject were sent to Hermann Muller, and after his death were translated
and published in Krause's "Gesammelte kleinere Schriften von Charles
Darwin," 1887, page 84. The male bees had certain regular lines of
flight at Down, as from the end of the kitchen garden to the corner of
the "sand-walk," and certain regular "buzzing places" where they stopped
on the wing for a moment or two. Mr. Darwin's children remember vividly
the pleasure of helping in the investigation of this habit.) I have
therefore enclosed a briefly and roughly drawn-up account of this habit.
Should you succeed in making any observations on this subject, and if
you would like to use in any way my MS. you are perfectly welcome. I
could, should you hereafter wish to make any use of the facts, give them
in rather fuller detail; but I think that I have given enough.
I hope that you may long have health, leisure, and inclination to do
much more work as excellent as your recent essay.
2.VIII.III. EXPRESSION, 1868-1874.
LETTER 463. TO F. MULLER. Down, January 30th [1868].
I am very much obliged for your answers, though few in number (October
5th), about expression. I was especially glad to hear about shrugging
the shoulders. You say that an old negro woman, when expressing
astonishment, wonderfully resembled a Cebus when astonished; but are you
sure that the Cebus opened its mouth? I ask because the Chimpanzee does
not open its mouth when astonished, or when listening. (463/1. Darwin
in the "Expression of the Emotions," adheres to this statement as being
true of monkeys in general.) Please have the kindness to remember that
I am very anxious to know whether any monkey, when screaming violently,
partially or wholly closes its eyes.
LETTER 464. TO W. BOWMAN.
(464/1. The late Sir W. Bowman, the well-known surgeon, supplied a good
deal of information of value to Darwin in regard to the expression of
the emotions. The gorging of the eyes with blood during screaming is
an important factor in the physiology of weeping, and indirectly in the
obliquity of the eyebrows--a characteristic expression of suffering. See
"Expression of the Emotions," pages 160 and 192.)
Down, March 30th [1868].
I called at your house about three weeks since, and heard that you were
away for the whole month, which I much regretted, as I wished to
have had the pleasure of seeing you, of asking you a question, and
of thanking you for your kindness to my son George. You did not quite
understand the last note which I wrote to you--viz., about Bell's
precise statement that the conjunctiva of an infant or young child
becomes gorged with blood when the eyes are forcibly opened during
a screaming fit. (464/2. Sir C. Bell's statement in his "Anatomy
of Expression" (1844, page 106) is quoted in the "Expression of the
Emotions," page 158.) I have carefully kept your previous note, in which
you spoke doubtfully about Bell's statement. I intended in my former
note only to express a wish that if, during your professional work, you
were led to open the eyelids of a screaming child, you would specially
observe this point about the eye showing signs of becoming gorged with
blood, which interests me extremely. Could you ask any one to observe
this for me in an eye-dispensary or hospital? But I now have to beg you
kindly to consider one other question at any time when you have half an
hour's leisure.
When a man coughs violently from choking or retches violently, even when
he yawns, and when he laughs violently, tears come into the eyes. Now,
in all these cases I observe that the orbicularis muscle is more or less
spasmodically contracted, as also in the crying of a child. So, again,
when the muscles of the abdomen contract violently in a propelling
manner, and the breath is, I think, always held, as during the
evacuation of a very costive man, and as (I hear) with a woman during
severe labour-pains, the orbicularis contracts, and tears come into
the eyes. Sir J.E. Tennant states that tears roll down the cheeks
of elephants when screaming and trumpeting at first being captured;
accordingly I went to the Zoological Gardens, and the keeper made two
elephants trumpet, and when they did this violently the orbicularis was
invariably plainly contracted. Hence I am led to conclude that there
must be some relation between the contraction of this muscle and the
secretion of tears. Can you tell me what this relation is? Does the
orbicularis press against, and so directly stimulate, the lachrymal
gland? As a slight blow on the eye causes, by reflex action, a
copious effusion of tears, can the slight spasmodic contraction of the
orbicularis act like a blow? This seems hardly possible. Does the same
nerve which runs to the orbicularis send off fibrils to the lachrymal
glands; and if so, when the order goes for the muscle to contract,
is nervous force sent sympathetically at the same time to the glands?
(464/3. See "Expression of the Emotions," page 169.)
I should be extremely much obliged if you [would] have the kindness to
give me your opinion on this point.
LETTER 465. TO F.C. DONDERS.
(465/1. Mr. Darwin was indebted to Sir W. Bowman for an introduction to
Professor Donders, whose work on Sir Charles Bell's views is quoted in
the "Expression of the Emotions," pages 160-62.)
Down, June 3rd [1870?].
I do not know how to thank you enough for the very great trouble which
you have taken in writing at such length, and for your kind expressions
towards me. I am particularly obliged for the abstract with respect to
Sir C. Bell's views (465/2. See "Expression of the Emotions," pages 158
et seq.: Sir Charles Bell's view is that adopted by Darwin--viz. that
the contraction of the muscles round the eyes counteracts the gorging of
the parts during screaming, etc. The essay of Donders is, no doubt,
"On the Action of the Eyelids in Determination of Blood from Expiratory
Effort" in Beale's "Archives of Medicine," Volume V., 1870, page 20,
which is a translation of the original in Dutch.), as I shall now
proceed with some confidence; but I am intensely curious to read your
essay in full when translated and published, as I hope, in the "Dublin
Journal," as you speak of the weak point in the case--viz., that
injuries are not known to follow from the gorging of the eye with blood.
I may mention that my son and his friend at a military academy tell me
that when they perform certain feats with their heads downwards their
faces become purple and veins distended, and that they then feel an
uncomfortable sensation in their eyes; but that as it is necessary for
them to see, they cannot protect their eyes by closing the eyelids. The
companions of one young man, who naturally has very prominent eyes, used
to laugh at him when performing such feats, and declare that some day
both eyes would start out of his head.
Your essay on the physiological and anatomical relations between the
contraction of the orbicular muscles and the secretion of tears is
wonderfully clear, and has interested me greatly. I had not thought
about irritating substances getting into the nose during vomiting; but
my clear impression is that mere retching causes tears. I will, however,
try to get this point ascertained. When I reflect that in vomiting
(subject to the above doubt), in violent coughing from choking, in
yawning, violent laughter, in the violent downward action of the
abdominal muscle...and in your very curious case of the spasms (465/3.
In some cases a slight touch to the eye causes spasms of the orbicularis
muscle, which may continue for so long as an hour, being accompanied by
a flow of tears. See "Expression of the Emotions," page 166.)--that in
all these cases the orbicular muscles are strongly and unconsciously
contracted, and that at the same time tears often certainly flow, I must
think that there is a connection of some kind between these phenomena;
but you have clearly shown me that the nature of the relation is at
present quite obscure.
LETTER 466. TO A.D. BARTLETT. 6, Queen Anne Street, W., December 19th
[1870?].
I was with Mr. Wood this morning, and he expressed himself strongly
about your and your daughter's kindness in aiding him. He much wants
assistance on another point, and if you would aid him, you would greatly
oblige me. You know well the appearance of a dog when approaching
another dog with hostile intentions, before they come close together.
The dog walks very stiffly, with tail rigid and upright, hair on back
erected, ears pointed and eyes directed forwards. When the dog attacks
the other, down go the ears, and the canines are uncovered. Now, could
you anyhow arrange so that one of your dogs could see a strange dog from
a little distance, so that Mr. Wood could sketch the former attitude,
viz., of the stiff gesture with erected hair and erected ears. (466/1.
In Chapter II. of the "Expression of the Emotions" there are sketches
of dogs in illustration of the "Principle of Antithesis," drawn by Mr.
Riviere and by Mr. A. May (figures 5-8). Mr. T.W. Wood supplied similar
drawings of a cat (figures 9, 10), also a sketch of the head of a
snarling dog (figure 14).) And then he could afterwards sketch the same
dog, when fondled by his master and wagging his tail with drooping ears.
These two sketches I want much, and it would be a great favour to Mr.
Wood, and myself, if you could aid him.
P.S.--When a horse is turned out into a field he trots with high,
elastic steps, and carries his tail aloft. Even when a cow frisks about
she throws up her tail. I have seen a drawing of an elephant, apparently
trotting with high steps, and with the tail erect. When the elephants in
the garden are turned out and are excited so as to move quickly, do they
carry their tails aloft? How is this with the rhinoceros? Do not trouble
yourself to answer this, but I shall be in London in a couple of months,
and then perhaps you will be able to answer this trifling question. Or,
if you write about wolves and jackals turning round, you can tell me
about the tails of elephants, or of any other animals. (466/2. In the
"Expression of the Emotions," page 44, reference is made under the head
of "Associated habitual movements in the lower animals," to dogs and
other animals turning round and round and scratching the ground with
their fore-paws when they wish to go to sleep on a carpet, or other
similar surface.)
LETTER 467. TO A.D. BARTLETT. Down, January 5th, [1871?]
Many thanks about Limulus. I am going to ask another favour, but I do
not want to trouble you to answer it by letter. When the Callithrix
sciureus screams violently, does it wrinkle up the skin round the eyes
like a baby always does? (467/1. "Humboldt also asserts that the eyes
of the Callithrix sciureus 'instantly fill with tears when it is seized
with fear'; but when this pretty little monkey in the Zoological Gardens
was teased, so as to cry out loudly, this did not occur. I do not,
however, wish to throw the least doubt on the accuracy of Humboldt's
statement." ("The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals,"
1872, page 137.) When thus screaming do the eyes become suffused with
moisture? Will you ask Sutton to observe carefully? (467/2. One of the
keepers who made many observations on monkeys for Mr. Darwin.) Could you
make it scream without hurting it much? I should be truly obliged some
time for this information, when in spring I come to the Gardens.
LETTER 468. TO W. OGLE. Down, March 7th [1871].
I wrote to Tyndall, but had no clear answer, and have now written to
him again about odours. (468/1. Dr. Ogle's work on the Sense of Smell
("Medico-Chirurgical Trans." LIII., page 268) is referred to in the
"Expression of the Emotions," page 256.) I write now to ask you to be so
kind (if there is no objection) to tell me the circumstances under which
you saw a man arrested for murder. (468/2. Given in the "Expression of
the Emotions," page 294.) I say in my notes made from your conversation:
utmost horror--extreme pallor--mouth relaxed and open--general
prostration--perspiration--muscle of face contracted--hair observed on
account of having been dyed, and apparently not erected. Secondly, may
I quote you that you have often (?) seen persons (young or old? men
or women?) who, evincing no great fear, were about to undergo severe
operation under chloroform, showing resignation by (alternately?)
folding one open hand over the other on the lower part of chest (whilst
recumbent?)--I know this expression, and think I ought to notice it.
Could you look out for an additional instance?
I fear you will think me very troublesome, especially when I remind you
(not that I am in a hurry) about the Eustachian tube.
LETTER 469. TO J. JENNER WEIR. Down, June 14th [1870].
As usual, I am going to beg for information. Can you tell me whether
any Fringillidae or Sylviadae erect their feathers when frightened or
enraged? (469/1. See "Expression of the Emotions," page 99.) I want to
show that this expression is common to all or most of the families of
birds. I know of this only in the fowl, swan, tropic-bird, owl, ruff and
reeve, and cuckoo. I fancy that I remember having seen nestling birds
erect their feathers greatly when looking into nests, as is said to
be the case with young cuckoos. I should much like to know whether
nestlings do really thus erect their feathers. I am now at work on
expression in animals of all kinds, and birds; and if you have any hints
I should be very glad for them, and you have a rich wealth of facts of
all kinds. Any cases like the following: the sheldrake pats or dances on
the tidal sands to make the sea-worms come out; and when Mr. St. John's
tame sheldrakes came to ask for their dinners they used to pat the
ground, and this I should call an expression of hunger and impatience.
How about the Quagga case? (469/2. See Letter 235, Volume I.)
I am working away as hard as I can on my book; but good heavens, how
slow my progress is.
LETTER 470. TO F.C. DONDERS. Down, March 18th, 1871.
Very many thanks for your kind letter. I have been interested by what
you tell me about your views published in 1848, and I wish I could
read your essay. It is clear to me that you were as near as possible in
preceding me on the subject of Natural Selection.
You will find very little that is new to you in my last book; whatever
merit it may possess consists in the grouping of the facts and in
deductions from them. I am now at work on my essay on Expression.
My last book fatigued me much, and I have had much correspondence,
otherwise I should have written to you long ago, as I often intended to
tell you in how high a degree your essay published in Beale's Archives
interested me. (470/1. Beale's "Archives of Medicine," Volume V., 1870.)
I have heard others express their admiration at the complete manner in
which you have treated the subject. Your confirmation of Sir C. Bell's
rather loose statement has been of paramount importance for my work.
(470/2. On the contraction of the muscles surrounding the eye. See
"Expression of the Emotions," page 158. See Letters 464, 465.) You told
me that I might make further enquiries from you.
When a person is lost in meditation his eyes often appear as if fixed
on a distant object (470/3. The appearance is due to divergence of the
lines of vision produced by muscular relaxation. See "Expression of the
Emotions," Edition II., page 239.), and the lower eyelids may be seen to
contract and become wrinkled. I suppose the idea is quite fanciful, but
as you say that the eyeball advances in adaptation for vision for close
objects, would the eyeball have to be pushed backwards in adaptation for
distant objects? (470/4. Darwin seems to have misunderstood a remark of
Donders.) If so, can the wrinkling of the lower eyelids, which has often
perplexed me, act in pushing back the eyeball?
But, as I have said, I daresay this is quite fanciful. Gratiolet says
that the pupil contracts in rage, and dilates enormously in terror.
(470/5. See "Expression of the Emotions," Edition II., page 321.) I have
not found this great anatomist quite trustworthy on such points, and am
making enquiries on this subject. But I am inclined to believe him, as
the old Scotch anatomist Munro says, that the iris of parrots contracts
and dilates under passions, independently of the amount of light. Can
you give any explanation of this statement? When the heart beats hard
and quick, and the head becomes somewhat congested with blood in any
illness, does the pupil contract? Does the pupil dilate in incipient
faintness, or in utter prostration, as when after a severe race a man
is pallid, bathed in perspiration, with all his muscles quivering? Or in
extreme prostration from any illness?
LETTER 471. TO W. TURNER. Down, March 28th [1871].
I am much obliged for your kind note, and especially for your offer of
sending me some time corrections, for which I shall be truly grateful. I
know that there are many blunders to which I am very liable. There is
a terrible one confusing the supra-condyloid foramen with another one.
(471/1. In the first edition of the "Descent of Man," I., page 28,
in quoting Mr. Busk "On the Caves of Gibraltar," Mr. Darwin confuses
together the inter-condyloid foramen in the humerus with the
supra-condyloid foramen. His attention was called to the mistake by
Sir William Turner, to whom he had been previously indebted for other
information on the anatomy of man. The error is one, as Sir William
Turner points out in a letter, "which might easily arise where the
writer is not minutely acquainted with human anatomy." In speaking of
his correspondence with Darwin, Sir William remarks on a characteristic
of Darwin's method of asking for information, namely, his care in
avoiding leading questions.) This, however, I have corrected in all the
copies struck off after the first lot of 2500. I daresay there will be
a new edition in the course of nine months or a year, and this I will
correct as well as I can. As yet the publishers have kept up type,
and grumble dreadfully if I make heavy corrections. I am very far from
surprised that "you have not committed yourself to full acceptation" of
the evolution of man. Difficulties and objections there undoubtedly are,
enough and to spare, to stagger any cautious man who has much knowledge
like yourself.
I am now at work at my hobby-horse essay on Expression, and I have been
reading some old notes of yours. In one you say it is easy to see that
the spines of the hedgehog are moved by the voluntary panniculus. Now,
can you tell me whether each spine has likewise an oblique unstriped
or striped muscle, as figured by Lister? (472/2. "Expression of the
Emotions," page 101.) Do you know whether the tail-coverts of peacock or
tail of turkey are erected by unstriped or striped muscles, and whether
these are homologous with the panniculus or with the single oblique
unstriped muscles going to each separate hair in man and many animals? I
wrote some time ago to Kolliker to ask this question (and in relation to
quills of porcupine), and I received a long and interesting letter, but
he could not answer these questions. If I do not receive any answer (for
I know how busy you must be), I will understand you cannot aid me.
I heard yesterday that Paget was very ill; I hope this is not true. What
a loss he would be; he is so charming a man.
P.S.--As I am writing I will trouble you with one other question. Have
you seen anything or read of any facts which could induce you to think
that the mind being intently and long directed to any portion of
the skin (or, indeed, any organ) would influence the action of the
capillaries, causing them either to contract or dilate? Any information
on this head would be of great value to me, as bearing on blushing.
If I remember right, Paget seems to be a great believer in the influence
of the mind in the nutrition of parts, and even in causing disease. It
is awfully audacious on my part, but I remember thinking (with respect
to the latter assertion on disease) when I read the passage that it
seemed rather fanciful, though I should like to believe in it. Sir H.
Holland alludes to this subject of the influence of the mind on local
circulation frequently, but gives no clear evidence. (472/3. Ibid.,
pages 339 et seq.)
LETTER 472. TO W. TURNER. Down, March 29th [1871].
Forgive me for troubling you with one line. Since writing my P.S. I have
read the part on the influence of the nervous system on the nutrition of
parts in your last edition of Paget's "Lectures." (472/1. "Lectures on
Surgical Pathology," Edition III., revised by Professor Turner, 1870.)
I had not read before this part in this edition, and I see how foolish I
was. But still, I should be extremely grateful for any hint or
evidence of the influence of mental attention on the capillary or
local circulation of the skin, or of any part to which the mind may be
intently and long directed. For instance, if thinking intently about a
local eruption on the skin (not on the face, for shame might possibly
intervene) caused it temporarily to redden, or thinking of a tumour
caused it to throb, independently of increased heart action.
LETTER 473. TO HUBERT AIRY.
(473/1. Dr. Airy had written to Mr. Darwin on April 3rd:--
"With regard to the loss of voluntary movement of the ears in man and
monkey, may I ask if you do not think it might have been caused, as it
is certainly compensated, by the facility and quickness in turning the
head, possessed by them in virtue of their more erect stature, and the
freedom of the atlanto-axial articulation? (in birds the same end is
gained by the length and flexibility of the neck.) The importance, in
case of danger, of bringing the eyes to help the ears would call for a
quick turn of the head whenever a new sound was heard, and so would tend
to make superfluous any special means of moving the ears, except in the
case of quadrupeds and the like, that have great trouble (comparatively
speaking) in making a horizontal turn of the head--can only do it by a
slow bend of the whole neck." (473/2. We are indebted to Dr. Airy for
furnishing us with a copy of his letter to Mr. Darwin, the original of
which had been mislaid.)
Down, April 5th [1871].
I am greatly obliged for your letter. Your idea about the easy turning
of the head instead of the ears themselves strikes me as very good, and
quite new to me, and I will keep it in mind; but I fear that there are
some cases opposed to the notion.
If I remember right the hedgehog has very human ears, but birds support
your view, though lizards are opposed to it.
Several persons have pointed out my error about the platysma. (473/3.
The error in question occurs on page 19 of the "Descent of Man," Edition
I., where it is stated that the Platysma myoides cannot be voluntarily
brought into action. In the "Expression of the Emotions" Darwin remarks
that this muscle is sometimes said not to be under voluntary control,
and he shows that this is not universally true.) Nor can I remember how
I was misled. I find I can act on this muscle myself, now that I know
the corners of the mouth have to be drawn back. I know of the case of a
man who can act on this muscle on one side, but not on the other; yet
he asserts positively that both contract when he is startled. And this
leads me to ask you to be so kind as to observe, if any opportunity
should occur, whether the platysma contracts during extreme terror,
as before an operation; and secondly, whether it contracts during a
shivering fit. Several persons are observing for me, but I receive most
discordant results.
I beg you to present my most respectful and kind compliments to your
honoured father [Sir G.B. Airy].
LETTER 474. TO FRANCIS GALTON.
(474/1. Mr. Galton had written on November 7th, 1872, offering to send
to various parts of Africa Darwin's printed list of questions intended
to guide observers on expression. Mr. Galton goes on: "You do not,
I think, mention in "Expression" what I thought was universal among
blubbering children (when not trying to see if harm or help was coming
out of the corner of one eye) of pressing the knuckles against the
eyeballs, thereby reinforcing the orbicularis.")
Down, November 8th [1872].
Many thanks for your note and offer to send out the queries; but my
career is so nearly closed that I do not think it worth while. What
little more I can do shall be chiefly new work. I ought to have thought
of crying children rubbing their eyes with their knuckles, but I did not
think of it, and cannot explain it. As far as my memory serves, they do
not do so whilst roaring, in which case compression would be of use. I
think it is at the close of the crying fit, as if they wished to stop
their eyes crying, or possibly to relieve the irritation from the salt
tears. I wish I knew more about the knuckles and crying.
What a tremendous stir-up your excellent article on prayer has made in
England and America! (474/2. The article entitled "Statistical Inquiries
into the Efficacy of Prayer" appeared in the "Fortnightly Review," 1872.
In Mr. Francis Galton's book on "Enquiries into Human Faculty and its
Development," London, 1883, a section (pages 277-94) is devoted to a
discussion on the "Objective Efficacy of Prayer.")
LETTER 475. TO F.C. DONDERS.
(475/1. We have no means of knowing whether the observations suggested
in the following letter were made--if not, the suggestion is worthy of
record.)
Down, December 21st, 1872.
You will have received some little time ago my book on Expression, in
writing which I was so deeply indebted to your kindness. I want now to
beg a favour of you, if you have the means to grant it. A clergyman, the
head of an institution for the blind in England (475/2. The Rev. R.H.
Blair, Principal of the Worcester College: "Expression of the Emotions,"
Edition II., page 237.), has been observing the expression of those born
blind, and he informs me that they never or very rarely frown. He kept
a record of several cases, but at last observed a frown on two of the
children who he thought never frowned; and then in a foolish manner tore
up his notes, and did not write to me until my book was published. He
may be a bad observer and altogether mistaken, but I think it would
be worth while to ascertain whether those born blind, when young, and
whilst screaming violently, contract the muscles round the eyes like
ordinary infants. And secondly, whether in after years they rarely or
never frown. If it should prove true that infants born blind do not
contract their orbicular muscles whilst screaming (though I can hardly
believe it) it would be interesting to know whether they shed tears as
copiously as other children. The nature of the affection which causes
blindness may possibly influence the contraction of the muscles, but on
all such points you will judge infinitely better than I can. Perhaps you
could get some trustworthy superintendent of an asylum for the blind to
attend to this subject. I am sure that you will forgive me asking this
favour.
LETTER 476. TO D. HACK TUKE. Down, December 22nd, 1872.
I have now finished your book, and have read it with great interest.
(476/1. "Influence of the Mind upon the Body. Designed to elucidate the
Power of the Imagination." 1872.)
Many of your cases are very striking. As I felt sure would be the case,
I have learnt much from it; and I should have modified several passages
in my book on Expression, if I had had the advantage of reading your
work before my publication. I always felt, and said so a year ago to
Professor Donders, that I had not sufficient knowledge of Physiology to
treat my subject in a proper way.
With many thanks for the interest which I have felt in reading your
work...
LETTER 477. TO A.R. WALLACE. Down, January 10th [1873].
I have read your Review with much interest, and I thank you sincerely
for the very kind spirit in which it is written. I cannot say that I am
convinced by your criticisms. (477/1. "Quarterly Journal of Science,"
January, 1873, page 116: "I can hardly believe that when a cat, lying
on a shawl or other soft material, pats or pounds it with its feet, or
sometimes sucks a piece of it, it is the persistence of the habit of
pressing the mammary glands and sucking during kittenhood." Mr. Wallace
goes on to say that infantine habits are generally completely lost in
adult life, and that it seems unlikely that they should persist in a few
isolated instances.) If you have ever actually observed a kitten sucking
and pounding, with extended toes, its mother, and then seen the same
kitten when a little older doing the same thing on a soft shawl, and
ultimately an old cat (as I have seen), and do not admit that it is
identically the same action, I am astonished. With respect to the
decapitated frog, I have always heard of Pfluger as a most trustworthy
observer. (477/2. Mr. Wallace speaks of "a readiness to accept the most
marvellous conclusions or interpretations of physiologists on what
seem very insufficient grounds," and he goes on to assert that the frog
experiment is either incorrectly recorded or else that it "demonstrates
volition, and not reflex action.") If, indeed, any one knows a frog's
habits so well as to say that it never rubs off a bit of leaf or other
object which may stick to its thigh, in the same manner as it did the
acid, your objection would be valid. Some of Flourens' experiments, in
which he removed the cerebral hemispheres from a pigeon, indicate that
acts apparently performed consciously can be done without consciousness.
I presume through the force of habit, in which case it would appear that
intellectual power is not brought into play. Several persons have made
suggestions and objections as yours about the hands being held up
in astonishment; if there was any straining of the muscles, as with
protruded arms under fright, I would agree; as it is I must keep to
my old opinion, and I dare say you will say that I am an obstinate old
blockhead. (477/3. The raising of the hands in surprise is explained
("Expression of Emotions," Edition I., page 287) on the doctrine of
antithesis as being the opposite of listlessness. Mr. Wallace's view
(given in the 2nd edition of "Expression of the Emotions," page 300) is
that the gesture is appropriate to sudden defence or to the giving of
aid to another person.)
The book has sold wonderfully; 9,000 copies have now been printed.
LETTER 478. TO CHAUNCEY WRIGHT. Down, September 21st, 1874.
I have read your long letter with the greatest interest, and it was
extremely kind of you to take such great trouble. Now that you call my
attention to the fact, I well know the appearance of persons moving
the head from side to side when critically viewing any object; and I am
almost sure that I have seen the same gesture in an affected person when
speaking in exaggerated terms of some beautiful object not present.
I should think your explanation of this gesture was the true one. But
there seems to me a rather wide difference between inclining or moving
the head laterally, and moving it in the same plane, as we do in
negation, and, as you truly add, in disapprobation. It may, however, be
that these two movements of the head have been confounded by travellers
when speaking of the Turks. Perhaps Prof. Lowell would remember whether
the movement was identically the same. Your remarks on the effects of
viewing a sunset, etc., with the head inverted are very curious. (478/1.
The letter dated September 3rd, 1874, is published in Mr. Thayer's
"Letters" of Chauncey Wright, privately printed, Cambridge, Mass., 1878.
Wright quotes Mr. Sophocles, a native of Greece, at the time Professor
of Modern and Ancient Greek at Harvard University, to the effect that
the Turks do not express affirmation by a shake of the head, but by a
bow or grave nod, negation being expressed by a backward nod. From
the striking effect produced by looking at a landscape with the head
inverted, or by looking at its reflection, Chauncey Wright was led to
the lateral movement of the head, which is characteristic of critical
inspection--eg. of a picture. He thinks that in this way a gesture of
deliberative assent arose which may have been confused with our ordinary
sign of negation. He thus attempts to account for the contradictions
between Lieber's statement that a Turk or Greek expresses "yes" by a
shake of the head, and the opposite opinion of Prof. Sophocles, and
lastly, Mr. Lowell's assertion that in Italy our negative shake of the
head is used in affirmation (see "Expression of the Emotions," Edition
II., page 289).) We have a looking-glass in the drawing-room opposite
the flower-garden, and I have often been struck how extremely pretty
and strange the flower garden and surrounding bushes appear when thus
viewed. Your letter will be very useful to me for a new edition of my
Expression book; but this will not be for a long time, if ever, as the
publisher was misled by the very large sale at first, and printed far
too many copies.
I daresay you intend to publish your views in some essay, and I think
you ought to do so, for you might make an interesting and instructive
discussion.
I have been half killing myself of late with microscopical work on
plants. I begin to think that they are more wonderful than animals.
P.S., January 29th, 1875.--You will see that by a stupid mistake in
the address this letter has just been returned to me. It is by no
means worth forwarding, but I cannot bear that you should think me
so ungracious and ungrateful as not to have thanked you for your long
letter.
As I forget whether "Cambridge" is sufficient address, I will send this
through Asa Gray.
(PLATE: CHARLES LYELL. Engraved by G.I. (J). Stodart from a photograph.)
CHAPTER 2.IX. GEOLOGY, 1840-1882.
I. Vulcanicity and Earth-movements.--II. Ice-action.--III. The Parallel
Roads of Glen Roy.--IV. Coral Reefs, Fossil and Recent.--V. Cleavage
and Foliation.--VI. Age of the World.--VII. Geological Action of
Earthworms.--VIII. Miscellaneous.
2.IX.I. VULCANICITY AND EARTH-MOVEMENTS, 1840-1881.
LETTER 479. TO DAVID MILNE. 12, Upper Gower Street, Thursday [March]
20th [1840].
I much regret that I am unable to give you any information of the kind
you desire. You must have misunderstood Mr. Lyell concerning the object
of my paper. (479/1. "On the Connexion of certain Volcanic Phenomena,
and on the Formation of Mountain-chains and the Effects of Continental
Elevations." "Trans. Geol. Soc." Volume V., 1840, pages 601-32 [March
7th, 1838].) It is an account of the shock of February, 1835, in Chile,
which is particularly interesting, as it ties most closely together
volcanic eruptions and continental elevations. In that paper I notice a
very remarkable coincidence in volcanic eruptions in S. America at very
distant places. I have also drawn up some short tables showing, as
it appears to me, that there are periods of unusually great volcanic
activity affecting large portions of S. America. I have no record of any
coincidences between shocks there and in Europe. Humboldt, by his table
in the "Pers. Narrative" (Volume IV., page 36, English Translation),
seems to consider the elevation of Sabrina off the Azores as connected
with S. American subterranean activity: this connection appears to be
exceedingly vague. I have during the past year seen it stated that a
severe shock in the northern parts of S. America coincided with one
in Kamstchatka. Believing, then, that such coincidences are purely
accidental, I neglected to take a note of the reference; but I
believe the statement was somewhere in "L'Institut" for 1839. (479/2.
"L'Institut, Journal General des Societes et Travaux Scientifiques de la
France et de l'Etranger," Tome VIII. page 412, Paris, 1840. In a note
on some earthquakes in the province Maurienne it is stated that they
occurred during a change in the weather, and at times when a south wind
followed a north wind, etc.) I was myself anxious to see the list of the
1200 shocks alluded to by you, but I have not been able to find out that
the list has been published. With respect to any coincidences you may
discover between shocks in S. America and Europe, let me venture to
suggest to you that it is probably a quite accurate statement that
scarcely one hour in the year elapses in S. America without an
accompanying shock in some part of that large continent. There are many
regions in which earthquakes take place every three and four days; and
after the severer shocks the ground trembles almost half-hourly for
months. If, therefore, you had a list of the earthquakes of two or
three of these districts, it is almost certain that some of them would
coincide with those in Scotland, without any other connection than mere
chance.
My paper will be published immediately in the "Geological Transactions,"
and I will do myself the pleasure of sending you a copy in the course of
(as I hope) a week or ten days. A large part of it is theoretical, and
will be of little interest to you; but the account of the Concepcion
shock of 1835 will, I think, be worth your perusal. I have understood
from Mr. Lyell that you believe in some connection between the state of
the weather and earthquakes. Under the very peculiar climate of Northern
Chile, the belief of the inhabitants in such connection can hardly, in
my opinion, be founded in error. It must possibly be worth your while to
turn to pages 430-433 in my "Journal of Researches during the Voyage of
the 'Beagle'," where I have stated this circumstance. (479/3. "Journal
of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries
visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle' round the World." London,
1870, page 351.) On the hypothesis of the crust of the earth resting on
fluid matter, would the influence of the moon (as indexed by the tides)
affect the periods of the shocks, when the force which causes them is
just balanced by the resistance of the solid crust? The fact you mention
of the coincidence between the earthquakes of Calabria and Scotland
appears most curious. Your paper will possess a high degree of interest
to all geologists. I fancied that such uniformity of action, as seems
here indicated, was probably confined to large continents, such as the
Americas. How interesting a record of volcanic phenomena in Iceland
would be, now that you are collecting accounts of every slight trembling
in Scotland. I am astonished at their frequency in that quiet country,
as any one would have called it. I wish it had been in my power to
have contributed in any way to your researches on this most interesting
subject.
LETTER 480. TO L. HORNER. Down, August 29th [1844].
I am greatly obliged for your kind note, and much pleased with its
contents. If one-third of what you say be really true, and not the
verdict of a partial judge (as from pleasant experience I much suspect),
then should I be thoroughly well contented with my small volume which,
small as it is, cost me much time. (480/1. "Geological Observations
on the Volcanic Islands visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle'":
London, 1844. A French translation has been made by Professor Renard
of Ghent, and published by Reinwald of Paris in 1902.) The pleasure
of observation amply repays itself: not so that of composition; and it
requires the hope of some small degree of utility in the end to make up
for the drudgery of altering bad English into sometimes a little better
and sometimes worse. With respect to craters of elevation (480/2.
"Geological Observations," pages 93-6.), I had no sooner printed off
the few pages on that subject than I wished the whole erased. I utterly
disbelieve in Von Buch and de Beaumont's views; but on the other
hand, in the case of the Mauritius and St. Jago, I cannot, perhaps
unphilosophically, persuade myself that they are merely the basal
fragments of ordinary volcanoes; and therefore I thought I would suggest
the notion of a slow circumferential elevation, the central part
being left unelevated, owing to the force from below being spent
and [relieved?] in eruptions. On this view, I do not consider these
so-called craters of elevation as formed by the ejection of ashes,
lava, etc., etc., but by a peculiar kind of elevation acting round and
modified by a volcanic orifice. I wish I had left it all out; I trust
that there are in other parts of the volume more facts and less theory.
The more I reflect on volcanoes, the more I appreciate the importance
of E. de Beaumont's measurements (480/3. Elie de Beaumont's views are
discussed by Sir Charles Lyell both in the "Principles of Geology"
(Edition X., 1867, Volume I. pages 633 et seq.) and in the "Elements
of Geology" (Edition III., 1878, pages 495, 496). See also Darwin's
"Geological Observations," Edition II., 1876, page 107.) (even if
one does not believe them implicitly) of the natural inclination of
lava-streams, and even more the importance of his view of the dikes,
or unfilled fissures, in every volcanic mountain, being the proofs
and measures of the stretching and consequent elevation which all
such mountains must have undergone. I believe he thus unintentionally
explains most of his cases of lava-streams being inclined at a greater
angle than that at which they could have flowed.
But excuse this lengthy note, and once more let me thank you for the
pleasure and encouragement you have given me--which, together with
Lyell's never-failing kindness, will help me on with South America, and,
as my books will not sell, I sometimes want such aid. I have been lately
reading with care A. d'Orbigny's work on South America (480/4. "Voyage
dans l'Amerique Meridionale--execute pendant les annees 1826-33": six
volumes, Paris, 1835-43.), and I cannot say how forcibly impressed I am
with the infinite superiority of the Lyellian school of Geology over
the continental. I always feel as if my books came half out of Lyell's
brain, and that I never acknowledge this sufficiently; nor do I know how
I can without saying so in so many words--for I have always thought that
the great merit of the "Principles" was that it altered the whole tone
of one's mind, and therefore that, when seeing a thing never seen by
Lyell, one yet saw it partially through his eyes--it would have been in
some respects better if I had done this less: but again excuse my long,
and perhaps you will think presumptuous, discussion. Enclosed is a note
from Emma to Mrs. Horner, to beg you, if you can, to give us the great
pleasure of seeing you here. We are necessarily dull here, and can offer
no amusements; but the weather is delightful, and if you could see how
brightly the sun now shines you would be tempted to come. Pray remember
me most kindly to all your family, and beg of them to accept our
proposal, and give us the pleasure of seeing them.
LETTER 481. TO C. LYELL. Down, [September, 1844].
I was glad to get your note, and wanted to hear about your work. I
have been looking to see it advertised; it has been a long task. I had,
before your return from Scotland, determined to come up and see you; but
as I had nothing else to do in town, my courage has gradually eased
off, more especially as I have not been very well lately. We get so many
invitations here that we are grown quite dissipated, but my stomach has
stood it so ill that we are going to have a month's holidays, and go
nowhere.
The subject which I was most anxious to talk over with you I have
settled, and having written sixty pages of my "S. American Geology," I
am in pretty good heart, and am determined to have very little theory
and only short descriptions. The two first chapters will, I think, be
pretty good, on the great gravel terraces and plains of Patagonia and
Chili and Peru.
I am astonished and grieved over D'Orbigny's nonsense of sudden
elevations. (481/1. D'Orbigny's views are referred to by Lyell in
chapter vii. of the "Principles," Volume I. page 131. "This mud [i.e.
the Pampean mud] contains in it recent species of shells, some of them
proper to brackish water, and is believed by Mr. Darwin to be an
estuary or delta deposit. M.A. D'Orbigny, however, has advanced an
hypothesis...that the agitation and displacement of the waters of the
ocean, caused by the elevation of the Andes, gave rise to a deluge, of
which this Pampean mud, which reaches sometimes the height of 12,000
feet, is the result and monument.") I must give you one of his cases:
He finds an old beach 600 feet above sea. He finds STILL ATTACHED to the
rocks at 300 feet six species of truly littoral shells. He finds at 20
to 30 feet above sea an immense accumulation of chiefly littoral shells.
He argues the whole 600 feet uplifted at one blow, because the attached
shells at 300 feet have not been displaced. Therefore when the sea
formed a beach at 600 feet the present littoral shells were attached
to rocks at 300 feet depth, and these same shells were accumulating by
thousands at 600 feet.
Hear this, oh Forbes. Is it not monstrous for a professed conchologist?
This is a fair specimen of his reasoning.
One of his arguments against the Pampas being a slow deposit, is that
mammifers are very seldom washed by rivers into the sea!
Because at 12,000 feet he finds the same kind of clay with that of
the Pampas he never doubts that it is contemporaneous with the Pampas
[debacle?] which accompanied the right royal salute of every volcano
in the Cordillera. What a pity these Frenchmen do not catch hold of
a comet, and return to the good old geological dramas of Burnett and
Whiston. I shall keep out of controversy, and just give my own facts. It
is enough to disgust one with Geology; though I have been much pleased
with the frank, decided, though courteous manner with which D'Orbigny
disputes my conclusions, given, unfortunately, without facts, and
sometimes rashly, in my journal.
Enough of S. America. I wish you would ask Mr. Horner (for I forgot to
do so, and am unwilling to trouble him again) whether he thinks there
is too much detail (quite independent of the merits of the book) in my
volcanic volume; as to know this would be of some real use to me. You
could tell me when we meet after York, when I will come to town. I had
intended being at York, but my courage has failed. I should much like
to hear your lecture, but still more to read it, as I think reading is
always better than hearing.
I am very glad you talk of a visit to us in the autumn if you can spare
the time. I shall be truly glad to see Mrs. Lyell and yourself here; but
I have scruples in asking any one--you know how dull we are here. Young
Hooker (481/2. Sir J.D. Hooker.) talks of coming; I wish he might meet
you,--he appears to me a most engaging young man.
I have been delighted with Prescott, of which I have read Volume I. at
your recommendation; I have just been a good deal interested with W.
Taylor's (of Norwich) "Life and Correspondence."
On your return from York I shall expect a great supply of Geological
gossip.
LETTER 482. TO C. LYELL. [October 3rd, 1846.]
I have been much interested with Ramsay, but have no particular
suggestions to offer (482/1. "On the Denudation of South Wales and the
Adjacent Counties of England." A.C. Ramsay, "Mem. Geol. Survey Great
Britain," Volume I., London, 1846.); I agree with all your remarks made
the other day. My final impression is that the only argument against
him is to tell him to read and re-read the "Principles," and if not
then convinced to send him to Pluto. Not but what he has well read the
"Principles!" and largely profited thereby. I know not how carefully you
have read this paper, but I think you did not mention to me that he does
(page 327) (482/2. Ramsay refers the great outlines of the country to
the action of the sea in Tertiary times. In speaking of the denudation
of the coast, he says: "Taking UNLIMITED time into account, we can
conceive that any extent of land might be so destroyed...If to this be
added an EXCEEDINGLY SLOW DEPRESSION of the land and sea bottom, the
wasting process would be materially assisted by this depression" (loc.
cit., page 327).) believe that the main part of his great denudation
was effected during a vast (almost gratuitously assumed) slow Tertiary
subsidence and subsequent Tertiary oscillating slow elevation. So
our high cliff argument is inapplicable. He seems to think his great
subsidence only FAVOURABLE for great denudation. I believe from
the general nature of the off-shore sea's bottoms that it is almost
necessary; do look at two pages--page 25 of my S. American volume--on
this subject. (482/3. "Geological Observations on S. America," 1846,
page 25. "When viewing the sea-worn cliffs of Patagonia, in some parts
between 800 and 900 feet in height, and formed of horizontal Tertiary
strata, which must once have extended far seaward...a difficulty often
occurred to me, namely, how the strata could possibly have been removed
by the action of the sea at a considerable depth beneath its surface."
The cliffs of St. Helena are referred to in illustration of the same
problem; speaking of these, Darwin adds: "Now, if we had any reason
to suppose that St. Helena had, during a long period, gone on slowly
subsiding, every difficulty would be removed...I am much inclined to
suspect that we shall hereafter find in all such cases that the land
with the adjoining bed of the sea has in truth subsided..." (loc. cit.,
pages 25-6).)
The foundation of his views, viz., of one great sudden upheaval, strikes
me as threefold. First, to account for the great dislocations. This
strikes me as the odder, as he admits that a little northwards there
were many and some violent dislocations at many periods during the
accumulation of the Palaeozoic series. If you argue against him, allude
to the cool assumption that petty forces are conflicting: look at
volcanoes; look at recurrent similar earthquakes at same spots; look at
repeatedly injected intrusive masses. In my paper on Volcanic Phenomena
in the "Geol. Transactions." (482/4. "On the Connection of certain
Volcanic Phenomena, and on the Formation of Mountain-chains and the
Effects of Continental Elevations." "Geol. Soc. Proc." Volume II., pages
654-60, 1838; "Trans. Geol. Soc." Volume V., pages 601-32, 1842. [Read
March 7th, 1838.]) I have argued (and Lonsdale thought well of the
argument, in favour, as he remarked, of your original doctrine) that if
Hopkins' views are correct, viz., that mountain chains are subordinate
consequences to changes of level in mass, then, as we have evidence of
such horizontal movements in mass having been slow, the foundation of
mountain chains (differing from volcanoes only in matter being injected
instead of ejected) must have been slow.
Secondly, Ramsay has been influenced, I think, by his Alpine insects;
but he is wrong in thinking that there is any necessary connection
of tropics and large insects--videlicet--Galapagos Arch., under the
equator. Small insects swarm in all parts of tropics, though accompanied
generally with large ones.
Thirdly, he appears influenced by the absence of newer deposits on the
old area, blinded by the supposed necessity of sediment accumulating
somewhere near (as no doubt is true) and being PRESERVED--an example,
as I think, of the common error which I wrote to you about. The
preservation of sedimentary deposits being, as I do not doubt, the
exception when they are accumulated during periods of elevation or of
stationary level, and therefore the preservation of newer deposits would
not be probable, according to your view that Ramsay's great Palaeozoic
masses were denuded, whilst slowly rising. Do pray look at end of
Chapter II., at what little I have said on this subject in my S.
American volume. (482/5. The second chapter of the "Geological
Observations" concludes with a Summary on the Recent Elevations of the
West Coast of South America, (page 53).)
I do not think you can safely argue that the whole surface was probably
denuded at same time to the level of the lateral patches of Magnesian
conglomerate.
The latter part of the paper strikes me as good, but obvious.
I shall send him my S. American volume for it is curious on how many
similar points we enter, and I modestly hope it may be a half-oz. weight
towards his conversion to better views. If he would but reject his great
sudden elevations, how sound and good he would be. I doubt whether this
letter will be worth the reading.
LETTER 483. TO C. LYELL. Down [September 4th, 1849].
It was very good of you to write me so long a letter, which has
interested me much. I should have answered it sooner, but I have not
been very well for the few last days. Your letter has also flattered
me much in many points. I am very glad you have been thinking over the
relation of subsidence and the accumulation of deposits; it has to me
removed many great difficulties; please to observe that I have carefully
abstained from saying that sediment is not deposited during periods of
elevation, but only that it is not accumulated to sufficient thickness
to withstand subsequent beach action; on both coasts of S. America the
amount of sediment deposited, worn away, and redeposited, oftentimes
must have been enormous, but still there have been no wide formations
produced: just read my discussion (page 135 of my S. American book
(483/1. See Letter 556, note. The discussion referred to ("Geological
Observations on South America," 1846) deals with the causes of
the absence of recent conchiferous deposits on the coasts of South
America.)) again with this in your mind. I never thought of your
difficulty (i.e. in relation to this discussion) of where was the land
whence the three miles of S. Wales strata were derived! (483/2. In
his classical paper "On the Denudation of South Wales and the Adjacent
Counties of England" ("Mem. Geol. Survey," Volume I., page 297, 1846),
Ramsay estimates the thickness of certain Palaeozoic formations in South
Wales, and calculates the cubic contents of the strata in the area they
now occupy together with the amount removed by denudation; and he goes
on to say that it is evident that the quantity of matter employed to
form these strata was many times greater than the entire amount of solid
land they now represent above the waves. "To form, therefore, so great
a thickness, a mass of matter of nearly equal cubic contents must have
been worn by the waves and the outpourings of rivers from neighbouring
lands, of which perhaps no original trace now remains" (page 334.)) Do
you not think that it may be explained by a form of elevation which I
have always suspected to have been very common (and, indeed, had once
intended getting all facts together), viz. thus?--
(Figure 1. A line drawing of ocean bottom subsiding beside mountains and
continent rising.)
The frequency of a DEEP ocean close to a rising continent bordered with
mountains, seems to indicate these opposite movements of rising and
sinking CLOSE TOGETHER; this would easily explain the S. Wales and
Eocene cases. I will only add that I should think there would be a
little more sediment produced during subsidence than during elevation,
from the resulting outline of coast, after long period of rise. There
are many points in my volume which I should like to have discussed with
you, but I will not plague you: I should like to hear whether you think
there is anything in my conjecture on Craters of Elevation (483/3. In
the "Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands," 1844, pages 93-6,
Darwin speaks of St. Helena, St. Jago and Mauritius as being bounded by
a ring of basaltic mountains which he regards as "Craters of Elevation."
While unable to accept the theory of Elie de Beaumont and attribute
their formation to a dome-shaped elevation and consequent arching of the
strata, he recognises a "very great difficulty in admitting that these
basaltic mountains are merely the basal fragments of great volcanoes,
of which the summits have been either blown off, or, more probably,
swallowed by subsidence." An explanation of the origin and structure of
these volcanic islands is suggested which would keep them in the class
of "Craters of Elevation," but which assumes a slow elevation, during
which the central hollow or platform having been formed "not by the
arching of the surface, but simply by that part having been upraised to
a less height."); I cannot possibly believe that Saint Jago or Mauritius
are the basal fragments of ordinary volcanoes; I would sooner even admit
E. de Beaumont's views than that--much as I would sooner in my own mind
in all cases follow you. Just look at page 232 in my "S. America" for a
trifling point, which, however, I remember to this day relieved my
mind of a considerable difficulty. (483/4. This probably refers to
a paragraph (page 232) "On the Eruptive Sources of the Porphyritic
Claystone and Greenstone Lavas." The opinion is put forward that "the
difficulty of tracing the streams of porphyries to their ancient and
doubtless numerous eruptive sources, may be partly explained by the very
general disturbance which the Cordillera in most parts has suffered";
but, Darwin adds, "a more specific cause may be that 'the original
points of eruption tend to become the points of injection'...On this
view of there being a tendency in the old points of eruption to become
the points of subsequent injection and disturbance, and consequently of
denudation, it ceases to be surprising that the streams of lava in the
porphyritic claystone conglomerate formation, and in other analogous
cases, should most rarely be traceable to their actual sources." The
latter part of this letter is published in "Life and Letters," I.,
pages 377, 378.) I remember being struck with your discussion on the
Mississippi beds in relation to Pampas, but I should wish to read them
over again; I have, however, re-lent your work to Mrs. Rich, who, like
all whom I have met, has been much interested by it. I will stop about
my own Geology. But I see I must mention that Scrope did suggest (and I
have alluded to him, page 118 (483/5. "Geological Observations," Edition
II., 1876. Chapter VI. opens with a discussion "On the Separation of the
Constituent Minerals of Lava, according to their Specific Gravities."
Mr. Darwin calls attention to the fact that Mr. P. Scrope had speculated
on the subject of the separation of the trachytic and basaltic series
of lavas (page 113).), but without distinct reference and I fear not
sufficiently, though I utterly forgot what he wrote) the separation of
basalt and trachyte; but he does not appear to have thought about the
crystals, which I believe to be the keystone of the phenomenon. I cannot
but think this separation of the molten elements has played a great part
in the metamorphic rocks: how else could the basaltic dykes have come in
the great granitic districts such as those of Brazil? What a wonderful
book for labour is d'Archiac!...(483/6. Possibly this refers to
d'Archiac's "Histoire des Progres de la Geologie," 1848.)
LETTER 484. TO LADY LYELL. Down, Wednesday night [1849?].
I am going to beg a very very great favour of you: it is to translate
one page (and the title) of either Danish or Swedish or some such
language. I know not to whom else to apply, and I am quite dreadfully
interested about the barnacles therein described. Does Lyell know Loven,
or his address and title? for I must write to him. If Lyell knows him I
would use his name as introduction; Loven I know by name as a first-rate
naturalist.
Accidentally I forgot to give you the "Footsteps," which I now return,
having ordered a copy for myself.
I sincerely hope the "Craters of Denudation" prosper; I pin my faith to
this view. (484/1. "On Craters of Denudation, with Observations on the
Structure and Growth of Volcanic Cones." "Proc. Geol. Soc." Volume VI.,
1850, pages 207-34. In a letter to Bunbury (January 17th, 1850)
Lyell wrote:..."Darwin adopts my views as to Mauritius, St. Jago, and
so-called elevation craters, which he has examined, and was puzzled
with."--"Life of Sir Charles Lyell," Volume II., page 158.)
Please tell Sir C. Lyell that outside the crater-like mountains at St.
Jago, even throughout a distance of two or three miles, there has been
much denudation of the older volcanic rocks contemporaneous with those
of the ring of mountains. (484/2. The island of St. Jago, one of the
Cape de Verde group, is fully described in the "Volcanic Islands,"
Chapter 1.)
I hope that you will not find the page troublesome, and that you will
forgive me asking you.
LETTER 485. TO C. LYELL. [November 6th, 1849].
I have been deeply interested in your letter, and so far, at least,
worthy of the time it must have cost you to write it. I have not much to
say. I look at the whole question as settled. Santorin is splendid!
it is conclusive! it is perfect! (485/1. "The Gulf of Santorin, in the
Grecian Archipelago, has been for two thousand years a scene of active
volcanic operations. The largest of the three outer islands of the
groups (to which the general name of Santorin is given) is called Thera
(or sometimes Santorin), and forms more than two-thirds of the circuit
of the Gulf" ("Principles of Geology," Volume II., Edition X., London,
1868, page 65). Lyell attributed "the moderate slope of the beds in
Thera...to their having originally descended the inclined flanks of a
large volcanic cone..."; he refuted the theory of "Elevation Craters" by
Leopold von Buch, which explained the slope of the rocks in a volcanic
mountain by assuming that the inclined beds had been originally
horizontal and subsequently tilted by an explosion.) You have read
Dufrenoy in a hurry, I think, and added to the difficulty--it is
the whole hill or "colline" which is composed of tuff with
cross-stratification; the central boss or "monticule" is simply
trachyte. Now, I have described one tuff crater at Galapagos (page 108)
(485/2. The pages refer to Darwin's "Geological Observations on the
Volcanic Islands, etc." 1844.) which has broken through a great solid
sheet of basalt: why should not an irregular mass of trachyte have
been left in the middle after the explosion and emission of mud which
produced the overlying tuff? Or, again, I see no difficulty in a mass of
trachyte being exposed by subsequent dislocations and bared or cleaned
by rain. At Ascension (page 40), subsequent to the last great aeriform
explosion, which has covered the country with fragments, there have been
dislocations and a large circular subsidence...Do not quote Banks' case
(485/3. This refers to Banks' Cove: see "Volcanic Islands," page 107.)
(for there has been some denudation there), but the "elliptic one"
(page 105), which is 1,500 yards (three-quarters of a nautical mile)
in internal diameter...and is the very one the inclination of whose
mud stream on tuff strata I measured (before I had ever heard the name
Dufrenoy) and found varying from 25 to 30 deg. Albemarle Island, instead
of being a crater of elevation, as Von Buch foolishly guessed, is formed
of four great subaerial basaltic volcanoes (page 103), of one of which
you might like to know the external diameter of the summit or crater
was above three nautical miles. There are no "craters of denudation"
at Galapagos. (485/4. See Lyell "On Craters of Denudation, with
Observations on the Structure and Growth of Volcanic Cones," "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume VI., 1850, page 207.)
I hope you will allude to Mauritius. I think this is the instance on the
largest scale of any known, though imperfectly known.
If I were you I would give up consistency (or, at most, only allude in
note to your old edition) and bring out the Craters of Denudation as
a new view, which it essentially is. You cannot, I think, give it
prominence as a novelty and yet keep to consistency and passages in old
editions. I should grudge this new view being smothered in your address,
and should like to see a separate paper. The one great channel to
Santorin and Palma, etc., etc., is just like the one main channel
being kept open in atolls and encircling barrier reefs, and on the same
principle of water being driven in through several shallow breaches.
I of course utterly reprobate my wild notion of circular elevation;
it is a satisfaction to me to think that I perceived there was a screw
loose in the old view, and, so far, I think I was of some service to
you.
Depend on it, you have for ever smashed, crushed, and abolished craters
of elevation. There must be craters of engulfment, and of explosion
(mere modifications of craters of eruption), but craters of denudation
are the ones which have given rise to all the discussions.
Pray give my best thanks to Lady Lyell for her translation, which was as
clear as daylight to me, including "leglessness."
LETTER 486. TO C. LYELL.
Down [November 20th, 1849].
I remembered the passage in E. de B. [Elie de Beaumont] and have now
re-read it. I have always and do still entirely disbelieve it; in such a
wonderful case he ought to have hammered every inch of rock up to actual
junction; he describes no details of junction, and if I were in your
place I would absolutely dispute the fact of junction (or articulation
as he oddly calls it) on such evidence. I go farther than you; I do not
believe in the world there is or has been a junction between a dike and
stream of lava of exact shape of either (1) or (2) Figure 2].
(Figures 2, 3 and 4.)
If dike gave immediate origin to volcanic vent we should have craters of
[an] elliptic shape [Figure 3]. I believe that when the molten rock in a
dike comes near to the surface, some one two or three points will
always certainly chance to afford an easier passage upward to the actual
surface than along the whole line, and therefore that the dike will be
connected (if the whole were bared and dissected) with the vent by a
column or cone (see my elegant drawing) of lava [Figure 4]. I do not
doubt that the dikes are thus indirectly connected with eruptive vents.
E. de B. seems to have observed many of his T; now without he supposes
the whole line of fissure or dike to have poured out lava (which
implies, as above remarked, craters of an elliptic or almost linear
shape) on both sides, how extraordinarily improbable it is, that there
should have been in a single line of section so many intersections of
points eruption; he must, I think, make his orifices of eruption almost
linear or, if not so, astonishingly numerous. One must refer to what one
has seen oneself: do pray, when you go home, look at the section of a
minute cone of eruption at the Galapagos, page 109 (486/1. "Geological
Observations on Volcanic Islands." London, 1890, page 238.), which is
the most perfect natural dissection of a crater which I have ever heard
of, and the drawing of which you may, I assure you, trust; here the
arching over of the streams as they were poured out over the lip of
the crater was evident, and are now thus seen united to the central
irregular column. Again, at St. Jago I saw some horizontal sections of
the bases of small craters, and the sources or feeders were circular. I
really cannot entertain a doubt that E. de B. is grossly wrong, and that
you are right in your view; but without most distinct evidence I will
never admit that a dike joins on rectangularly to a stream of lava. Your
argument about the perpendicularity of the dike strikes me as good.
The map of Etna, which I have been just looking at, looks like a sudden
falling in, does it not? I am not much surprised at the linear vent
in Santorin (this linear tendency ought to be difficult to a
circular-crater-of-elevation-believer), I think Abich (486/2.
"Geologische Beobachtungen uber die vulkanischen Erscheinungen und
Bildungen in Unter- und Mittel-Italien." Braunschweig, 1841.) describes
having seen the same actual thing forming within the crater of Vesuvius.
In such cases what outline do you give to the upper surface of the lava
in the dike connecting them? Surely it would be very irregular and would
send up irregular cones or columns as in my above splendid drawing.
At the Royal on Friday, after more doubt and misgiving than I almost
ever felt, I voted to recommend Forbes for Royal Medal, and that view
was carried, Sedgwick taking the lead.
I am glad to hear that all your party are pretty well. I know from
experience what you must have gone through. From old age with suffering
death must be to all a happy release. (486/3. This seems to refer to
the death of Sir Charles Lyell's father, which occurred on November 8th,
1849.)
I saw Dan Sharpe the other day, and he told me he had been working at
the mica schist (i.e. not gneiss) in Scotland, and that he was quite
convinced my view was right. You are wrong and a heretic on this point,
I know well.
LETTER 487. TO C.H.L. WOODD. Down, March 4th [1850].
(487/1. The paper was sent in MS., and seems not to have been published.
Mr. Woodd was connected by marriage with Mr. Darwin's cousin, the late
Rev. W. Darwin Fox. It was perhaps in consequence of this that Mr.
Darwin proposed Mr. Woodd for the Geological Society.)
I have read over your paper with attention; but first let me thank you
for your very kind expressions towards myself. I really feel hardly
competent to discuss the questions raised by your paper; I feel the
want of mathematical mechanics. All such problems strike me as awfully
complicated; we do not even know what effect great pressure has on
retarding liquefaction by heat, nor, I apprehend, on expansion. The
chief objection which strikes me is a doubt whether a mass of strata,
when heated, and therefore in some slight degree at least softened,
would bow outwards like a bar of metal. Consider of how many subordinate
layers each great mass would be composed, and the mineralogical changes
in any length of any one stratum: I should have thought that the strata
would in every case have crumpled up, and we know how commonly in
metamorphic strata, which have undergone heat, the subordinate layers
are wavy and sinuous, which has always been attributed to their
expansion whilst heated.
Before rocks are dried and quarried, manifold facts show how extremely
flexible they are even when not at all heated. Without the bowing out
and subsequent filling in of the roof of the cavity, if I understand
you, there would be no subsidence. Of course the crumpling up of the
strata would thicken them, and I see with you that this might compress
the underlying fluidified rock, which in its turn might escape by
a volcano or raise a weaker part of the earth's crust; but I am too
ignorant to have any opinion whether force would be easily propagated
through a viscid mass like molten rock; or whether such viscid mass
would not act in some degree like sand and refuse to transmit pressure,
as in the old experiment of trying to burst a piece of paper tied
over the end of a tube with a stick, an inch or two of sand being
only interposed. I have always myself felt the greatest difficulty in
believing in waves of heat coming first to this and then to that quarter
of the world: I suspect that heat plays quite a subordinate part in the
upward and downward movements of the earth's crust; though of course
it must swell the strata where first affected. I can understand Sir
J. Herschel's manner of bringing heat to unheated strata--namely, by
covering them up by a mile or so of new strata, and then the heat would
travel into the lower ones. But who can tell what effect this mile or
two of new sedimentary strata would have from mere gravity on the level
of the supporting surface? Of course such considerations do not render
less true that the expansion of the strata by heat would have some
effect on the level of the surface; but they show us how awfully
complicated the phenomenon is. All young geologists have a great turn
for speculation; I have burned my fingers pretty sharply in that way,
and am now perhaps become over-cautious; and feel inclined to cavil at
speculation when the direct and immediate effect of a cause in question
cannot be shown. How neatly you draw your diagrams; I wish you would
turn your attention to real sections of the earth's crust, and then
speculate to your heart's content on them; I can have no doubt that
speculative men, with a curb on, make far the best observers. I
sincerely wish I could have made any remarks of more interest to you,
and more directly bearing on your paper; but the subject strikes me as
too difficult and complicated. With every good wish that you may go
on with your geological studies, speculations, and especially
observations...
LETTER 488. TO C. LYELL. Down, March 24th [1853].
I have often puzzled over Dana's case, in itself and in relation to the
trains of S. American volcanoes of different heights in action at the
same time (page 605, Volume V. "Geological Transactions." (488/1. "On
the Connection of certain Volcanic Phenomena in South America, and on
the Formation of Mountain Chains and Volcanoes, as the Effect of the
same Power by which Continents are Elevated" ("Trans. Geol. Soc."
Volume V., page 601, 1840). On page 605 Darwin records instances of the
simultaneous activity after an earthquake of several volcanoes in
the Cordillera.)) I can throw no light on the subject. I presume you
remember that Hopkins (488/2. See "Report on the Geological Theories
of Elevation and Earthquakes," by W. Hopkins, "Brit. Assoc. Rep." 1847,
page 34.) in some one (I forget which) of his papers discusses such
cases, and urgently wishes the height of the fluid lava was known in
adjoining volcanoes when in contemporaneous action; he argues vehemently
against (as far as I remember) volcanoes in action of different heights
being connected with one common source of liquefied rock. If lava was as
fluid as water, the case would indeed be hopeless; and I fancy we should
be led to look at the deep-seated rock as solid though intensely hot,
and becoming fluid as soon as a crack lessened the tension of the
super-incumbent strata. But don't you think that viscid lava might be
very slow in communicating its pressure equally in all directions? I
remember thinking strongly that Dana's case within the one crater of
Kilauea proved too much; it really seems monstrous to suppose that the
lava within the same crater is not connected at no very great depth.
When one reflects on (and still better sees) the enormous masses of lava
apparently shot miles high up, like cannon-balls, the force seems out of
all proportion to the mere gravity of the liquefied lava; I should think
that a channel a little straightly or more open would determine the line
of explosion, like the mouth of a cannon compared to the touch-hole.
If a high-pressure boiler was cracked across, no one would think for a
moment that the quantity of water and steam expelled at different points
depended on the less or greater height of the water within the boiler
above these points, but on the size of the crack at these points; and
steam and water might be driven out both at top and bottom. May not a
volcano be likened to a protruding and cracked portion on a vast natural
high-pressure boiler, formed by the surrounding area of country? In
fact, I think my simile would be truer if the difference consisted only
in the cracked case of the boiler being much thicker in some parts than
in others, and therefore having to expel a greater thickness or depth of
water in the thicker cracks or parts--a difference of course absolutely
as nothing.
I have seen an old boiler in action, with steam and drops of water
spurting out of some of the rivet-holes. No one would think whether the
rivet-holes passed through a greater or less thickness of iron, or were
connected with the water higher or lower within the boiler, so small
would the gravity be compared with the force of the steam. If the boiler
had been not heated, then of course there would be a great difference
whether the rivet-holes entered the water high or low, so that there
was greater or less pressure of gravity. How to close my volcanic
rivet-holes I don't know.
I do not know whether you will understand what I am driving at, and it
will not signify much whether you do or not. I remember in old days (I
may mention the subject as we are on it) often wishing I could get
you to look at continental elevations as THE phenomenon, and volcanic
outbursts and tilting up of mountain chains as connected, but quite
secondary, phenomena. I became deeply impressed with the truth of this
view in S. America, and I do not think you hold it, or if so make it
clear: the same explanation, whatever it may be, which will account for
the whole coast of Chili rising, will and must apply to the volcanic
action of the Cordillera, though modified no doubt by the liquefied
rock coming to the surface and reaching water, and so [being] rendered
explosive. To me it appears that this ought to be borne in mind in your
present subject of discussion. I have written at too great length; and
have amused myself if I have done you no good--so farewell.
LETTER 489. TO C. LYELL. Down, July 5th [1856].
I am very much obliged for your long letter, which has interested me
much; but before coming to the volcanic cosmogony I must say that I
cannot gather your verdict as judge and jury (and not as advocate)
on the continental extensions of late authors (489/1. See "Life and
Letters," II., page 74; Letter to Lyell, June 25th, 1856: also
letters in the sections of the present work devoted to Evolution and
Geographical Distribution.), which I must grapple with, and which as yet
strikes me as quite unphilosophical, inasmuch as such extensions must be
applied to every oceanic island, if to any one, as to Madeira; and this
I cannot admit, seeing that the skeletons, at least, of our continents
are ancient, and seeing the geological nature of the oceanic islands
themselves. Do aid me with your judgment: if I could honestly admit
these great [extensions], they would do me good service.
With respect to active volcanic areas being rising areas, which looks
so pretty on the coral maps, I have formerly felt "uncomfortable" on
exactly the same grounds with you, viz. maritime position of volcanoes;
and still more from the immense thicknesses of Silurian, etc., volcanic
strata, which thicknesses at first impress the mind with the idea of
subsidence. If this could be proved, the theory would be smashed; but
in deep oceans, though the bottom were rising, great thicknesses of
submarine lava might accumulate. But I found, after writing Coral Book,
cases in my notes of submarine vesicular lava-streams in the upper
masses of the Cordillera, formed, as I believe, during subsidence,
which staggered me greatly. With respect to the maritime position of
volcanoes, I have long been coming to the conclusion that there must
be some law causing areas of elevation (consequently of land) and of
subsidence to be parallel (as if balancing each other) and closely
approximate; I think this from the form of continents with a deep ocean
on one side, from coral map, and especially from conversations with you
on immense subsidences of the Carboniferous and [other] periods, and yet
with continued great supply of sediment. If this be so, such areas,
with opposite movements, would probably be separated by sets of parallel
cracks, and would be the seat of volcanoes and tilts, and consequently
volcanoes and mountains would be apt to be maritime; but why volcanoes
should cling to the rising edge of the cracks I cannot conjecture. That
areas with extinct volcanic archipelagoes may subside to any extent I do
not doubt.
Your view of the bottom of Atlantic long sinking with continued volcanic
outbursts and local elevations at Madeira, Canaries, etc., grates (but
of course I do not know how complex the phenomena are which are thus
explained) against my judgment; my general ideas strongly lead me to
believe in elevatory movements being widely extended. One ought, I
think, never to forget that when a volcano is in action we have distinct
proof of an action from within outwards. Nor should we forget, as I
believe follows from Hopkins (489/2. "Researches in Physical Geology,"
W. Hopkins, "Trans. Phil. Soc. Cambridge," Volume VI., 1838. See also
"Report on the Geological Theories of Elevation and Earthquakes," W.
Hopkins, "Brit. Assoc. Rep." page 33, 1847 (Oxford meeting).), and as I
have insisted in my Earthquake paper, that volcanoes and mountain chains
are mere accidents resulting from the elevation of an area, and as
mountain chains are generally long, so should I view areas of elevation
as generally large. (489/3. "On the Connexion of certain Volcanic
Phenomena in S. America, and on the Formation of Mountain Chains and
Volcanoes, as the Effect of the same Power by which Continents are
Elevated," "Trans. Geol. Soc." Volume V., page 601, 1840. "Bearing in
mind Mr. Hopkins' demonstration, if there be considerable elevation
there must be fissures, and, if fissures, almost certainly unequal
upheaval, or subsequent sinking down, the argument may be finally
thus put: mountain chains are the effects of continental elevations;
continental elevations and the eruptive force of volcanoes are due to
one great motive, now in progressive action..." (loc. cit., page 629).)
Your old original view that great oceans must be sinking areas, from
there being causes making land and yet there being little land, has
always struck me till lately as very good. But in some degree this
starts from the assumption that within periods of which we know anything
there was either a continent in such areas, or at least a sea-bottom of
not extreme depth.
LETTER 490. TO C. LYELL. King's Head Hotel, Sandown, Isle of Wight, July
18th [1858].
I write merely to thank you for the abstract of the Etna paper. (490/1.
"On the Structure of Lavas which have Consolidated on Steep Slopes,
with Remarks on the Mode of Origin of Mount Etna and on the Theory of
'Craters of Elevation,'" by C. Lyell, "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." Volume
CXLVIII., page 703, 1859.) It seems to me a very grand contribution to
our volcanic knowledge. Certainly I never expected to see E. de B.'s
[Elie de Beaumont] theory of slopes so completely upset. He must have
picked out favourable cases for measurement. And such an array of facts
he gives! You have scotched, and will see die, I now think, the Crater
of Elevation theory. But what vitality there is in a plausible theory!
(490/2. The rest of this letter is published in "Life and Letters," II.,
page 129.)
LETTER 491. TO C. LYELL. Down, November 25th [1860].
I have endeavoured to think over your discussion, but not with much
success. You will have to lay down, I think, very clearly, what
foundation you argue from--four parts (which seems to me exceedingly
moderate on your part) of Europe being now at rest, with one part
undergoing movement. How it is, that from this you can argue that the
one part which is now moving will have rested since the commencement of
the Glacial period in the proportion of four to one, I do not pretend
to see with any clearness; but does not your argument rest on the
assumption that within a given period, say two or three million years,
the whole of Europe necessarily has to undergo movement? This may
be probable or not so, but it seems to me that you must explain the
foundation of your argument from space to time, which at first, to me
was very far from obvious. I can, of course, see that if you can make
out your argument satisfactorily to yourself and others it would be most
valuable. I can imagine some one saying that it is not fair to argue
that the great plains of Europe and the mountainous districts of
Scotland and Wales have been at all subjected to the same laws of
movement. Looking to the whole world, it has been my opinion, from the
very size of the continents and oceans, and especially from the enormous
ranges of so many mountain-chains (resulting from cracks which follow
from vast areas of elevation, as Hopkins argues (491/1. See "Report
on the Geological Theories of Elevation and Earthquakes." by William
Hopkins. "Brit. Assoc. Rep." 1847, pages 33-92; also the Anniversary
Address to the Geological Society by W. Hopkins in 1852 ("Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume VIII.); in this Address, pages lxviii et seq.)
reference is made to the theory of elevation which rests on the
supposition "of the simultaneous action of an upheaving force at every
point of the area over which the phenomena of elevation preserve a
certain character of continuity...The elevated mass...becomes stretched,
and is ultimately torn and fissured in those directions in which
the tendency thus to tear is greatest...It is thus that the complex
phenomena of elevation become referable to a general and simple
mechanical cause...")) and from other reasons, it has been my opinion
that, as a general rule, very large portions of the world have been
simultaneously affected by elevation or subsidence. I can see that this
does not apply so strongly to broken Europe, any more than to the Malay
Archipelago. Yet, had I been asked, I should have said that probably
nearly the whole of Europe was subjected during the Glacial period
to periods of elevation and of subsidence. It does not seem to me so
certain that the kinds of partial movement which we now see going on
show us the kind of movement which Europe has been subjected to since
the commencement of the Glacial period. These notions are at least
possible, and would they not vitiate your argument? Do you not rest on
the belief that, as Scandinavia and some few other parts are now rising,
and a few others sinking, and the remainder at rest, so it has been
since the commencement of the Glacial period? With my notions I
should require this to be made pretty probable before I could put much
confidence in your calculations. You have probably thought this all
over, but I give you the reflections which come across me, supposing
for the moment that you took the proportions of space at rest and in
movement as plainly applicable to time. I have no doubt that you have
sufficient evidence that, at the commencement of the Glacial period, the
land in Scotland, Wales, etc., stood as high or higher than at present,
but I forget the proofs.
Having burnt my own fingers so consumedly with the Wealden, I am fearful
for you, but I well know how infinitely more cautious, prudent, and
far-seeing you are than I am; but for heaven's sake take care of your
fingers; to burn them severely, as I have done, is very unpleasant.
Your 2 1/2 feet for a century of elevation seems a very handsome
allowance. can D. Forbes really show the great elevation of Chili? I am
astounded at it, and I took some pains on the point.
I do not pretend to say that you may not be right to judge of the past
movements of Europe by those now and recently going on, yet it somehow
grates against my judgment,--perhaps only against my prejudices.
As a change from elevation to subsidence implies some great subterranean
or cosmical change, one may surely calculate on long intervals of
rest between. Though, if the cause of the change be ever proved to be
astronomical, even this might be doubtful.
P.S.--I do not know whether I have made clear what I think probable, or
at least possible: viz., that the greater part of Europe has at times
been elevated in some degree equably; at other times it has all subsided
equably; and at other times might all have been stationary; and at other
times it has been subjected to various unequal movements, up and down,
as at present.
LETTER 492. TO C. LYELL. Down, December 4th [1860].
It certainly seems to me safer to rely solely on the slowness of
ascertained up-and-down movement. But you could argue length of probable
time before the movement became reversed, as in your letter. And might
you not add that over the whole world it would probably be admitted that
a larger area is NOW at rest than in movement? and this I think would be
a tolerably good reason for supposing long intervals of rest. You might
even adduce Europe, only guarding yourself by saying that possibly (I
will not say probably, though my prejudices would lead me to say so)
Europe may at times have gone up and down all together. I forget whether
in a former letter you made a strong point of upward movement being
always interrupted by long periods of rest. After writing to you, out
of curiosity I glanced at the early chapters in my "Geology of South
America," and the areas of elevation on the E. and W. coasts are so
vast, and proofs of many successive periods of rest so striking,
that the evidence becomes to my mind striking. With regard to the
astronomical causes of change: in ancient days in the "Beagle" when I
reflected on the repeated great oscillations of level on the very same
area, and when I looked at the symmetry of mountain chains over such
vast spaces, I used to conclude that the day would come when the slow
change of form in the semi-fluid matter beneath the crust would be found
to be the cause of volcanic action, and of all changes of level. And the
late discussion in the "Athenaeum" (492/1. "On the Change of Climate
in Different Regions of the Earth." Letters from Sir Henry James, Col.
R.E., "Athenaeum," August 25th, 1860, page 256; September 15th, page
355; September 29th, page 415; October 13th, page 483. Also letter from
J. Beete Jukes, Local Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, loc.
cit., September 8th, page 322; October 6th, page 451.), by Sir H. James
(though his letter seemed to me mighty poor, and what Jukes wrote good),
reminded me of this notion. In case astronomical agencies should ever
be proved or rendered probable, I imagine, as in nutation or precession,
that an upward movement or protrusion of fluidified matter below might
be immediately followed by movement of an opposite nature. This is all
that I meant.
I have not read Jamieson, or yet got the number. (492/2. Possibly
William Jameson, "Journey from Quito to Cayambe," "Geog. Soc. Journ."
Volume XXXI., page 184, 1861.) I was very much struck with Forbes'
explanation of n[itrate] of soda beds and the saliferous crust, which
I saw and examined at Iquique. (492/3. "On the Geology of Bolivia and
Southern Peru," by D. Forbes, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVII.,
page 7, 1861. Mr. Forbes attributes the formation of the saline deposits
to lagoons of salt water, the communication of which with the sea has
been cut off by the rising of the land (loc. cit., page 13).) I often
speculated on the greater rise inland of the Cordilleras, and could
never satisfy myself...
I have not read Stur, and am awfully behindhand in many things...(492/4.
The end of this letter is published as a footnote in "Life and Letters,"
II., page 352.)
(FIGURE 5. Map of part of South America and the Galapagos Archipelago.)
LETTER 493. TO C. LYELL. Down, July 18th [1867].
(493/1. The first part of this letter is published in "Life and
Letters," III., page 71.)
(493/2. Tahiti (Society Islands) is coloured blue in the map showing
the distribution of the different kinds of reefs in "The Structure and
Distribution of Coral Reefs," Edition III., 1889, page 185. The blue
colour indicates the existence of barrier reefs and atolls which, on
Darwin's theory, point to subsidence.)
Tahiti is, I believe, rightly coloured, for the reefs are so far from
the land, and the ocean so deep, that there must have been subsidence,
though not very recently. I looked carefully, and there is no evidence
of recent elevation. I quite agree with you versus Herschel on Volcanic
Islands. (493/3. Sir John Herschel suggested that the accumulation on
the sea-floor of sediment, derived from the waste of the island,
presses down the bed of the ocean, the continent being on the other hand
relieved of pressure; "this brings about a state of strain in the crust
which will crack in its weakest spot, the heavy side going down, and the
light side rising." In discussing this view Lyell writes ("Principles,"
Volume II. Edition X., page 229), "This hypothesis appears to me of
very partial application, for active volcanoes, even such as are on the
borders of continents, are rarely situated where great deltas have been
forming, whether in Pliocene or post-Tertiary times. The number, also,
of active volcanoes in oceanic islands is very great, not only in
the Pacific, but equally in the Atlantic, where no load of coral
matter...can cause a partial weighting and pressing down of a supposed
flexible crust.") Would not the Atlantic and Antarctic volcanoes be the
best examples for you, as there then can be no coral mud to depress
the bottom? In my "Volcanic Islands," page 126, I just suggest that
volcanoes may occur so frequently in the oceanic areas as the surface
would be most likely to crack when first being elevated. I find one
remark, page 128 (493/4. "Volcanic Islands," page 128: "The islands,
moreover, of some of the small volcanic groups, which thus border
continents, are placed in lines related to those along which the
adjoining shores of the continents trend" [see Figure 5].), which seems
to me worth consideration--viz. the parallelism of the lines of eruption
in volcanic archipelagoes with the coast lines of the nearest continent,
for this seems to indicate a mechanical rather than a chemical
connection in both cases, i.e. the lines of disturbance and cracking. In
my "South American Geology," page 185 (493/5. "Geological Observations
on South America," London, 1846, page 185.), I allude to the remarkable
absence at present of active volcanoes on the east side of the
Cordillera in relation to the absence of the sea on this side. Yet I
must own I have long felt a little sceptical on the proximity of water
being the exciting cause. The one volcano in the interior of Asia is
said, I think, to be near great lakes; but if lakes are so important,
why are there not many other volcanoes within other continents? I have
always felt rather inclined to look at the position of volcanoes on the
borders of continents, as resulting from coast lines being the lines of
separation between areas of elevation and subsidence. But it is useless
in me troubling you with my old speculations.
LETTER 494. TO A.R. WALLACE. March 22nd [1869].
(494/1. The following extract from a letter to Mr. Wallace refers to his
"Malay Archipelago," 1869.)
I have only one criticism of a general nature, and I am not sure that
other geologists would agree with me. You repeatedly speak as if the
pouring out of lava, etc., from volcanoes actually caused the subsidence
of an adjoining area. I quite agree that areas undergoing opposite
movements are somehow connected; but volcanic outbursts must, I think,
be looked at as mere accidents in the swelling up of a great dome or
surface of plutonic rocks, and there seems no more reason to conclude
that such swelling or elevation in mass is the cause of the subsidence,
than that the subsidence is the cause of the elevation, which latter
view is indeed held by some geologists. I have regretted to find so
little about the habits of the many animals which you have seen.
LETTER 495. TO C. LYELL. Down, May 20th, 1869.
I have been much pleased to hear that you have been looking at my
S. American book (495/1. "Geological Observations on South America,"
London, 1846.), which I thought was as completely dead and gone as any
pre-Cambrian fossil. You are right in supposing that my memory about
American geology has grown very hazy. I remember, however, a paper on
the Cordillera by D. Forbes (495/2. "Geology of Bolivia and South Peru,"
by Forbes, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVII., pages 7-62, 1861.
Forbes admits that there is "the fullest evidence of elevation of the
Chile coast since the arrival of the Spaniards. North of Arica, if we
accept the evidence of M. d'Orbigny and others, the proof of elevation
is much more decided; and consequently it may be possible that here,
as is the case about Lima, according to Darwin, the elevation may have
taken place irregularly in places..." (loc. cit., page 11).), with
splendid sections, which I saw in MS., but whether "referred" to me or
lent to me I cannot remember. This would be well worth your looking to,
as I think he both supports and criticises my views. In Ormerod's
Index to the Journal (495/3. "Classified Index to the Transactions,
Proceedings and Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society."), which I
do not possess, you would, no doubt, find a reference; but I think the
sections would be worth borrowing from Forbes. Domeyko (495/4. Reference
is made by Forbes in his paper on Bolivia and Peru to the work of
Ignacio Domeyko on the geology of Chili. Several papers by this author
were published in the "Annales des Mines" between 1840 and 1869, also in
the "Comptes Rendus" of 1861, 1864, etc.) has published in the "Comptes
Rendus" papers on Chili, but not, as far as I can remember, on the
structure of the mountains. Forbes, however, would know. What you say
about the plications being steepest in the central and generally highest
part of the range is conclusive to my mind that there has been the chief
axis of disturbance. The lateral thrusting has always appeared to me
fearfully perplexing. I remember formerly thinking that all lateral
flexures probably occurred deep beneath the surface, and have been
brought into view by an enormous superincumbent mass having been
denuded. If a large and deep box were filled with layers of damp paper
or clay, and a blunt wedge was slowly driven up from beneath, would not
the layers above it and on both sides become greatly convoluted, whilst
those towards the top would be only slightly arched? When I spoke of
the Andes being comparatively recent, I suppose that I referred to the
absence of the older formations. In looking to my volume, which I have
not done for many years, I came upon a passage (page 232) which would be
worth your looking at, if you have ever felt perplexed, as I often was,
about the sources of volcanic rocks in mountain chains. You have stirred
up old memories, and at the risk of being a bore I should like to call
your attention to another point which formerly perplexed me much--viz.
the presence of basaltic dikes in most great granitic areas. I cannot
but think the explanation given at page 123 of my "Volcanic Islands" is
the true one. (495/5. On page 123 of the "Geological Observations on the
Volcanic Islands visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle,'" 1844,
Darwin quotes several instances of greenstone and basaltic dikes
intersecting granitic and allied metamorphic rocks. He suggests that
these dikes "have been formed by fissures penetrating into partially
cooled rocks of the granitic and metamorphic series, and by their more
fluid parts, consisting chiefly of hornblende oozing out, and being
sucked into such fissures.")
LETTER 496. TO VICTOR CARUS. Down, March 21st, 1876.
The very kind expressions in your letter have gratified me deeply.
I quite forget what I said about my geological works, but the papers
referred to in your letter are the right ones. I enclose a list with
those which are certainly not worth translating marked with a red line;
but whether those which are not thus marked with a red line are worth
translation you will have to decide. I think much more highly of my
book on "Volcanic Islands" since Mr. Judd, by far the best judge on the
subject in England, has, as I hear, learnt much from it.
I think the short paper on the "formation of mould" is worth
translating, though, if I have time and strength, I hope to write
another and longer paper on the subject.
I can assure you that the idea of any one translating my books better
than you never even momentarily crossed my mind. I am glad that you can
give a fairly good account of your health, or at least that it is not
worse.
LETTER 497. TO T. MELLARD READE. London, December 9th, 1880.
I am sorry to say that I do not return home till the middle of next
week, and as I order no pamphlets to be forwarded to me by post, I
cannot return the "Geolog. Mag." until my return home, nor could my
servants pick it out of the multitude which come by the post. (497/1.
Article on "Oceanic Islands," by T. Mellard Reade, "Geol. Mag." Volume
VIII., page 75, 1881.)
As I remarked in a letter to a friend, with whom I was discussing
Wallace's last book (497/2. Wallace's "Island Life," 1880.), the subject
to which you refer seems to me a most perplexing one. The fact which
I pointed out many years ago, that all oceanic islands are volcanic
(except St. Paul's, and now this is viewed by some as the nucleus of an
ancient volcano), seems to me a strong argument that no continent ever
occupied the great oceans. (497/3. "During my investigations on coral
reefs I had occasion to consult the works of many voyagers, and I
was invariably struck with the fact that, with rare exceptions, the
innumerable islands scattered through the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic
Oceans were composed either of volcanic or of modern coral rocks"
("Geological Observations on Volcanic Islands, etc." Edition II., 1876,
page 140).) Then there comes the statement from the "Challenger" that
all sediment is deposited within one or two hundred miles from the
shores, though I should have thought this rather doubtful with respect
to great rivers like the Amazons.
The chalk formerly seemed to me the best case of an ocean having
extended where a continent now stands; but it seems that some good
judges deny that the chalk is an oceanic deposit. On the whole, I lean
to the side that the continents have since Cambrian times occupied
approximately their present positions. But, as I have said, the question
seems a difficult one, and the more it is discussed the better.
LETTER 498. TO A. AGASSIZ. Down, January 1st, 1881.
I must write a line or two to thank you much for having written to me so
long a letter on coral reefs at a time when you must have been so busy.
Is it not difficult to avoid believing that the wonderful elevation
in the West Indies must have been accompanied by much subsidence,
notwithstanding the state of Florida? (498/1. The Florida reefs cannot
be explained by subsidence. Alexander Agassiz, who has described these
reefs in detail ("Three Cruises of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
Steamer 'Blake,'" 2 volumes, London, 1888), shows that the southern
extremity of the peninsula "is of comparatively recent growth,
consisting of concentric barrier-reefs, which have been gradually
converted into land by the accumulation of intervening mud-flats" (see
also Appendix II., page 287, to Darwin's "Coral Reefs," by T.G. Bonney,
Edition III., 1889.)) When reflecting in old days on the configuration
of our continents, the position of mountain chains, and especially on
the long-continued supply of sediment over the same areas, I used to
think (as probably have many other persons) that areas of elevation and
subsidence must as a general rule be separated by a single great line
of fissure, or rather of several closely adjoining lines of fissure. I
mention this because, when looking within more recent times at charts
with the depths of the sea marked by different tints, there seems to be
some connection between the profound depths of the ocean and the trends
of the nearest, though distant, continents; and I have often wished
that some one like yourself, to whom the subject was familiar, would
speculate on it.
P.S.--I do hope that you will re-urge your views about the reappearance
of old characters (498/2. See "Life and Letters," III., pages 245,
246.), for, as far as I can judge, the most important views are often
neglected unless they are urged and re-urged.
I am greatly indebted to you for sending me very many most valuable
works published at your institution.
2.IX.II. ICE-ACTION, 1841-1882.
LETTER 499. TO C. LYELL. [1841.]
Your extract has set me puzzling very much, and as I find I am better
at present for not going out, you must let me unload my mind on paper.
I thought everything so beautifully clear about glaciers, but now your
case and Agassiz's statement about the cavities in the rock formed by
cascades in the glaciers, shows me I don't understand their structure at
all. I wish out of pure curiosity I could make it out. (499/1. "Etudes
sur les Glaciers," by Louis Agassiz, 1840, contains a description of
cascades (page 343), and "des cavites interieures" (page 348).)
If the glacier travelled on (and it certainly does travel on), and the
water kept cutting back over the edge of the ice, there would be a great
slit in front of the cascade; if the water did not cut back, the whole
hollow and cascade, as you say, must travel on; and do you suppose the
next season it falls down some crevice higher up? In any case, how in
the name of Heaven can it make a hollow in solid rock, which surely must
be a work of many years? I must point out another fact which Agassiz
does not, as it appears to me, leave very clear. He says all the blocks
on the surface of the glaciers are angular, and those in the moraines
rounded, yet he says the medial moraines whence the surface rocks come
and are a part [of], are only two lateral moraines united. Can he
refer to terminal moraines alone when he says fragments in moraines are
rounded? What a capital book Agassiz's is. In [reading] all the early
part I gave up entirely the Jura blocks, and was heartily ashamed of my
appendix (499/2. "M. Agassiz has lately written on the subject of the
glaciers and boulders of the Alps. He clearly proves, as it appears to
me, that the presence of the boulders on the Jura cannot be explained
by any debacle, or by the power of ancient glaciers driving before them
moraines...M. Agassiz also denies that they were transported by floating
ice." ("Voyages of the 'Adventure' and 'Beagle,'" Volume III., 1839:
"Journal and Remarks: Addenda," page 617.)) (and am so still of the
manner in which I presumptuously speak of Agassiz), but it seems by his
own confession that ordinary glaciers could not have transported the
blocks there, and if an hypothesis is to be introduced the sea is much
simpler; floating ice seems to me to account for everything as well
as, and sometimes better than the solid glaciers. The hollows, however,
formed by the ice-cascades appear to me the strongest hostile fact,
though certainly, as you said, one sees hollow round cavities on present
rock-beaches.
I am glad to observe that Agassiz does not pretend that direction
of scratches is hostile to floating ice. By the way, how do you and
Buckland account for the "tails" of diluvium in Scotland? (499/3. Mr.
Darwin speaks of the tails of diluvium in Scotland extending from
the protected side of a hill, of which the opposite side, facing the
direction from which the ice came, is marked by grooves and striae
(loc. cit., pages 622, 623).) I thought in my appendix this made out the
strongest argument for rocks having been scratched by floating ice.
Some facts about boulders in Chiloe will, I think, in a very small
degree elucidate some parts of Jura case. What a grand new feature all
this ice work is in Geology! How old Hutton would have stared! (499/4.
Sir Charles Lyell speaks of the Huttonian theory as being characterised
by "the exclusion of all causes not supposed to belong to the present
order of Nature" (Lyell's "Principles," Edition XII., volume I., page
76, 1875). Sir Archibald Geikie has recently edited the third volume of
Hutton's "Theory of the Earth," printed by the Geological Society, 1899.
See also "The Founders of Geology," by Sir Archibald Geikie; London,
1897.)
I ought to be ashamed of myself for scribbling on so. Talking of shame,
I have sent a copy of my "Journal" (499/5. "Journal and Remarks,"
1832-36. See note 2, page 148.) with very humble note to Agassiz, as an
apology for the tone I used, though I say, I daresay he has never seen
my appendix, or would care at all about it.
I did not suppose my note about Glen Roy could have been of any use to
you--I merely scribbled what came uppermost. I made one great oversight,
as you would perceive. I forgot the Glacier theory: if a glacier most
gradually disappeared from mouth of Spean Valley [this] would account
for buttresses of shingle below lowest shelf. The difficulty I put about
the ice-barrier of the middle Glen Roy shelf keeping so long at exactly
same level does certainly appear to me insuperable. (499/5. For a
description of the shelves or parallel roads in Glen Roy see Darwin's
"Observations on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, etc." "Phil. Trans. R.
Soc." 1839, page 39; also Letter 517 et seq.)
What a wonderful fact this breakdown of old Niagara is. How it disturbs
the calculations about lengths of time before the river would have
reached the lakes.
I hope Mrs. Lyell will read this to you, then I shall trust for
forgiveness for having scribbled so much. I should have sent back
Agassiz sooner, but my servant has been very unwell. Emma is going on
pretty well.
My paper on South American boulders and "till," which latter deposit
is perfectly characterised in Tierra del Fuego, is progressing rapidly.
(499/6. "On the Distribution of the Erratic Boulders and on the
Contemporaneous Unstratified Deposits of South America," "Trans. Geol.
Soc." Volume VI., page 415, 1842.)
I much like the term post-Pliocene, and will use it in my present paper
several times.
P.S.--I should have thought that the most obvious objection to the
marine-beach theory for Glen Roy would be the limited extension of the
shelves. Though certainly this is not a valid one, after an intermediate
one, only half a mile in length, and nowhere else appearing, even in the
valley of Glen Roy itself, has been shown to exist.
LETTER 500. TO C. LYELL. 1842.
I had some talk with Murchison, who has been on a flying visit into
Wales, and he can see no traces of glaciers, but only of the trickling
of water and of the roots of the heath. It is enough to make
an extraneous man think Geology from beginning to end a work of
imagination, and not founded on observation. Lonsdale, I observe, pays
Buckland and myself the compliment of thinking Murchison not seeing as
worth nothing; but I confess I am astonished, so glaringly clear after
two or three days did the evidence appear to me. Have you seen last "New
Edin. Phil. Journ.", it is ice and glaciers almost from beginning to
end. (500/1. "The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal," Volume XXXIII.
(April-October), 1842, contains papers by Sir G.S. Mackenzie, Prof.
H.G. Brown, Jean de Charpentier, Roderick Murchison, Louis Agassiz, all
dealing with glaciers or ice; also letters to the Editor relating to
Prof. Forbes' account of his recent observations on Glaciers, and a
paper by Charles Darwin entitled "Notes on the Effects produced by the
Ancient Glaciers of Carnarvonshire, and on the Boulders transported by
Floating Ice.") Agassiz says he saw (and has laid down) the two lowest
terraces of Glen Roy in the valley of the Spean, opposite mouth of Glen
Roy itself, where no one else has seen them. (500/2. "The Glacial Theory
and its Recent Progress," by Louis Agassiz, loc. cit., page 216. Agassiz
describes the parallel terraces on the flanks of Glen Roy and Glen Spean
(page 236), and expresses himself convinced "that the Glacial theory
alone satisfies all the exigencies of the phenomenon" of the parallel
roads.) I carefully examined that spot, owing to the sheep tracks
[being] nearly but not quite parallel to the terrace. So much, again,
for difference of observation. I do not pretend to say who is right.
LETTER 501. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, October 12th, 1849.
I was heartily glad to get your last letter; but on my life your thanks
for my very few and very dull letters quite scalded me. I have been very
indolent and selfish in not having oftener written to you and kept
my ears open for news which would have interested you; but I have not
forgotten you. Two days after receiving your letter, there was a short
leading notice about you in the "Gardeners' Chronicle" (501/1. The
"Gardeners' Chronicle," 1849, page 628.); in which it is said you
have discovered a noble crimson rose and thirty rhododendrons. I must
heartily congratulate you on these discoveries, which will interest
the public; and I have no doubt that you will have made plenty of most
interesting botanical observations. This last letter shall be put with
all your others, which are now safe together. I am very glad that
you have got minute details about the terraces in the valleys: your
description sounds curiously like the terraces in the Cordillera of
Chili; these latter, however, are single in each valley; but you will
hereafter see a description of these terraces in my "Geology of S.
America." (501/2. "Geological Observations," pages 10 et passim.) At the
end of your letter you speak about giving up Geology, but you must not
think of it; I am sure your observations will be very interesting. Your
account of the great dam in the Yangma valley is most curious, and quite
full; I find that I did not at all understand its wonderful structure in
your former letter. Your notion of glaciers pushing detritus into
deep fiords (and ice floating fragments on their channels), is in many
respects new to me; but I cannot help believing your dam is a lateral
moraine: I can hardly persuade myself that the remains of floating ice
action, at a period so immensely remote as when the Himalaya stood at
a low level in the sea, would now be distinguishable. (501/3. Hooker's
"Himalayan Journals," Volume II., page 121, 1854. In describing certain
deposits in the Lachoong valley, Hooker writes: "Glaciers might have
forced immense beds of gravel into positions that would dam up lakes
between the ice and the flanks of the valley" (page 121). In a footnote
he adds: "We are still very ignorant of many details of ice action, and
especially of the origin of many enormous deposits which are not true
moraines." Such deposits are referred to as occurring in the Yangma
valley.) Your not having found scored boulders and solid rocks is an
objection both to glaciers and floating ice; for it is certain that
both produce such. I believe no rocks escape scoring, polishing and
mammillation in the Alps, though some lose it easily when exposed. Are
you familiar with appearance of ice-action? If I understand rightly, you
object to the great dam having been produced by a glacier, owing to the
dryness of the lateral valley and general infrequency of glaciers in
Himalaya; but pray observe that we may fairly (from what we see in
Europe) assume that the climate was formerly colder in India, and when
the land stood at a lower height more snow might have fallen. Oddly
enough, I am now inclined to believe that I saw a gigantic moraine
crossing a valley, and formerly causing a lake above it in one of the
great valleys (Valle del Yeso) of the Cordillera: it is a mountain of
detritus, which has puzzled me. If you have any further opportunities,
do look for scores on steep faces of rock; and here and there remove
turf or matted parts to have a look. Again I beg, do not give up
Geology:--I wish you had Agassiz's work and plates on Glaciers. (501/4.
"Etudes sur les Glaciers." L. Agassiz, Neuchatel, 1840.) I am extremely
sorry that the Rajah, ill luck to him, has prevented your crossing
to Thibet; but you seem to have seen most interesting country: one is
astonished to hear of Fuegian climate in India. I heard from the Sabines
that you were thinking of giving up Borneo; I hope that this report may
prove true.
LETTER 502. TO C. LYELL. Down, May 8th [1855].
The notion you refer to was published in the "Geological Journal"
(502/1. "on the Transportal of Erratic Boulders from a lower to a higher
Level." By C. Darwin.), Volume IV. (1848), page 315, with reference to
all the cases which I could collect of boulders apparently higher than
the parent rock.
The argument of probable proportion of rock dropped by sea ice compared
to land glaciers is new to me. I have often thought of the idea of the
viscosity and enormous momentum of great icebergs, and still think that
the notion I pointed out in appendix to Ramsay's paper is probable, and
can hardly help being applicable in some cases. (502/2. The paper by
Ramsay has no appendix; probably, therefore Mr. Darwin's notes were
published separately as a paper in the "Phil. Mag.") I wonder whether
the "Phil. Journal [Magazine?.]" would publish it, if I could get it
from Ramsay or the Geological Society. (502/3. "On the Power of Icebergs
to make rectilinear, uniformly-directed grooves across a Submarine
Undulatory Surface." By C. Darwin, "Phil. Mag." Volume X., page 96,
1855.) If you chance to meet Ramsay will you ask him whether he has it?
I think it would perhaps be worth while just to call the N. American
geologists' attention to the idea; but it is not worth any trouble. I am
tremendously busy with all sorts of experiments. By the way, Hopkins at
the Geological Society seemed to admit some truth in the idea of scoring
by (viscid) icebergs. If the Geological Society takes so much [time] to
judge of truth of notions, as you were telling me in regard to Ramsay's
Permian glaciers (502/4. "On the Occurrence of angular, sub-angular,
polished, and striated Fragments and Boulders in the Permian Breccia
of Shropshire, Worcestershire, etc.; and on the Probable Existence of
Glaciers and Icebergs in the Permian Epoch." By A.C. Ramsay, "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XI., page 185, 1855.), it will be as injurious
to progress as the French Institut.
LETTER 503. TO J.D. HOOKER. Cliff Cottage, Bournemouth, [September] 21st
[1862].
I am especially obliged to you for sending me Haast's communications.
(503/1. "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXI., pages 130, 133, 1865;
Volume XXIII., page 342, 1867.) They are very interesting and grand
about glacial and drift or marine glacial. I see he alludes to the
whole southern hemisphere. I wonder whether he has read the "Origin."
Considering your facts on the Alpine plants of New Zealand and remarks,
I am particularly glad to hear of the geological evidence of glacial
action. I presume he is sure to collect and send over the mountain rat
of which he speaks. I long to know what it is. A frog and rat together
would, to my mind, prove former connection of New Zealand to some
continent; for I can hardly suppose that the Polynesians introduced the
rat as game, though so esteemed in the Friendly Islands. Ramsay sent
me his paper (503/2. "On the Glacial Origin of certain Lakes in
Switzerland, etc." "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 185,
1862.) and asked my opinion on it. I agree with you and think highly of
it. I cannot doubt that it is to a large extent true; my only doubt
is, that in a much disturbed country, I should have thought that some
depressions, and consequently lakes, would almost certainly have been
left. I suggested a careful consideration of mountainous tropical
countries such as Brazil, peninsula of India, etc.; if lakes are there,
[they are] very rare. I should fully subscribe to Ramsay's views.
What presumption, as it seems to me, in the Council of Geological
Society that it hesitated to publish the paper.
We return home on the 30th. I have made up [my] mind, if I can keep up
my courage, to start on the Saturday for Cambridge, and stay the last
few days of the [British] Association there. I do so hope that you may
be there then.
LETTER 504. TO J.D. HOOKER. November 3rd [1864].
When I wrote to you I had not read Ramsay. (504/1. "On the Erosion
of Valleys and Lakes: a Reply to Sir Roderick Murchison's Anniversary
Address to the Geographical Society." "Phil. Mag." Volume XXVIII., page
293, 1864) How capitally it is written! It seems that there is nothing
for style like a man's dander being put up. I think I agree largely with
you about denudation--but the rocky-lake-basin theory is the part
which interests me at present. It seems impossible to know how much to
attribute to ice, running water, and sea. I did not suppose that Ramsay
would deny that mountains had been thrown up irregularly, and that the
depressions would become valleys. The grandest valleys I ever saw were
at Tahiti, and here I do not believe ice has done anything; anyhow there
were no erratics. I said in my S. American Geology (504/2. "Finally, the
conclusion at which I have arrived with respect to the relative powers
of rain, and sea-water on the land is, that the latter is by far the
most efficient agent, and that its chief tendency is to widen the
valleys, whilst torrents and rivers tend to deepen them and to remove
the wreck of the sea's destroying action" ("Geol. Observations," pages
66, 67).) that rivers deepen and the sea widens valleys, and I am
inclined largely to stick to this, adding ice to water. I am sorry to
hear that Tyndall has grown dogmatic. H. Wedgwood was saying the
other day that T.'s writings and speaking gave him the idea of intense
conceit. I hope it is not so, for he is a grand man of science.
...I have had a prospectus and letter from Andrew Murray (504/3. See
Volume II., Letters 379, 384, etc.) asking me for suggestions. I think
this almost shows he is not fit for the subject, as he gives me no idea
what his book will be, excepting that the printed paper shows that all
animals and all plants of all groups are to be treated of. Do you know
anything of his knowledge?
In about a fortnight I shall have finished, except concluding chapter,
my book on "Variation under Domestication"; (504/4. Published in 1868.)
but then I have got to go over the whole again, and this will take me
very many months. I am able to work about two hours daily.
LETTER 505. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down [July, 1865].
I was glad to read your article on Glaciers, etc., in Yorkshire. You
seem to have been struck with what most deeply impressed me at Glen Roy
(wrong as I was on the whole subject)--viz. the marvellous manner in
which every detail of surface of land had been preserved for an enormous
period. This makes me a little sceptical whether Ramsay, Jukes, etc.,
are not a little overdoing sub-aerial denudation.
In the same "Reader" (505/1. Sir J.D. Hooker wrote to Darwin, July
13th, 1865, from High Force Inn, Middleton, Teesdale: "I am studying the
moraines all day long with as much enthusiasm as I am capable of after
lying in bed till nine, eating heavy breakfasts, and looking forward to
dinner as the summum bonum of existence." The result of his work, under
the title "Moraines of the Tees Valley," appeared in the "Reader"
(July 15th, 1865, page 71), of which Huxley was one of the managers
or committee-men, and Norman Lockyer was scientific editor ("Life and
Letters of T.H. Huxley," I., page 211). Hooker describes the moraines
and other evidence of glacial action in the upper part of the Tees
valley, and speaks of the effect of glaciers in determining the present
physical features of the country.) there was a striking article
on English and Foreign Men of Science (505/2. "British and Foreign
Science," "The Reader," loc. cit., page 61. The writer of the article
asserts the inferiority of English scientific workers.), and I think
unjust to England except in pure Physiology; in biology Owen and R.
Brown ought to save us, and in Geology we are most rich.
It is curious how we are reading the same books. We intend to read Lecky
and certainly to re-read Buckle--which latter I admired greatly before.
I am heartily glad you like Lubbock's book so much. It made me grieve
his taking to politics, and though I grieve that he has lost his
election, yet I suppose, now that he is once bitten, he will never give
up politics, and science is done for. Many men can make fair M.P.'s; and
how few can work in science like him!
I have been reading a pamphlet by Verlot on "Variation of Flowers,"
which seems to me very good; but I doubt whether it would be worth your
reading. it was published originally in the "Journal d'Hort.," and
so perhaps you have seen it. It is a very good plan this republishing
separately for sake of foreigners buying, and I wish I had tried to get
permission of Linn. Soc. for my Climbing paper, but it is now too late.
Do not forget that you have my paper on hybridism, by Max Wichura.
(505/3. Wichura, M.E., "L'Hybridisation dans le regne vegetal etudiee
sur les Saules," "Arch. Sci. Phys. Nat." XXIII., page 129, 1865.)
I hope you are returned to your work, refreshed like a giant by your
huge breakfasts. How unlucky you are about contagious complaints with
your children!
I keep very weak, and had much sickness yesterday, but am stronger this
morning.
Can you remember how we ever first met? (505/4. See "Life and Letters,"
II., page 19.) It was in Park Street; but what brought us together? I
have been re-reading a few old letters of yours, and my heart is very
warm towards you.
LETTER 506. TO C. LYELL. Down, March 8th [1866].
(506/1. In a letter from Sir Joseph Hooker to Mr. Darwin on February
21st, 1866, the following passage occurs: "I wish I could explain to you
my crude notions as to the Glacial period and your position towards it.
I suppose I hold this doctrine: that there was a Glacial period, but
that it was not one of universal cold, because I think that the
existing distribution of glaciers is sufficiently demonstrative of the
proposition that by comparatively slight redispositions of sea and
land, and perhaps axis of globe, you may account for all the leading
palaeontological phenomena." This letter was sent by Mr. Darwin to Sir
Charles Lyell, and the latter, writing on March 1st, 1866, expresses
his belief that "the whole globe must at times have been superficially
cooler. Still," he adds, "during extreme excentricity the sun would make
great efforts to compensate in perihelion for the chill of a long winter
in aphelion in one hemisphere, and a cool summer in the other. I
think you will turn out to be right in regard to meridional lines of
mountain-chains by which the migrations across the equator took place
while there was contemporaneous tropical heat of certain lowlands, where
plants requiring heat and moisture were saved from extinction by the
heat of the earth's surface, which was stored up in perihelion, being
prevented from radiating off freely into space by a blanket of aqueous
vapour caused by the melting of ice and snow. But though I am inclined
to profit by Croll's maximum excentricity for the glacial period, I
consider it quite subordinate to geographical causes or the relative
position of land and sea and the abnormal excess of land in polar
regions." In another letter (March 5th, 1866) Lyell writes: "In the
beginning of Hooker's letter to you he speaks hypothetically of a change
in the earth's axis as having possibly co-operated with redistribution
of land and sea in causing the cold of the Glacial period. Now, when we
consider how extremely modern, zoologically and botanically, the Glacial
period is proved to be, I am shocked at any one introducing, with what I
may call so much levity, so organic a change as a deviation in the axis
of the planet...' (see Lyell's "Principles," 1875, Chapter XIII.; also a
letter to Sir Joseph Hooker printed in the "Life of Sir Charles Lyell,"
Volume II., page 410.))
Many thanks for your interesting letter. From the serene elevation of
my old age I look down with amazement at your youth, vigour, and
indomitable energy. With respect to Hooker and the axis of the earth, I
suspect he is too much overworked to consider now any subject properly.
His mind is so acute and critical that I always expect to hear a torrent
of objections to anything proposed; but he is so candid that he often
comes round in a year or two. I have never thought on the causes of the
Glacial period, for I feel that the subject is beyond me; but though I
hope you will own that I have generally been a good and docile pupil
to you, yet I must confess that I cannot believe in change of land and
water, being more than a subsidiary agent. (506/2. In Chapter XI. of the
"Origin," Edition V., 1869, page 451, Darwin discusses Croll's theory,
and is clearly inclined to trust in Croll's conclusion that "whenever
the northern hemisphere passes through a cold period the temperature of
the southern hemisphere is actually raised..." In Edition VI., page 336,
he expresses his faith even more strongly. Mr. Darwin apparently sent
his MS. on the climate question, which was no doubt prepared for a
new edition of the "Origin," to Sir Charles. The arrival of the MS. is
acknowledged in a letter from Lyell on March 10th, 1866 ("Life of Sir
Charles Lyell," II., page 408), in which the writer says that he is
"more than ever convinced that geographical changes...are the principal
and not the subsidiary causes.") I have come to this conclusion from
reflecting on the geographical distribution of the inhabitants of the
sea on the opposite sides of our continents and of the inhabitants of
the continents themselves.
LETTER 507. TO C. LYELL. Down, September 8th [1866].
Many thanks for the pamphlet, which was returned this morning. I was
very glad to read it, though chiefly as a psychological curiosity. I
quite follow you in thinking Agassiz glacier-mad. (507/1. Agassiz's
pamphlet, ("Geology of the Amazons") is referred to by Lyell in a letter
written to Bunbury in September, 1866 ("Life of Sir Charles Lyell," II.,
page 409): "Agassiz has written an interesting paper on the 'Geology of
the Amazons,' but, I regret to say, he has gone wild about glaciers, and
has actually announced his opinion that the whole of the great valley,
down to its mouth in latitude 0 deg., was filled by ice..." Agassiz
published a paper, "Observations Geologiques faites dans la Vallee de
l'Amazone," in the "Comptes Rendus," Volume LXIV., page 1269, 1867. See
also a letter addressed to M. Marcou, published in the "Bull. Soc. Geol.
France," Volume XXIV., page 109, 1866.) His evidence reduces itself to
supposed moraines, which would be difficult to trace in a forest-clad
country; and with respect to boulders, these are not said to be angular,
and their source cannot be known in a country so imperfectly explored.
When I was at Rio, I was continually astonished at the depth (sometimes
100 feet) to which the granitic rocks were decomposed in situ, and this
soft matter would easily give rise to great alluvial accumulations; I
well remember finding it difficult to draw a line between the alluvial
matter and the softened rock in situ. What a splendid imagination
Agassiz has, and how energetic he is! What capital work he would have
done, if he had sucked in your "Principles" with his mother's milk. It
is wonderful that he should have written such wild nonsense about the
valley of the Amazon; yet not so wonderful when one remembers that he
once maintained before the British Association that the chalk was all
deposited at once.
With respect to the insects of Chili, I knew only from Bates that the
species of Carabus showed no special affinity to northern species;
from the great difference of climate and vegetation I should not have
expected that many insects would have shown such affinity. It is more
remarkable that the birds on the broad and lofty Cordillera of Tropical
S. America show no affinity with European species. The little power of
diffusion with birds has often struck me as a most singular fact--even
more singular than the great power of diffusion with plants. Remember
that we hope to see you in the autumn.
P.S.--There is a capital paper in the September number of "Annals
and Magazine," translated from Pictet and Humbert, on Fossil Fish of
Lebanon, but you will, I daresay, have received the original. (507/2.
"Recent Researches on the Fossil Fishes of Mount Lebanon," "Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist." Volume XVIII., page 237, 1866.) It is capital in relation to
modification of species; I would not wish for more confirmatory facts,
though there is no direct allusion to the modification of species.
Hooker, by the way, gave an admirable lecture at Nottingham; I read it
in MS., or rather, heard it. I am glad it will be published, for it was
capital. (507/3. Sir Joseph Hooker delivered a lecture at the Nottingham
meeting of the British Association (1866) on "Insular Floras," published
in the "Gardeners' Chronicle," 1867. See Letters 366-377, etc.)
Sunday morning.
P.S.--I have just received a letter from Asa Gray with the following
passage, so that, according to this, I am the chief cause of Agassiz's
absurd views:--
"Agassiz is back (I have not seen him), and he went at once down to the
National Academy of Sciences, from which I sedulously keep away, and, I
hear, proved to them that the Glacial period covered the whole continent
of America with unbroken ice, and closed with a significant gesture and
the remark: 'So here is the end of the Darwin theory.' How do you like
that?
"I said last winter that Agassiz was bent on covering the whole
continent with ice, and that the motive of the discovery he was sure
to make was to make sure that there should be no coming down of any
terrestrial life from Tertiary or post-Tertiary period to ours. You
cannot deny that he has done his work effectually in a truly imperial
way."
LETTER 508. TO C. LYELL. Down, July 14th, 1868.
Mr. Agassiz's book has been read aloud to me, and I am wonderfully
perplexed what to think about his precise statements of the existence of
glaciers in the Ceara Mountains, and about the drift formation near Rio.
(508/1. "Sur la Geologie de l'Amazone," by MM. Agassiz and Continho,
"Bull. Soc. Geol. France," Volume XXV., page 685, 1868. See also "A
Journey in Brazil," by Professor and Mrs. Louis Agassiz, Boston, 1868.)
There is a sad want of details. Thus he never mentions whether any of
the blocks are angular, nor whether the embedded rounded boulders, which
cannot all be disintegrated, are scored. Yet how can so experienced an
observer as A. be deceived about lateral and terminal moraines? If there
really were glaciers in the Ceara Mountains, it seems to me one of the
most important facts in the history of the inorganic and organic world
ever observed. Whether true or not, it will be widely believed, and
until finally decided will greatly interfere with future progress
on many points. I have made these remarks in the hope that you will
coincide. If so, do you think it would be possible to persuade some
known man, such as Ramsay, or, what would be far better, some two men,
to go out for a summer trip, which would be in many respects delightful,
for the sole object of observing these phenomena in the Ceara Mountains,
and if possible also near Rio? I would gladly put my name down for 50
pounds in aid of the expense of travelling. Do turn this over in your
mind. I am so very sorry not to have seen you this summer, but for the
last three weeks I have been good for nothing, and have had to stop
almost all work. I hope we may meet in the autumn.
LETTER 509. TO JAMES CROLL. Down, November 24th, 1868.
I have read with the greatest interest the last paper which you have
kindly sent me. (509/1. Croll discussed the power of icebergs as
grinding and striating agents in the latter part of a paper ("On
Geological Time, and the probable Dates of the Glacial and the Upper
Miocene Period") published in the "Philosophical Magazine," Volume
XXXV., page 363, 1868, Volume XXXVI., pages 141, 362, 1868. His
conclusion was that the advocates of the Iceberg theory had formed "too
extravagant notions regarding the potency of floating ice as a striating
agent.") If we are to admit that all the scored rocks throughout the
more level parts of the United States result from true glacier action,
it is a most wonderful conclusion, and you certainly make out a very
strong case; so I suppose I must give up one more cherished belief. But
my object in writing is to trespass on your kindness and ask a question,
which I daresay I could answer for myself by reading more carefully,
as I hope hereafter to do, all your papers; but I shall feel much more
confidence in a brief reply from you. Am I right in supposing that you
believe that the glacial periods have always occurred alternately in the
northern and southern hemispheres, so that the erratic deposits which I
have described in the southern parts of America, and the glacial work in
New Zealand, could not have been simultaneous with our Glacial period?
From the glacial deposits occurring all round the northern hemisphere,
and from such deposits appearing in S. America to be as recent as in the
north, and lastly, from there being some evidence of the former lower
descent of glaciers all along the Cordilleras, I inferred that the whole
world was at this period cooler. It did not appear to me justifiable
without distinct evidence to suppose that the N. and S. glacial deposits
belonged to distinct epochs, though it would have been an immense
relief to my mind if I could have assumed that this had been the
case. Secondly, do you believe that during the Glacial period in one
hemisphere the opposite hemisphere actually becomes warmer, or does
it merely retain the same temperature as before? I do not ask these
questions out of mere curiosity; but I have to prepare a new edition
of my "Origin of Species," and am anxious to say a few words on this
subject on your authority. I hope that you will excuse my troubling you.
LETTER 510. TO J. CROLL. Down, January 31st, 1869.
To-morrow I will return registered your book, which I have kept so long.
I am most sincerely obliged for its loan, and especially for the MS.,
without which I should have been afraid of making mistakes. If you
require it, the MS. shall be returned. Your results have been of more
use to me than, I think, any other set of papers which I can remember.
Sir C. Lyell, who is staying here, is very unwilling to admit the
greater warmth of the S. hemisphere during the Glacial period in the N.;
but, as I have told him, this conclusion which you have arrived at from
physical considerations, explains so well whole classes of facts in
distribution, that I must joyfully accept it; indeed, I go so far as to
think that your conclusion is strengthened by the facts in distribution.
Your discussion on the flowing of the great ice-cap southward is
most interesting. I suppose that you have read Mr. Moseley's recent
discussion on the force of gravity being quite insufficient to account
for the downward movement of glaciers (510/1. Canon Henry Moseley, "On
the Mechanical Impossibility of the Descent of Glaciers by their Weight
only." "Proc. R. Soc." Volume XVII., page 202, 1869; "Phil. Mag." Volume
XXXVII., page 229, 1869.): if he is right, do you not think that the
unknown force may make more intelligible the extension of the great
northern ice-cap? Notwithstanding your excellent remarks on the work
which can be effected within the million years (510/2. In his paper
"On Geological Time, and the probable Date of the Glacial and the Upper
Miocene Period" ("Phil. Mag." Volume XXXV., page 363, 1868), Croll
endeavours to convey to the mind some idea of what a million years
really is: "Take a narrow strip of paper, an inch broad or more, and 83
feet 4 inches in length, and stretch it along the wall of a large hall,
or round the walls of an apartment somewhat over 20 feet square.
Recall to memory the days of your boyhood, so as to get some adequate
conception of what a period of a hundred years is. Then mark off from
one of the ends of the strip one-tenth of an inch. The one-tenth of an
inch will then represent a hundred years, and the entire length of the
strip a million of years" (loc. cit., page 375).), I am greatly troubled
at the short duration of the world according to Sir W. Thomson (510/3.
In a paper communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Lord Kelvin
(then Sir William Thomson) stated his belief that the age of our planet
must be more than twenty millions of years, but not more than four
hundred millions of years ("Trans. R. Soc. Edinb." Volume XXIII., page
157, 1861, "On the Secular Cooling of the Earth."). This subject has
been recently dealt with by Sir Archibald Geikie in his address as
President of the Geological Section of the British Association, 1899
("Brit. Assoc. Report," Dover Meeting, 1899, page 718).), for I
require for my theoretical views a very long period BEFORE the Cambrian
formation. If it would not trouble you, I should like to hear what you
think of Lyell's remark on the magnetic force which comes from the sun
to the earth: might not this penetrate the crust of the earth and then
be converted into heat? This would give a somewhat longer time during
which the crust might have been solid; and this is the argument on which
Sir W. Thomson seems chiefly to rest. You seem to argue chiefly on
the expenditure of energy of all kinds by the sun, and in this respect
Lyell's remark would have no bearing.
My new edition of the "Origin" (510/4. Fifth edition, May, 1869.) will
be published, I suppose, in about two months, and for the chance of your
liking to have a copy I will send one.
P.S.--I wish that you would turn your astronomical knowledge to the
consideration whether the form of the globe does not become periodically
slightly changed, so as to account for the many repeated ups and downs
of the surface in all parts of the world. I have always thought that
some cosmical cause would some day be discovered.
LETTER 511. TO C. LYELL. Down, July 12th [1872].
I have been glad to see the enclosed and return it. It seems to me
very cool in Agassiz to doubt the recent upheaval of Patagonia, without
having visited any part; and he entirely misrepresents me in saying that
I infer upheaval from the form of the land, as I trusted entirely to
shells embedded and on the surface. It is simply monstrous to suppose
that the terraces stretching on a dead level for leagues along the
coast, and miles in breadth, and covered with beds of stratified gravel,
10 to 30 feet in thickness, are due to subaerial denudation.
As for the pond of salt-water twice or thrice the density of sea-water,
and nearly dry, containing sea-shells in the same relative proportions
as on the adjoining coast, it almost passes my belief. Could there have
been a lively midshipman on board, who in the morning stocked the pool
from the adjoining coast?
As for glaciation, I will not venture to express any opinion, for when
in S. America I knew nothing about glaciers, and perhaps attributed much
to icebergs which ought to be attributed to glaciers. On the other hand,
Agassiz seems to me mad about glaciers, and apparently never thinks of
drift ice.
I did see one clear case of former great extension of a glacier in T.
del Fuego.
LETTER 512. TO J. GEIKIE.
(512/1. The following letter was in reply to a request from Prof. James
Geikie for permission to publish Mr. Darwin's views, communicated in a
previous letter (November 1876), on the vertical position of stones in
gravelly drift near Southampton. Prof. Geikie wrote (July 15th, 1880):
"You may remember that you attributed the peculiar position of those
stones to differential movements in the drift itself arising from the
slow melting of beds of frozen snow interstratified into the gravels...I
have found this explanation of great service even in Scotland, and
from what I have seen of the drift-gravels in various parts of southern
England and northern France, I am inclined to think that it has a wide
application.")
Down, July 19th, 1880.
Your letter has pleased me very much, and I truly feel it an honour that
anything which I wrote on the drift, etc., should have been of the least
use or interest to you. Pray make any use of my letter (512/2. Professor
James Geikie quotes the letter in "Prehistoric Europe," London, 1881
(page 141). Practically the whole of it is given in the "Life and
Letters," III., page 213.): I forget whether it was written carefully or
clearly, so pray touch up any passages that you may think fit to quote.
All that I have seen since near Southampton and elsewhere has
strengthened my notion. Here I live on a chalk platform gently sloping
down from the edge of the escarptment to the south (512/3. Id est,
sloping down from the escarpment which is to the south.) (which is
about 800 feet in height) to beneath the Tertiary beds to the north. The
(512/4. From here to the end of the paragraph is quoted by Prof. Geikie,
loc. cit., page 142.) beds of the large and broad valleys (and only of
these) are covered with an immense mass of closely packed broken and
angular flints; in which mass the skull of the musk-ox [musk-sheep]
and woolly elephant have been found. This great accumulation of unworn
flints must therefore have been made when the climate was cold, and I
believe it can be accounted for by the larger valleys having been filled
up to a great depth during a large part of the year with drifted frozen
snow, over which rubbish from the upper parts of the platforms was
washed by the summer rains, sometimes along one line and sometimes along
another, or in channels cut through the snow all along the main course
of the broad valleys.
I suppose that I formerly mentioned to you the frequent upright position
of elongated flints in the red clayey residue over the chalk, which
residue gradually subsides into the troughs and pipes corroded in the
solid chalk. This letter is very untidy, but I am tired.
P.S. Several palaeolithic celts have recently been found in the great
angular gravel-bed near Southampton in several places.
LETTER 513. TO D. MACKINTOSH. Down, November 13th, 1880.
Your discovery is a very interesting one, and I congratulate you on
it. (513/1. "On the Precise Mode of Accumulation and Derivation of the
Moel-Tryfan Shelly Deposits; on the Discovery of Similar High-level
Deposits along the Eastern Slopes of the Welsh Mountains; and on the
Existence of Drift-Zones, showing probable Variations in the Rate
of Submergence." By D. Mackintosh, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume
XXXVII., pages 351-69, 1881. [Read April 27th, 1881.]) I failed to find
shells on Moel Tryfan, but was interested by finding ("Philosoph. Mag."
3rd series, Volume XXI., page 184) shattered rocks (513/2. In reviewing
the work by previous writers on the Moel-Tryfan deposits, Mackintosh
refers to Darwin's "very suggestive description of the Moel-Tryfan
deposits...Under the drift he saw that the surface of the slate, TO
A DEPTH OF SEVERAL FEET, HAD BEEN SHATTERED AND CONTORTED IN A VERY
PECULIAR MANNER." The contortion of the slate, which Mackintosh
regarded as "the most interesting of the Moel-Tryfan phenomena," had not
previously been regarded as "sufficiently striking to arrest attention"
by any geologist except Darwin. The Pleistocene gravel and sand
containing marine shells on Moel-Tryfan, about five miles south-east of
Caernarvon, have been the subject of considerable controversy. By some
geologists the drift deposits have been regarded as evidence of a great
submergence in post-Pliocene times, while others have explained their
occurrence at a height of 1300 feet by assuming that the gravel and sand
had been thrust uphill by an advancing ice-sheet. (See H.B. Woodward,
"Geology of England and Wales," Edition II., 1887, pages 491, 492.)
Darwin attributed the shattering and contorting of the slates below the
drift to "icebergs grating over the surface.") and far-distant rounded
boulders, which I attributed to the violent impact of icebergs or
coast-ice. I can offer no opinion on whether the more recent changes of
level in England were or were not accompanied by earthquakes. It does
not seem to me a correct expression (which you use probably from
haste in your note) to speak of elevations or depressions as caused
by earthquakes: I suppose that every one admits that an earthquake
is merely the vibration from the fractured crust when it yields to an
upward or downward force. I must confess that of late years I have often
begun to suspect (especially when I think of the step-like plains of
Patagonia, the heights of which were measured by me) that many of the
changes of level in the land are due to changes of level in the sea.
(513/3. This view is an agreement with the theory recently put forward
by Suess in his "Antlitz der Erde" (Prag and Leipzig, 1885). Suess
believes that "the local invasions and transgressions of the continental
areas by the sea" are due to "secular movements of the hydrosphere
itself." (See J. Geikie, F.R.S., Presidential Address before Section E
at the Edinburgh Meeting of the British Association, "Annual Report,"
page 794.) I suppose that there can be no doubt that when there was much
ice piled up in the Arctic regions the sea would be attracted to them,
and the land on the temperate regions would thus appear to have risen.
There would also be some lowering of the sea by evaporation and the
fixing of the water as ice near the Pole.
I shall read your paper with much interest when published.
LETTER 514. TO J. GEIKIE. Down, December 13th, 1880.
You must allow me the pleasure of thanking you for the great interest
with which I have read your "Prehistoric Europe." (514/1. "Prehistoric
Europe: a Geological Sketch," London, 1881.) Nothing has struck me more
than the accumulated evidence of interglacial periods, and assuredly
the establishment of such periods is of paramount importance for
understanding all the later changes of the earth's surface. Reading
your book has brought vividly before my mind the state of knowledge, or
rather ignorance, half a century ago, when all superficial matter was
classed as diluvium, and not considered worthy of the attention of a
geologist. If you can spare the time (though I ask out of mere idle
curiosity) I should like to hear what you think of Mr. Mackintosh's
paper, illustrated by a little map with lines showing the courses or
sources of the erratic boulders over the midland counties of England.
(514/2. "Results of a Systematic Survey, in 1878, of the Directions and
Limits of Dispersion, Mode of Occurrence, and Relation to Drift-Deposits
of the Erratic Blocks or Boulders of the West of England and East of
Wales, including a Revision of Many Years' Previous Observations," D.
Mackintosh, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXXV., page 425, 1879.) It
is a little suspicious their ending rather abruptly near Wolverhampton,
yet I must think that they were transported by floating ice. Fifty years
ago I knew Shropshire well, and cannot remember anything like till, but
abundance of gravel and sand beds, with recent marine shells. A great
boulder (514/3. Mackintosh alludes (loc. cit., page 442) to felstone
boulders around Ashley Heath, the highest ground between the Pennine and
Welsh Hills north of the Wrekin; also to a boulder on the summit of the
eminence (774 feet above sea-level), "probably the same as that noticed
many years ago by Mr. Darwin." In a later paper, "On the Correlation
of the Drift-Deposits of the North-West of England with those of the
Midland and Eastern Counties" ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXXVI.,
page 178, 1880) Mackintosh mentions a letter received from Darwin, "who
was the first to elucidate the boulder-transporting agency of floating
ice," containing an account of the great Ashley Heath boulder, which
he was the first to discover and expose,...so as to find that the block
rested on fragments of New Red Sandstone, one of which was split into
two and deeply scored...The facts mentioned in the letter from Mr.
Darwin would seem to show that the boulder must have fallen through
water from floating ice with a force sufficient to split the underlying
lump of sandstone, but not sufficient to crush it.") which I had
undermined on the summit of Ashley Heath, 720 (?) feet above the sea,
rested on clean blocks of the underlying red sandstone. I was also
greatly interested by your long discussion on the Loss (514/4. For an
account of the Loss of German geologists--"a fine-grained, more or less
homogeneous, consistent, non-plastic loam, consisting of an intimate
admixture of clay and carbonate of lime," see J. Geikie, loc. cit., page
144 et seq.); but I do not feel satisfied that all has been made
out about it. I saw much brick-earth near Southampton in some manner
connected with the angular gravel, but had not strength enough to
make out relations. It might be worth your while to bear in mind the
possibility of fine sediment washed over and interstratified with thick
beds of frozen snow, and therefore ultimately dropped irrespective of
the present contour of the country.
I remember as a boy that it was said that the floods of the Severn were
more muddy when the floods were caused by melting snow than from the
heaviest rains; but why this should be I cannot see.
Another subject has interested me much--viz. the sliding and travelling
of angular debris. Ever since seeing the "streams of stones" at the
Falkland Islands (514/5. "Geological Observations on South America"
(1846), page 19 et seq.), I have felt uneasy in my mind on this subject.
I wish Mr. Kerr's notion could be fully elucidated about frozen snow.
Some one ought to observe the movements of the fields of snow which
supply the glaciers in Switzerland.
Yours is a grand book, and I thank you heartily for the instruction and
pleasure which it has given me.
For heaven's sake forgive the untidiness of this whole note.
LETTER 515. TO JOHN LUBBOCK [Lord Avebury]. Down, November 6th, 1881.
If I had written your Address (515/1. Address delivered by Lord Avebury
as President of the British Association at York in 1881. Dr. Hicks
is mentioned as having classed the pre-Cambrian strata in "four great
groups of immense thickness and implying a great lapse of time" and
giving no evidence of life. Hicks' third formation was named by him the
Arvonian ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXXVII., 1881, Proc., page
55.) (but this requires a fearful stretch of imagination on my part) I
should not alter what I had said about Hicks. You have the support of
the President [of the] Geological Society (515/2. Robert Etheridge.),
and I think that Hicks is more likely to be right than X. The latter
seems to me to belong to the class of objectors general. If Hicks should
be hereafter proved to be wrong about this third formation, it would
signify very little to you.
I forget whether you go as far as to support Ramsay about lakes as large
as the Italian ones: if so, I would myself modify the passage a little,
for these great lakes have always made me tremble for Ramsay, yet
some of the American geologists support him about the still larger N.
American lakes. I have always believed in the main in Ramsay's views
from the date of publication, and argued the point with Lyell, and am
convinced that it is a very interesting step in Geology, and that you
were quite right to allude to it. (515/3. "Glacial Origin of Lakes in
Switzerland, Black Forest, etc." ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume
XVIII., pages 185-204, 1862). Sir John Lubbock (Lord Avebury) gives
a brief statement of Ramsay's views concerning the origin of lakes
(Presidential Address, Brit. Assoc. 1881, page 22): "Prof. Ramsay
divides lakes into three classes: (1) Those which are due to irregular
accumulations of drift, and which are generally quite shallow; (2) those
which are formed by moraines; and (3) those which occupy true basins
scooped by glaciers out of the solid rocks. To the latter class belong,
in his opinion, most of the great Swiss and Italian lakes...Professor
Ramsay's theory seems, therefore, to account for a large number of
interesting facts." Sir Archibald Geikie has given a good summary of
Ramsay's theory in his "Memoir of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay," page 361,
London, 1895.)
LETTER 516. TO D. MACKINTOSH. Down, February 28th, 1882.
I have read professor Geikie's essay, and it certainly appears to
me that he underrated the importance of floating ice. (516/1. "The
Intercrossing of Erratics in Glacial Deposits," by James Geikie,
"Scottish Naturalist," 1881.) Memory extending back for half a century
is worth a little, but I can remember nothing in Shropshire like till
or ground moraine, yet I can distinctly remember the appearance of many
sand and gravel beds--in some of which I found marine shells. I think it
would be well worth your while to insist (but perhaps you have done so)
on the absence of till, if absent in the Western Counties, where you
find many erratic boulders.
I was pleased to read the last sentence in Geikie's essay about the
value of your work. (516/2. The concluding paragraph reads as follows:
"I cannot conclude this paper without expressing my admiration for the
long-continued and successful labours of the well-known geologist whose
views I have been controverting. Although I entered my protest against
his iceberg hypothesis, and have freely criticised his theoretical
opinions, I most willingly admit that the results of his unwearied
devotion to the study of those interesting phenomena with which he is
so familiar have laid all his fellow-workers under a debt of gratitude."
Mr. Darwin used to speak with admiration of Mackintosh's work, carried
on as it was under considerable difficulties.)
With respect to the main purport of your note, I hardly know what to
say. Though no evidence worth anything has as yet, in my opinion, been
advanced in favour of a living being, being developed from inorganic
matter, yet I cannot avoid believing the possibility of this will be
proved some day in accordance with the law of continuity. I remember the
time, above fifty years ago, when it was said that no substance found
in a living plant or animal could be produced without the aid of vital
forces. As far as external form is concerned, Eozoon shows how difficult
it is to distinguish between organised and inorganised bodies. If it is
ever found that life can originate on this world, the vital phenomena
will come under some general law of nature. Whether the existence of a
conscious God can be proved from the existence of the so-called laws
of nature (i.e., fixed sequence of events) is a perplexing subject, on
which I have often thought, but cannot see my way clearly. If you have
not read W. Graham's "Creed of Science," (516/3. "The Creed of Science:
Religious, Moral, and Social," London, 1881.), it would, I think,
interest you, and he supports the view which you are inclined to uphold.
2.IX.III. THE PARALLEL ROADS OF GLEN ROY, 1841-1880.
(517/1. In the bare hilly country of Lochaber, in the Scotch Highlands,
the slopes of the mountains overlooking the vale of Glen Roy are marked
by narrow terraces or parallel roads, which sweep round the shoulders of
the hills with "undeviating horizontality." These roads are described
by Sir Archibald Geikie as having long been "a subject of wonderment and
legendary story among the Highlanders, and for so many years a source
of sore perplexity among men of science." (517/2. "The Scenery of
Scotland," 1887, page 266.) In Glen Roy itself there are three distinct
shelves or terraces, and the mountain sides of the valley of the Spean
and other glens bear traces of these horizontal "roads."
The first important papers dealing with the origin of this striking
physical feature were those of MacCulloch (517/3. "Trans. Geol. Soc."
Volume IV., page 314, 1817.) and Sir Thomas Lauder Dick (517/4. "Trans.
R. Soc. Edinb." Volume IX., page 1, 1823.), in which the writers
concluded that the roads were the shore-lines of lakes which once filled
the Lochaber valleys. Towards the end of June 1838 Mr. Darwin devoted
"eight good days" (517/5. "Life and Letters," I., page 290.) to the
examination of the Lochaber district, and in the following year he
communicated a paper to the Royal Society of London, in which he
attributed their origin to the action of the sea, and regarded them
as old sea beaches which had been raised to their present level by a
gradual elevation of the Lochaber district.
In 1840 Louis Agassiz and Buckland (517/6. "Edinb. New Phil. Journal,"
Volume XXXIII., page 236, 1842.) proposed the glacier-ice theory; they
described the valleys as having been filled with lakes dammed back by
glaciers which formed bars across the valleys of Glen Roy, Glen
Spean, and the other glens in which the hill-sides bear traces of old
lake-margins. Agassiz wrote in 1842: "When I visited the parallel roads
of Glen Roy with Dr. Buckland we were convinced that the glacial theory
alone satisfied all the exigencies of the phenomenon." (517/7. Ibid.,
page 236.)
Mr. David Milne (afterwards Milne-Home) (517/8. "Trans. R. Soc. Edinb."
Volume XVI., page 395, 1847.) in 1847 upheld the view that the ledges
represent the shore-lines of lakes which were imprisoned in the valleys
by dams of detrital material left in the glens during a submergence
of 3,000 feet, at the close of the Glacial period. Chambers, in his
"Ancient Sea Margins" (1848), expressed himself in agreement with Mr.
Darwin's marine theory. The Agassiz-Buckland theory was supported by
Mr. Jamieson (517/9. "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XIX., page 235,
1863.), who brought forward additional evidence in favour of the glacial
barriers. Sir Charles Lyell at first (517/10. "Elements of Geology,"
Edition II., 1841.) accepted the explanation given by Mr. Darwin, but
afterwards (517/11. "Antiquity of Man," 1863, pages 252 et seq.) came to
the conclusion that the terrace-lines represent the beaches of glacial
lakes. In a paper published in 1878 (517/12. "Phil. Trans. R. Soc."
1879, page 663.), Prof. Prestwich stated his acceptance of the lake
theory of MacCulloch and Sir T. Lauder Dick and of the glacial theory
of Agassiz, but differed from these authors in respect of the age of the
lakes and the manner of formation of the roads.
The view that has now gained general acceptance is that the parallel
roads of Glen Roy represent the shores of a lake "that came into being
with the growth of the glaciers and vanished as these melted away."
(517/13. Sir Archibald Geikie, loc. cit., page 269.)
Mr. Darwin became a convert to the glacier theory after the publication
of Mr. Jamieson's paper. He speaks of his own paper as "a great
failure"; he argued in favour of sea action as the cause of the terraces
"because no other explanation was possible under our then state of
knowledge." Convinced of his mistake, Darwin looked upon his error as
"a good lesson never to trust in science to the principle of exclusion."
(517/14. "Life and Letters," I., page 69.)
LETTER 517. TO C. LYELL. [March 9th, 1841.]
I have just received your note. It is the greatest pleasure to me to
write or talk Geology with you...
I think I have thought over the whole case without prejudice, and
remain firmly convinced they [the parallel roads] are marine beaches. My
principal reason for doing so is what I have urged in my paper (517/15.
"Observations on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, and of other parts of
Lochaber in Scotland, with an attempt to prove that they are of Marine
Origin." "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839, page 39.), the buttress-like
accumulations of stratified shingle on sides of valley, especially those
just below the lowest shelf in Spean Valley.
2nd. I can hardly conceive the extension of the glaciers in front of the
valley of Kilfinnin, where I found a new road--where the sides of Great
Glen are not very lofty.
3rd. The flat watersheds which I describe in places where there are
no roads, as well as those connected with "roads." These remain
unexplained.
I might continue to add many other such reasons, all of which, however,
I daresay would appear trifling to any one who had not visited the
district. With respect to equable elevation, it cannot be a valid
objection to any one who thinks of Scandinavia or the Pampas. With
respect to the glacier theory, the greatest objection appears to me the
following, though possibly not a sound one. The water has beyond doubt
remained very long at the levels of each shelf--this is unequivocally
shown by the depth of the notch or beach formed in many places in
the hard mica-slate, and the large accumulations or buttresses of
well-rounded pebbles at certain spots on the level of old beaches. (The
time must have been immense, if formed by lakes without tides.) During
the existence of the lakes their drainage must have been at the head of
the valleys, and has given the flat appearance of the watersheds. All
this is very clear for four of the shelves (viz., upper and lower in
Glen Roy, the 800-foot one in Glen Spean, and the one in Kilfinnin), and
explains the coincidence of "roads" with the watersheds more simply than
my view, and as simply as the common lake theory. But how was the Glen
Roy lake drained when the water stood at level of the middle "road"? It
must (for there is no other exit whatever) have been drained over the
glacier. Now this shelf is full as narrow in a vertical line and
as deeply worn horizontally into the mountain side and with a large
accumulation of shingle (I can give cases) as the other shelves. We
must, therefore, on the glacier theory, suppose that the surface of
the ice remained at exactly the same level, not being worn down by the
running water, or the glacier moved by its own movement during the very
long period absolutely necessary for a quiet lake to form such a beach
as this shelf presents in its whole course. I do not know whether I have
explained myself clearly. I should like to know what you think of this
difficulty. I shall much like to talk over the Jura case with you. I am
tired, so goodbye.
LETTER 518. TO L. HORNER. Down [1846].
(518/1. It was agreed at the British Association meeting held at
Southampton in 1846 "That application be made to Her Majesty's
Government to direct that during the progress of the Ordnance
Trigonometrical Surveys in the North of Scotland, the so-called Parallel
Roads of Glen Roy and the adjoining country be accurately surveyed, with
the view of determining whether they are truly parallel and horizontal,
the intervening distances, and their elevations above the present
sea-level" ("British Association Report," 1846, page xix). The survey
was undertaken by the Government Ordnance Survey Office under Col. Sir
Henry James, who published the results in 1874 ("Notes on the Parallel
Roads of Glen Roy"); the map on which the details are given is sheet 63
(one-inch scale).)
In following your suggestion in drawing out something about Glen Roy for
the Geological Committee, I have been completely puzzled how to do it.
I have written down what I should say if I had to meet the head of the
Survey and wished to persuade him to undertake the task; but as I have
written it, it is too long, ill expressed, seems as if it came from
nobody and was going to nobody, and therefore I send it to you in
despair, and beg you to turn the subject in your mind. I feel a
conviction if it goes through the Geological part of Ordnance Survey it
will be swamped, and as it is a case for mere accurate measurements it
might, I think without offence, go to the head of the real Surveyors.
If Agassiz or Buckland are on the Committee they will sneer at the whole
thing and declare the beaches are those of a glacier-lake, than which I
am sure I could convince you that there never was a more futile theory.
I look forward to Southampton (518/2. The British Association meeting
(1846).) with much interest, and hope to hear to-morrow that the
lodgings are secured to us. You cannot think how thoroughly I enjoyed
our geological talks, and the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Horner and
yourself here. (518/3. This letter is published in the privately printed
"Memoir of Leonard Horner," II., page 103.)
[Here follows Darwin's Memorandum.]
The Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, in Scotland, have been the object of
repeated examination, but they have never hitherto been levelled with
sufficient accuracy. Sir T. Lauder Dick (518/4. "On the Parallel Roads
of Lochaber" (with map and plates), by Sir Thomas Lauder Dick, "Trans.
R. Soc. Edinb." Volume IX., page 1, 1823.) procured the assistance of an
engineer for this purpose, but owing to the want of a true ground-plan
it was impossible to ascertain their exact curvature, which, as far as
could be estimated, appeared equal to that of the surface of the sea.
Considering how very rarely the sea has left narrow and well-defined
marks of its action at any considerable height on the land, and more
especially considering the remarkable observations by M. Bravais (518/5.
"On the Lines of Ancient Level of the Sea in Finmark," by M. A. Bravais,
translated from "Voyages de la Commission Scientifique du Nord, etc.";
"Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume I., page 534, 1845.) on the ancient
sea-beaches of Scandinavia, showing the they are not strictly parallel
to each other, and that the movement has been greater nearer the
mountains than on the coast, it appears highly desirable that the roads
of Glen Roy should be examined with the utmost care during the execution
of the Ordnance Survey of Scotland. The best instruments and the most
accurate measurements being necessary for this end almost precludes the
hope of its being ever undertaken by private individuals; but by the
means at the disposal of the Ordnance, measurements would be easily made
even more accurate than those of M. Bravais. It would be desirable to
take two lines of the greatest possible length in the district, and at
nearly right angles to each other, and to level from the beach at one
extremity to that at the other, so that it might be ascertained whether
the curvature does exactly correspond with that of the globe, or, if
not, what is the direction of the line of greatest elevation. Much
attention would be requisite in fixing on either the upper or lower edge
of the ancient beaches as the standard of measurement, and in rendering
this line conspicuous. The heights of the three roads, one above
the other and above the level of the sea, ought to be accurately
ascertained. Mr. Darwin observed one short beach-line north of Glen Roy,
and he has indicated, on the authority of Sir David Brewster, others
in the valley of the Spey. If these could be accurately connected, by
careful measurements of their absolute heights or by levelling, with
those of Glen Roy, it would make a most valuable addition to our
knowledge on this subject. Although the observations here specified
would probably be laborious, yet, considering how rarely such evidence
is afforded in any quarter of the world, it cannot be doubted that one
of the most important problems in Geology--namely, the exact manner in
which the crust of the earth rises in mass--would be much elucidated,
and a great service done to geological science.
LETTER 519. R. CHAMBERS TO D. MILNE-HOME. St. Andrews, September 7th,
1847.
I have had a letter to-day from Mr. Charles Darwin, beseeching me to
obtain for him a copy of your paper on Glen Roy. (519/1. No doubt Mr.
Milne's paper "On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber," "Trans. R. Soc.
Edinb." Volume XVI., page 395, 1849. [Read March 1st and April 5th,
1847.]) I am sure you will have pleasure in sending him one; his
address is "Down, Farnborough, Kent." I have again read over your paper
carefully, and feel assured that the careful collection and statement of
facts which are found in it must redound to your credit with all candid
persons. The suspicions, however, which I obtained some time ago as to
land-straits and heights of country being connected with sea-margins and
their ordinary memorials still possesses me, and I am looking forward to
some means of further testing the Glen Roy mystery. If my suspicion turn
out true, I shall at once be regretful on your account, and shall feel
it as a great check and admonition to myself not to be too confident
about anything in science till it has been proved over and over again.
The ground hereabouts is now getting clear of the crops; perhaps when I
am in town a few days hence we may be able to make some appointment for
an examination of the beaches of the district, my list of which has been
greatly enlarged during the last two months.
LETTER 520. TO R. CHAMBERS. September 11th, 1847.
I hope you will read the first part of my paper before you go [to Glen
Roy], and attend to the manner in which the lines end in Glen Collarig.
I wish Mr. Milne had read it more carefully. He misunderstands me in
several respects, but [I] suppose it is my own fault, for my paper is
most tediously written. Mr. Milne fights me very pleasantly, and I plead
guilty to his rebuke about "demonstration." (520/1. See Letter 521,
note.) I do not know what you think; but Mr. Milne will think me as
obstinate as a pig when I say that I think any barriers of detritus at
the mouth of Glen Roy, Collarig and Glaster more utterly impossible
than words can express. I abide by all that I have written on that head.
Conceive such a mass of detritus having been removed, without great
projections being left on each side, in the very close proximity to
every little delta preserved on the lines of the shelves, even on the
shelf 4, which now crosses with uniform breadth the spot where the
barrier stood, with the shelves dying gradually out, etc. To my mind it
is monstrous. Oddly enough, Mr. Milne's description of the mouth of Loch
Treig (I do not believe that valley has been well examined in its upper
end) leaves hardly a doubt that a glacier descended from it, and, if the
roads were formed by a lake of any kind, I believe it must have been
an ice-lake. I have given in detail to Lyell my several reasons for
not thinking ice-lakes probable (520/2. Mr. Darwin gives some arguments
against the glacier theory in the letter (517) to Sir Charles Lyell;
but the letter alluded to is no doubt the one written to Lyell on
"Wednesday, 8th" (Letter 522), in which the reasons are fully stated.);
but to my mind they are incomparably more probable than detritus of
rock-barriers. Have you ever attended to glacier action? After having
seen N. Wales, I can no more doubt the former existence of gigantic
glaciers than I can the sun in the heaven. I could distinguish in N.
Wales to a certain extent icebergs from glacier action (Lyell has shown
that icebergs at the present day score rocks), and I suspect that in
Lochaber the two actions are united, and that the scored rock on the
watersheds, when tideways, were rubbed and bumped by half-stranded
icebergs. You will, no doubt, attend to Glen Glaster. Mr. Milne, I
think, does not mention whether shelf 4 enters it, which I should like
to know, and especially he does not state whether rocks worn on their
upper faces are found on the whole 212 [feet] vertical course of this
Glen down to near L. Loggan, or whether only in the upper part; nor does
he state whether these rocks are scored, or polished, or moutonnees, or
whether there are any "perched" boulders there or elsewhere. I suspect
it would be difficult to distinguish between a river-bed and tidal
channel. Mr. Milne's description of the Pass of Mukkul, expanding to a
width of several hundred yards 21 feet deep in the shoalest part, and
with a worn islet in the middle, sounds to me much more like a tidal
channel than a river-bed. There must have been, on the latter view,
plenty of fresh water in those days. With respect to the coincidence
of the shelves with the now watersheds, Mr. Milne only gives half of my
explanation. Please read page 65 of my paper. (520/3. "Observations
on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, and of other Parts of Lochaber in
Scotland, with an Attempt to Prove that they are of Marine Origin."
"Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839, page 39. [Read February 7th, 1839.]) I
allude only to the head of Glen Roy and Kilfinnin as silted up. I did
not know Mukkul Pass; and Glen Roy was so much covered up that I did not
search it well, as I was not able to walk very well. It has been an old
conjectural belief of mine that a rising surface becomes stationary,
not suddenly, but by the movement becoming very slow. Now, this would
greatly aid the tidal currents cutting down the passes between the
mountains just before, and to the level of, the stationary periods.
The currents in the fiords in T. del Fuego in a narrow crooked part are
often most violent; in other parts they seem to silt up.
Shall you do any levelling? I believe all the levelling has been
[done] in Glen Roy, nearly parallel to the Great Glen of Scotland. For
inequalities of elevation, the valley of the Spean, at right angles to
the apparent axes of elevation, would be the one to examine. If you go
to the head of Glen Roy, attend to the apparent shelf above the highest
one in Glen Roy, lying on the south side of Loch Spey, and therefore
beyond the watershed of Glen Roy. It would be a crucial case. I was
too unwell on that day to examine it carefully, and I had no levelling
instruments. Do these fragments coincide in level with Glen Gluoy shelf?
MacCulloch talks of one in Glen Turret above the shelf. I could not see
it. These would be important discoveries. But I will write no more, and
pray your forgiveness for this long, ill-written outpouring. I am very
glad you keep to your subject of the terraces. I have lately observed
that you have one great authority (C. Prevost), [not] that authority
signifies a [farthing?] on your side respecting your heretical and
damnable doctrine of the ocean falling. You see I am orthodox to the
burning pitch.
LETTER 521. TO D. MILNE-HOME. Down, [September] 20th, [1847].
I am much obliged by your note. I returned from London on Saturday, and
I found then your memoir (521/1. "On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber,
with Remarks on the Change of Relative Levels of Sea and Land in
Scotland, and on the Detrital Deposits in that Country," "Trans. R.
Soc. Edinb." Volume XVI., page 395, 1849. [Read March 1st and April 5th,
1847.]), which I had not then received, owing to the porter having been
out when I last sent to the Geological Society. I have read your paper
with the greatest interest, and have been much struck with the novelty
and importance of many of your facts. I beg to thank you for the
courteous manner in which you combat me, and I plead quite guilty to
your rebuke about demonstration. (521/2. Mr. Milne quotes a passage from
Mr. Darwin's paper ("Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839, page 56), in which the
latter speaks of the marine origin of the parallel roads of Lochaber as
appearing to him as having been demonstrated. Mr. Milne adds: "I regret
that Mr. Darwin should have expressed himself in these very decided and
confident terms, especially as his survey was incomplete; for I venture
to think that it can be satisfactorily established that the parallel
roads of Lochaber were formed by fresh-water lakes" (Milne, loc. cit.,
page 400).) You have misunderstood my paper on a few points, but I do
not doubt that is owing to its being badly and tediously written. You
will, I fear, think me very obstinate when I say that I am not in the
least convinced about the barriers (521/3. Mr. Milne believed that the
lower parts of the valleys were filled with detritus, which constituted
barriers and thus dammed up the waters into lakes.): they remain to me
as improbable as ever. But the oddest result of your paper on me (and I
assure you, as far as I know myself, it is not perversity) is that I
am very much staggered in favour of the ice-lake theory of Agassiz and
Buckland (521/4. Agassiz and Buckland believed that the lakes which
formed the "roads" were confined by glaciers or moraines. See "The
Glacial Theory and its Recent Progress," by Louis Agassiz, "Edinb. New
Phil. Journ." Volume XXXIII., page 217, 1842 (with map).): until I read
your important discovery of the outlet in Glen Glaster I never thought
this theory at all tenable. (521/5. Mr. Milne discovered that the middle
shelf of Glen Roy, which Mr. Darwin stated was "not on a level with
any watershed" (Darwin, loc. cit., page 43), exactly coincided with a
watershed at the head of Glen Glaster (Milne, loc. cit., page 398).) Now
it appears to me that a very good case can be made in its favour. I am
not, however, as yet a believer in the ice-lake theory, but I tremble
for the result. I have had a good deal of talk with Mr. Lyell on
the subject, and from his advice I am going to send a letter to the
"Scotsman," in which I give briefly my present impression (though there
is not space to argue with you on such points as I think I could argue),
and indicate what points strike me as requiring further investigation
with respect, chiefly, to the ice-lake theory, so that you will not care
about it...
P.S.--Some facts mentioned in my "Geology of S. America," page 24
(521/6. The creeks which penetrate the western shores of Tierra del
Fuego are described as "almost invariably much shallower close to
the open sea at their mouths than inland...This shoalness of the
sea-channels near their entrances probably results from the quantity of
sediment formed by the wear and tear of the outer rocks exposed to
the full force of the open sea. I have no doubt that many lakes--for
instance, in Scotland--which are very deep within, and are separated
from the sea apparently only by a tract of detritus, were originally
sea-channels, with banks of this nature near their mouths, which have
since been upheaved" ("Geol. Obs. S. America," page 24, footnote.), with
regard to the shoaling of the deep fiords of T. del Fuego near their
mouths, and which I have remarked would tend, with a little elevation,
to convert such fiords into lakes with a great mound-like barrier of
detritus at their mouths, might, possibly, have been of use to you with
regard to the lakes of Glen Roy.
LETTER 522. TO C. LYELL. Down, Wednesday, 8th.
Many thanks for your paper. (522/1. "On the Ancient Glaciers of
Forfarshire." "Proc. Geol. Soc." Volume III., page 337, 1840.) I do
admire your zeal on a subject on which you are not immediately at work.
I will give my opinion as briefly as I can, and I have endeavoured my
best to be honest. Poor Mrs. Lyell will have, I foresee, a long letter
to read aloud, but I will try to write better than usual. Imprimis, it
is provoking that Mr. Milne (522/2. "On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber,
etc." "Trans. R. Soc. Edinb." Volume XVI., page 395, 1849. [Read March
1st and April 5th, 1847.]) has read my paper (522/3. "Observations on
the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, etc." "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839, page
39. [Read February 7th, 1839.].) with little attention, for he makes
me say several things which I do not believe--as, that the water sunk
suddenly! (page 10), that the Valley of Glen Roy, page 13, and Spean was
filled up with detritus to level of the lower shelf, against which there
is, I conceive, good evidence, etc., but I suppose it is the consequence
of my paper being most tediously written. He gives me a just snub for
talking of demonstration, and he fights me in a very pleasant manner.
Now for business. I utterly disbelieve in the barriers (522/4. See note,
Letter 521.) for his lakes, and think he has left that point exactly
where it was in the time of MacCulloch (522/5. "On the Parallel Roads of
Glen Roy." "Geol. Trans." Volume IV., page 314, 1817 (with several maps
and sections).) and Dick. (522/6. "On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber."
"Trans. R. Soc. Edinb." Volume IX., page 1, 1823.) Indeed, in showing
that there is a passage at Glen Glaster at the level of the intermediate
shelf, he makes the difficulty to my mind greater. (522/7. See Letter
521, note.) When I think of the gradual manner in which the two upper
terraces die out at Glen Collarig and at the mouth of Glen Roy, the
smooth rounded form of the hills there, and the lower shelf retaining
its usual width where the immense barrier stood, I can deliberately
repeat "that more convincing proofs of the non-existence of the
imaginary Loch Roy could scarcely have been invented with full play
given to the imagination," etc.: but I do not adhere to this remark
with such strength when applied to the glacier-lake theory. Oddly, I was
never at all staggered by this theory until now, having read Mr. Milne's
argument against it. I now can hardly doubt that a great glacier did
emerge from Loch Treig, and this by the ice itself (not moraine) might
have blocked up the three outlets from Glen Roy. I do not, however, yet
believe in the glacier theory, for reasons which I will presently give.
There are three chief hostile considerations in Mr. Milne's paper.
First, the Glen [shelf?], not coinciding in height with the upper one
[outlet?], from observations giving 12 feet, 15 feet, 29 feet, 23 feet:
if the latter are correct the terrace must be quite independent, and the
case is hostile; but Mr. Milne shows that there is one in Glen Roy 14
feet below the upper one, and a second one again (which I observed)
beneath this, and then we come to the proper second shelf. Hence there
is no great improbability in an independent shelf having been found in
Glen Gluoy.
This leads me to Mr. Milne's second class of facts (obvious to every
one), namely the non-extension of the three shelves beyond Glen Roy; but
I abide by what I have written on that point, and repeat that if in Glen
Roy, where circumstances have been so favourable for the preservation
or formation of the terraces, a terrace could be formed quite plain for
three-quarters of a mile with hardly a trace elsewhere, we cannot argue,
from the non-existence of shelves, that water did not stand at the same
levels in other valleys. Feeling absolutely convinced that there was no
barrier of detritus at the mouth of Glen Roy, and pretty well convinced
that there was none of ice, the manner in which the terraces die out
when entering Glen Spean, which must have been a tideway, shows on
what small circumstances the formation of these shelves depended. With
respect to the non-existence of shelves in other parts of Scotland, Mr.
Milne shows that many others do exist, and their heights above the sea
have not yet been carefully measured, nor have even those of Glen
Roy, which I suspect are all 100 feet too high. Moreover, according to
Bravais (522/8. "On the Lines of Ancient Level of the Sea in Finmark."
By A. Bravais, Member of the Scientific Commission of the North. "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume I., page 534, 1845 (a translation).), we
must not feel sure that either the absolute height or the intermediate
heights between the terraces would be at all the same at distant points.
In levelling the terraces in Lochaber, all, I believe, have been taken
in Glen Roy, nearly N. and S. There should be levels taken at right
angles to this line and to the Great Glen of Scotland or chief line of
elevation.
Thirdly, the nature of the outlets from the supposed lakes. This appears
to me the best and newest part of the paper. If Sir James Clark would
like to attend to any particular points, direct his attention to this:
especially to follow Glen Glaster from Glen Roy to L. Laggan. Mr. Milne
describes this as an old and great river-course with a fall of 212 feet.
He states that the rocks are smooth on upper face and rough on lower,
but he does not mention whether this character prevails throughout the
whole 212 vertical feet--a most important consideration; nor does he
state whether these rocks are polished or scratched, as might have
happened even to a considerable depth beneath the water (Mem. great
icebergs in narrow fiords of T. del Fuego (522/9. In the "Voyage of the
'Beagle'" a description is given of the falling of great masses of ice
from the icy cliffs of the glaciers with a crash that "reverberates
like the broadside of a man-of-war, through the lonely channels" which
intersect the coast-line of Tierra del Fuego. Loc. cit., page 246.))
by the action of icebergs, for that icebergs transported boulders on to
terraces, I have no doubt. Mr. Milne's description of the outlets of
his lake sound to me more like tidal channels, nor does he give any
arguments how such are to be distinguished from old river-courses.
I cannot believe in the body of fresh water which must, on the lake
theory, have flowed out of them. At the Pass of Mukkul he states that
the outlet is 70 feet wide and the rocky bottom 21 feet below the level
of the shelf, and that the gorge expands to the eastwards into a broad
channel of several hundred yards in width, divided in the middle by what
has formerly been a rocky islet, against which the waters of this large
river had chafed in issuing from the pass. We know the size of the river
at the present day which would flow out through this pass, and it seems
to me (and in the other given cases) to be as inadequate; the whole
seems to me far easier explained by a tideway than by a formerly more
humid climate.
With respect to the very remarkable coincidence between the shelves and
the outlets (rendered more remarkable by Mr. Milne's discovery of the
outlet to the intermediate shelf at Glen Glaster (522/10. See Letter
521, note.)), Mr. Milne gives only half of my explanation; he alludes
to (and disputes) the smoothing and silting-up action, which I still
believe in. I state: If we consider what must take place during
the gradual rise of a group of islands, we shall have the currents
endeavouring to cut down and deepen some shallow parts in the channels
as they are successively brought near the surface, but tending from the
opposition of tides to choke up others with littoral deposits. During
a long interval of rest, from the length of time allowed to the above
processes, the tendency would often prove effective, both in forming, by
accumulation of matter, isthmuses, and in keeping open channels. Hence
such isthmuses and channels just kept open would oftener be formed at
the level which the waters held at the interval of rest, than at any
other (page 65). I look at the Pass of Mukkul (21 feet deep, Milne) as a
channel just kept open, and the head of Glen Roy (where there is a
great bay silted up) and of Kilfinnin (at both which places there are
level-topped mounds of detritus above the level of the terraces) as
instances of channels filled up at the stationary levels. I have long
thought it a probable conjecture that when a rising surface becomes
stationary it becomes so, not at once, but by the movements first
becoming very slow; this would greatly favour the cutting down many gaps
in the mountains to the level of the stationary periods.
GLACIER THEORY.
If a glacialist admitted that the sea, before the formation of the
terraces, covered the country (which would account for land-straits
above level of terraces), and that the land gradually emerged, and if
he supposed his lakes were banked by ice alone, he would make out, in my
opinion, the best case against the marine origin of the terraces. From
the scattered boulders and till, you and I must look at it as certain
that the sea did cover the whole country, and I abide quite by my
arguments from the buttresses, etc., that water of some kind receded
slowly from the valleys of Lochaber (I presume Mr. Milne admits this).
Now, I do not believe in the ice-lake theory, from the following weak
but accumulating reasons: because, 1st, the receding water must have
been that of a lake in Glen Spean, and of the sea in the other valleys
of Scotland, where I saw similar buttresses at many levels; 2nd, because
the outlets of the supposed lakes as already stated seem, from Mr.
Milne's statements, too much worn and too large; 3rd, when the lake
stood at the three-quarters of a mile shelf the water from it must have
flowed over ice itself for a very long time, and kept at the same exact
level: certainly this shelf required a long time for its formation; 4th,
I cannot believe a glacier would have blocked up the short, very wide
valley of Kilfinnin, the Great Glen of Scotland also being very low
there; 5th, the country at some places where Mr. Milne has described
terraces is not mountainous, and the number of ice-lakes appears to me
very improbable; 6th, I do not believe any lake could scoop the rocks
so much as they are at the entrance to Loch Treig or cut them off at the
head of Upper Glen Roy; 7th, the very gradual dying away of the terraces
at the mouth of Glen Roy does not look like a barrier of any kind; 8th,
I should have expected great terminal moraines across the mouth of Glen
Roy, Glen Collarig, and Glaster, at least at the bottom of the valleys.
Such, I feel pretty sure, do not exist.
I fear I must have wearied you with the length of this letter, which
I have not had time to arrange properly. I could argue at great length
against Mr. Milne's theory of barriers of detritus, though I could help
him in one way--viz., by the soundings which occur at the entrances of
the deepest fiords in T. del Fuego. I do not think he gives the smallest
satisfaction with respect to the successive and comparatively sudden
breakage of his many lakes.
Well, I enjoyed my trip to Glen Roy very much, but it was time thrown
away. I heartily wish you would go there; it should be some one who
knows glacier and iceberg action, and sea action well. I wish the Queen
would command you. I had intended being in London to-morrow, but one of
my principal plagues will, I believe, stop me; if I do I will assuredly
call on you. I have not yet read Mr. Milne on Elevation (522/11. "On
a Remarkable Oscillation of the Sea, observed at Various Places on the
Coasts of Great Britain in the First Week of July, 1843." "Trans. R.
Soc. Edinb." Volume XV., page 609, 1844.), so will keep his paper for a
day or two.
P.S.--As you cannot want this letter, I wish you would return it to me,
as it will serve as a memorandum for me. Possibly I shall write to Mr.
Chambers, though I do not know whether he will care about what I think
on the subject. This letter is too long and ill-written for Sir J.
Clark.
LETTER 523. TO LADY LYELL. [October 4th, 1847.]
I enclose a letter from Chambers, which has pleased me very much (which
please return), but I cannot feel quite so sure as he does. If the
Lochaber and Tweed roads really turn out exactly on a level, the sea
theory is proved. What a magnificent proof of equality of elevation,
which does not surprise me much; but I fear I see cause of doubt, for
as far as I remember there are numerous terraces, near Galashiels, with
small intervals of height, so that the coincidence of height might be
cooked. Chambers does not seem aware of one very striking coincidence,
viz., that I made by careful measurement my Kilfinnin terrace 1202 feet
above sea, and now Glen Gluoy is 1203 feet, according to the recent more
careful measurements. Even Agassiz (523/1. "On the Glacial Theory," by
Louis Agassiz, "Edinb. New Phil. Journ." Volume XXXIII., page 217, 1842.
The parallel terraces are dealt with by Agassiz, pages 236 et seq.)
would be puzzled to block up Glen Gluoy and Kilfinnin by the same
glacier, and then, moreover, the lake would have two outlets. With
respect to the middle terrace of Glen Roy--seen by Chambers in the Spean
(figured by Agassiz, and seen by myself but not noticed, as I thought
it might have been a sheep track)--it might yet have been formed on the
ice-lake theory by two independent glaciers going across the Spean, but
it is very improbable that two such immense ones should not have been
united into one. Chambers, unfortunately, does not seem to have visited
the head of the Spey, and I have written to propose joining funds and
sending some young surveyor there. If my letter is published in the
"Scotsman," how Buckland (523/2. Professor Buckland may be described as
joint author, with Agassiz, of the Glacier theory.), as I have foreseen,
will crow over me: he will tell me he always knew that I was wrong, but
now I shall have rather ridiculously to say, "but I am all right again."
I have been a good deal interested in Miller (523/3. Hugh Miller's
"First Impressions of England and its People," London, 1847.), but I
find it not quick reading, and Emma has hardly begun it yet. I rather
wish the scenic descriptions were shorter, and that there was a little
less geologic eloquence.
Lyell's picture now hangs over my chimneypiece, and uncommonly glad I am
to have it, and thank you for it.
LETTER 524. TO C. LYELL. Down, September 6th [1861].
I think the enclosed is worth your reading. I am smashed to atoms about
Glen Roy. My paper was one long gigantic blunder from beginning to end.
Eheu! Eheu! (524/1. See "Life and Letters," I., pages 68, 69, also pages
290, 291.)
LETTER 525. TO C. LYELL. Down, September 22nd [1861].
I have read Mr. Jamieson's last letter, like the former ones, with very
great interest. (525/1. Mr. Jamieson visited Glen Roy in August 1861 and
in July 1862. His paper "On the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy, and their
Place in the History of the Glacial Period," was published in the
"Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society" in 1863, Volume XIX.,
page 235. His latest contribution to this subject was published in the
"Quarterly Journal," Volume XLVIII., page 5, 1892.) What a problem you
have in hand! It beats manufacturing new species all to bits. It would
be a great personal consolation to me if Mr. J. can admit the sloping
Spean terrace to be marine, and would remove one of my greatest
difficulties--viz. the vast contrast of Welsh and Lochaber valleys. But
then, as far as I dare trust my observations, the sloping terraces ran
far up the Roy valley, so as to reach not far below the lower shelf. If
the sloping fringes are marine and the shelves lacustrine, all I can
say is that nature has laid a shameful trap to catch an unwary wretch. I
suppose that I have underrated the power of lakes in producing pebbles;
this, I think, ought to be well looked to. I was much struck in Wales
on carefully comparing the glacial scratches under a lake (formed by a
moraine and which must have existed since the Glacial epoch) and above
water, and I could perceive NO difference. I believe I saw many such
beds of good pebbles on level of lower shelf, which at the time I could
not believe could have been found on shores of lake. The land-straits
and little cliffs above them, to which I referred, were quite above the
highest shelf; they may be of much more ancient date than the shelves.
Some terrace-like fringes at head of the Spey strike me as very
suspicious. Mr. J. refers to absence of pebbles at considerable heights:
he must remember that every storm, every deer, every hare which runs
tends to roll pebbles down hill, and not one ever goes up again. I
may mention that I particularly alluded to this on S. Ventanao (525/2.
"Geolog. Obs. on South America," page 79. "On the flanks of the
mountains, at a height of 300 or 400 feet above the plain, there were
a few small patches of conglomerate and breccia, firmly cemented by
ferruginous matter to the abrupt and battered face of the quartz--traces
being thus exhibited of ancient sea-action.") in N. Patagonia, a great
isolated rugged quartz-mountain 3,000 feet high, and I could find not
one pebble except on one very small spot, where a ferruginous spring had
firmly cemented a few to the face of mountain. If the Lochaber lakes had
been formed by an ice-period posterior to the (marine?) sloping terraces
in the Spean, would not Mr. J. have noticed gigantic moraines across the
valley opposite the opening of Lake Treig? I go so far as not to like
making the elevation of the land in Wales and Scotland considerably
different with respect to the ice-period, and still more do I dislike
it with respect to E. and W. Scotland. But I may be prejudiced by having
been so long accustomed to the plains of Patagonia. But the equality of
level (barring denudation) of even the Secondary formations in Britain,
after so many ups and downs, always impresses my mind, that, except when
the crust-cracks and mountains are formed, movements of elevation and
subsidence are generally very equable.
But it is folly my scribbling thus. You have a grand problem, and heaven
help you and Mr. Jamieson through it. It is out of my line nowadays, and
above and beyond me.
LETTER 526. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, September 28th [1861].
It is, I believe, true that Glen Roy shelves (I remember your Indian
letter) were formed by glacial lakes. I persuaded Mr. Jamieson, an
excellent observer, to go and observe them; and this is his result.
There are some great difficulties to be explained, but I presume this
will ultimately be proved the truth...
LETTER 527. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 1st [1861].
Thank you for the most interesting correspondence. What a wonderful case
that of Bedford. (527/1. No doubt this refers to the discovery of flint
implements in the Valley of the Ouse, near Bedford, in 1861 (see Lyell's
"Antiquity of Man," pages 163 et seq., 1863.) I thought the problem
sufficiently perplexing before, but now it beats anything I ever heard
of. Far from being able to give any hypothesis for any part, I cannot
get the facts into my mind. What a capital observer and reasoner Mr.
Jamieson is. The only way that I can reconcile my memory of Lochaber
with the state of the Welsh valleys is by imagining a great barrier,
formed by a terminal moraine, at the mouth of the Spean, which the
river had to cut slowly through, as it drained the lowest lake after
the Glacial period. This would, I can suppose, account for the sloping
terraces along the Spean. I further presume that sharp transverse
moraines would not be formed under the waters of the lake, where the
glacier came out of L. Treig and abutted against the opposite side of
the valley. A nice mess I made of Glen Roy! I have no spare copy of
my Welsh paper (527/2. "Notes on the Effects produced by the Ancient
Glaciers of Caernarvonshire, and on the Boulders transported by Floating
Ice," "Edinb. New Phil. Journ." Volume XXXIII., page 352, 1842.); it
would do you no good to lend it. I suppose I thought that there must
have been floating ice on Moel Tryfan. I think it cannot be disputed
that the last event in N. Wales was land-glaciers. I could not decide
where the action of land-glaciers ceased and marine glacial action
commenced at the mouths of the valleys.
What a wonderful case the Bedford case. Does not the N. American view of
warmer or more equable period, after great Glacial period, become much
more probable in Europe?
But I am very poorly to-day, and very stupid, and hate everybody and
everything. One lives only to make blunders. I am going to write a
little book for Murray on Orchids (527/3. "On the Various Contrivances
by which Orchids are Fertilised by Insects," London, 1862.), and to-day
I hate them worse than everything. So farewell, in a sweet frame of
mind.
LETTER 528. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 14th [1861].
I return Jamieson's capital letter. I have no comments, except to say
that he has removed all my difficulties, and that now and for evermore I
give up and abominate Glen Roy and all its belongings. It certainly is
a splendid case, and wonderful monument of the old Ice-period. You ought
to give a woodcut. How many have blundered over those horrid shelves!
That was a capital paper by Jamieson in the last "Geol. Journal."
(528/1. "On the Drift and Rolled Gravel of the North of Scotland,"
"Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVI., page 347, 1860.) I was never
before fully convinced of the land glacialisation of Scotland before,
though Chambers tried hard to convince me.
I must say I differ rather about Ramsay's paper; perhaps he pushes it
too far. (528/2. "On the Glacial Origin of Certain Lakes, etc." "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 185. See Letter 503.) It struck
me the more from remembering some years ago marvelling what could be
the meaning of such a multitude of lakes in Friesland and other northern
districts. Ramsay wrote to me, and I suggested that he ought to compare
mountainous tropical regions with northern regions. I could not remember
many lakes in any mountainous tropical country. When Tyndall talks of
every valley in Switzerland being formed by glaciers, he seems to forget
there are valleys in the tropics; and it is monstrous, in my opinion,
the accounting for the Glacial period in the Alps by greater height
of mountains, and their lessened height, if I understand, by glacial
erosion. "Ne sutor ultra crepidam," I think, applies in this case to
him. I am hard at work on "Variation under Domestication." (528/3.
Published 1868.)
P.S.--I am rather overwhelmed with letters at present, and it has just
occurred to me that perhaps you will forward my note to Mr. Jamieson; as
it will show that I entirely yield. I do believe every word in my Glen
Roy paper is false.
LETTER 529. TO C. LYELL. Down, October 20th [1861].
Notwithstanding the orchids, I have been very glad to see Jamieson's
letter; no doubt, as he says, certainty will soon be reached.
With respect to the minor points of Glen Roy, I cannot feel easy with
a mere barrier of ice; there is so much sloping, stratified detritus in
the valleys. I remember that you somewhere have stated that a running
stream soon cuts deeply into a glacier. I have been hunting up all old
references and pamphlets, etc., on shelves in Scotland, and will
send them off to Mr. J., as they possibly may be of use to him if he
continues the subject. The Eildon Hills ought to be specially examined.
Amongst MS. I came across a very old letter from me to you, in which I
say: "If a glacialist admitted that the sea, before the formation of the
shelves, covered the country (which would account for the land-straits
above the level of the shelves), and if he admitted that the land
gradually emerged, and if he supposed that his lakes were banked up by
ice alone, he would make out, in my opinion, the best case against the
marine origin of the shelves." (529/1. See Letter 522.) This seems very
much what you and Mr. J. have come to.
The whole glacial theory is really a magnificent subject.
LETTER 530. TO C. LYELL. Down, April 1st [1862].
I am not quite sure that I understand your difficulty, so I must give
what seems to me the explanation of the glacial lake theory at some
little length. You know that there is a rocky outlet at the level of
all the shelves. Please look at my map. (530/1. The map accompanying
Mr. Darwin's paper in the "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839.) I suppose whole
valley of Glen Spean filled with ice; then water would escape from
an outlet at Loch Spey, and the highest shelf would be first formed.
Secondly, ice began to retreat, and water will flow for short time over
its surface; but as soon as it retreated from behind the hill marked
Craig Dhu, where the outlet on level of second shelf was discovered by
Milne (530/2. See note, Letter 521.), the water would flow from it and
the second shelf would be formed. This supposes that a vast barrier
of ice still remains under Ben Nevis, along all the lower part of the
Spean. Lastly, I suppose the ice disappeared everywhere along L. Loggan,
L. Treig, and Glen Spean, except close under Ben Nevis, where it still
formed a barrier, the water flowing out at level of lowest shelf by the
Pass of Mukkul at head of L. Loggan. This seems to me to account for
everything. It presupposes that the shelves were formed towards the
close of the Glacial period. I come up to London to read on Thursday a
short paper at the Linnean Society. Shall I call on Friday morning at
9.30 and sit half an hour with you? Pray have no scruple to send a line
to Queen Anne Street to say "No" if it will take anything out of you. If
I do not hear, I will come.
LETTER 531. TO J. PRESTWICH. Down, January 3rd, 1880.
You are perfectly right. (531/1. Prof. Prestwich's paper on Glen Roy was
published in the "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." for 1879, page 663.) As soon as
I read Mr. Jamieson's article on the parallel roads, I gave up the ghost
with more sighs and groans than on almost any other occasion in my life.
2.IX.IV. CORAL REEFS, FOSSIL AND RECENT, 1841-1881.
LETTER 532. TO C. LYELL. Shrewsbury, Tuesday, 6th [July, 1841].
Your letter was forwarded me here. I was the more glad to receive it, as
I never dreamed of your being able to find time to write, now that you
must be so very busy; and I had nothing to tell you about myself, else I
should have written. I am pleased to hear how extensive and successful
a trip you appear to have made. You must have worked hard, and got your
Silurian subject well in your head, to have profited by so short an
excursion. How I should have enjoyed to have followed you about the
coral-limestone. I once was close to Wenlock (532/1. The Wenlock
limestone (Silurian) contains an abundance of corals. "The rock seems
indeed to have been formed in part by massive sheets and bunches of
coral" (Geikie, "Text-book of Geology," 1882, page 678.), something such
as you describe, and made a rough drawing, I remember, of the masses of
coral. But the degree in which the whole mass was regularly stratified,
and the quantity of mud, made me think that the reefs could never have
been like those in the Pacific, but that they most resembled those on
the east coast of Africa, which seem (from charts and descriptions)
to confine extensive flats and mangrove swamps with mud, or like some
imperfect ones about the West India Islands, within the reefs of which
there are large swamps. All the reefs I have myself seen could be
associated only with nearly pure calcareous rocks. I have received a
description of a reef lying some way off the coast near Belize (terra
firma), where a thick bed of mud seems to have invaded and covered a
coral reef, leaving but very few islets yet free from it. But I can
give you no precise information without my notes (even if then) on these
heads...
Bermuda differs much from any other island I am acquainted with. At
first sight of a chart it resembles an atoll; but it differs from this
structure essentially in the gently shelving bottom of the sea all round
to some distance; in the absence of the defined circular reefs, and, as
a consequence, of the defined central pool or lagoon; and lastly, in
the height of the land. Bermuda seems to be an irregular, circular, flat
bank, encrusted with knolls and reefs of coral, with land formed on one
side. This land seems once to have been more extensive, as on some parts
of the bank farthest removed from the island there are little pinnacles
of rock of the same nature as that of the high larger islands. I cannot
pretend to form any precise notion how the foundation of so anomalous an
island has been produced, but its whole history must be very different
from that of the atolls of the Indian and Pacific oceans--though, as
I have said, at first glance of the charts there is a considerable
resemblance.
LETTER 533. TO C. LYELL. [1842.]
Considering the probability of subsidence in the middle of the great
oceans being very slow; considering in how many spaces, both large ones
and small ones (within areas favourable to the growth of corals), reefs
are absent, which shows that their presence is determined by peculiar
conditions; considering the possible chance of subsidence being more
rapid than the upward growth of the reefs; considering that reefs not
very rarely perish (as I cannot doubt) on part, or round the whole, of
some encircled islands and atolls: considering these things, I admit as
very improbable that the polypifers should continue living on and
above the same reef during a subsidence of very many thousand feet; and
therefore that they should form masses of enormous thickness, say at
most above 5,000 feet. (533/1. "...As we know that some inorganic causes
are highly injurious to the growth of coral, it cannot be expected that
during the round of change to which earth, air, and water are exposed,
the reef-building polypifers should keep alive for perpetuity in any
one place; and still less can this be expected during the progressive
subsidences...to which by our theory these reefs and islands have been
subjected, and are liable" ("The Structure and Distribution of Coral
Reefs," page 107: London, 1842).) This admission, I believe, is in no
way fatal to the theory, though it is so to certain few passages in my
book.
In the areas where the large groups of atolls stand, and where likewise
a few scattered atolls stand between such groups, I always imagined that
there must have been great tracts of land, and that on such large tracts
there must have been mountains of immense altitudes. But not, it appears
to me, that one is only justified in supposing that groups of islands
stood there. There are (as I believe) many considerable islands and
groups of islands (Galapagos Islands, Great Britain, Falkland Islands,
Marianas, and, I believe, Viti groups), and likewise the majority of
single scattered islands, all of which a subsidence between 4,000
and 5,000 feet would entirely submerge or would leave only one or two
summits above water, and hence they would produce either groups of
nothing but atolls, or of atolls with one or two encircled islands. I
am far from wishing to say that the islands of the great oceans have not
subsided, or may not continue to subside, any number of feet, but if the
average duration (from all causes of destruction) of reefs on the same
spot is limited, then after this limit has elapsed the reefs would
perish, and if the subsidence continued they would be carried down; and
if the group consisted only of atolls, only open ocean would be left; if
it consisted partly or wholly of encircled islands, these would be left
naked and reefless, but should the area again become favourable for
growth of reefs, new barrier-reefs might be formed round them. As an
illustration of this notion of a certain average duration of reefs on
the same spot, compared with the average rate of subsidence, we may take
the case of Tahiti, an island of 7,000 feet high. Now here the present
barrier-reefs would never be continued upwards into an atoll, although,
should the subsidence continue at a period long after the death of the
present reefs, new ones might be formed high up round its sides and
ultimately over it. The case resolves itself into: what is the ordinary
height of groups of islands, of the size of existing groups of atolls
(excepting as many of the highest islands as there now ordinarily occur
encircling barrier-reefs in the existing groups of atolls)? and likewise
what is the height of the single scattered islands standing between such
groups of islands? Subsidence sufficient to bury all these islands (with
the exception of as many of the highest as there are encircled islands
in the present groups of atolls) my theory absolutely requires, but no
more. To say what amount of subsidence would be required for this end,
one ought to know the height of all existing islands, both single ones
and those in groups, on the face of the globe--and, indeed, of half a
dozen worlds like ours. The reefs may be of much greater [thickness]
than that just sufficient on an average to bury groups of islands; and
the probability of the thickness being greater seems to resolve itself
into the average rate of subsidence allowing upward growth, and average
duration of reefs on the same spot. Who will say what this rate and
what this duration is? but till both are known, we cannot, I think, tell
whether we ought to look for upraised coral formations (putting on one
side denudation) above the unknown limit, say between 3,000 and 5,000
feet, necessary to submerge groups of common islands. How wretchedly
involved do these speculations become.
LETTER 534. TO E. VON MOJSISOVICS. Down, January 29th, 1879.
I thank you cordially for the continuation of your fine work on the
Tyrolese Dolomites (534/1. "Dolomitriffe Sudtirols und Venetiens":
Wien, 1878.), with its striking engravings and the maps, which are quite
wonderful from the amount of labour which they exhibit, and its extreme
difficulty. I well remember more than forty years ago examining a
section of Silurian limestone containing many corals, and thinking to
myself that it would be for ever impossible to discover whether the
ancient corals had formed atolls or barrier reefs; so you may well
believe that your work will interest me greatly as soon as I can find
time to read it. I am much obliged for your photograph, and from its
appearance rejoice to see that much more good work may be expected from
you.
I enclose my own photograph, in case you should like to possess a copy.
LETTER 535. TO A. AGASSIZ.
(535/1. Part of this letter is published in "Life and Letters," III.,
pages 183, 184.)
Down, May 5th, 1881.
It was very good of you to write to me from Tortugas, as I always feel
much interested in hearing what you are about, and in reading your
many discoveries. It is a surprising fact that the peninsula of Florida
should have remained at the same level for the immense period requisite
for the accumulation of so vast a pile of debris. (535/2. Alexander
Agassiz published a paper on "The Tortugas and Florida Reefs" in the
"Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci." XI., page 107, 1885. See also his
"Three Cruises of the 'Blake,'" Volume I., 1888.)
You will have seen Mr. Murray's views on the formation of atolls and
barrier reefs. (535/3. "On the Structure and Origin of Coral Reefs and
Islands," "Proc. R. Soc. Edin." Volume X., page 505, 1880. Prof. Bonney
has given a summary of Sir John Murray's views in Appendix II. of the
third edition of Darwin's "Coral Reefs," 1889.) Before publishing my
book, I thought long over the same view, but only as far as ordinary
marine organisms are concerned, for at that time little was known of the
multitude of minute oceanic organisms. I rejected this view, as from
the few dredgings made in the 'Beagle' in the S. Temperate regions, I
concluded that shells, the smaller corals, etc., etc., decayed and were
dissolved when not protected by the deposition of sediment; and sediment
could not accumulate in the open ocean. Certainly shells, etc., were
in several cases completely rotten, and crumbled into mud between my
fingers; but you will know well whether this is in any degree common. I
have expressly said that a bank at the proper depth would give rise
to an atoll, which could not be distinguished from one formed during
subsidence. I can, however, hardly believe, in the former presence of as
many banks (there having been no subsidence) as there are atolls in
the great oceans, within a reasonable depth, on which minute oceanic
organisms could have accumulated to the thickness of many hundred feet.
I think that it has been shown that the oscillations from great waves
extend down to a considerable depth, and if so the oscillating water
would tend to lift up (according to an old doctrine propounded by
Playfair) minute particles lying at the bottom, and allow them to be
slowly drifted away from the submarine bank by the slightest current.
Lastly, I cannot understand Mr. Murray, who admits that small calcareous
organisms are dissolved by the carbonic acid in the water at great
depths, and that coral reefs, etc., etc., are likewise dissolved near
the surface, but that this does not occur at intermediate depths, where
he believes that the minute oceanic calcareous organisms accumulate
until the bank reaches within the reef-building depth. But I suppose
that I must have misunderstood him.
Pray forgive me for troubling you at such a length, but it has occurred
to me that you might be disposed to give, after your wide experience,
your judgment. If I am wrong, the sooner I am knocked on the head and
annihilated so much the better. It still seems to me a marvellous thing
that there should not have been much and long-continued subsidence in
the beds of the great oceans. I wish that some doubly rich millionaire
would take it into his head to have borings made in some of the Pacific
and Indian atolls, and bring home cores for slicing from a depth of 500
or 600 feet. (535/4. In 1891 a Committee of the British Association was
formed for the investigation of an atoll by means of boring. The Royal
Society took up the scheme, and an expedition was sent to Funafuti, with
Prof. Sollas as leader. Another expedition left Sydney in 1897 under the
direction of Prof. Edgeworth David, and a deeper boring was made. The
Reports will be published in the "Philosophical Transactions," and will
contain Prof. David's notes upon the boring and the island generally,
Dr. Hinde's description of the microscopic structure of the cores and
other examinations of them, carried on at the Royal College of Science,
South Kensington. The boring reached a depth of 1114 feet; the cores
were found to consist entirely of reef-forming corals in situ and in
fragments, with foraminifera and calcareous algae; at the bottom there
were no traces of any other kind of rock. It seems, therefore, to us,
that unless it can be proved that reef-building corals began their work
at depths of at least 180 fathoms--far below that hitherto assigned--the
result gives the strongest support to Darwin's theory of subsidence; the
test which Darwin wished to be applied has been fairly tried, and the
verdict is entirely in his favour.)
2.IX.V. CLEAVAGE AND FOLIATION, 1846-1856.
LETTER 536. TO D. SHARPE.
(536/1. The following eight letters were written at a time when the
subjects of cleavage and foliation were already occupying the minds of
several geologists, including Sharpe, Sorby, Rogers, Haughton, Phillips,
and Tyndall. The paper by Sharpe referred to was published in 1847
("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume III.), and his ideas were amplified
in two later papers (ibid., Volume V., 1849, and "Phil. Trans." 1852).
Darwin's own views, based on his observations during the "Beagle"
expedition, had appeared in Chapter XIII. of "South America" (1846) and
in the "Manual of Scientific Enquiry" (1849), but are perhaps nowhere
so clearly expressed as in this correspondence. His most important
contribution to the question was in establishing the fact that foliation
is often a part of the same process as cleavage, and is in nowise
necessarily connected with planes of stratification. Herein he was
opposed to Lyell and the other geologists of the day, but time has
made good his position. The postscript to Letter 542 is especially
interesting. We are indebted to Mr. Harker, of St. John's College, for
this note.)
Down, August 23rd [1846?].
I must just send one line to thank you for your note, and to say
how heartily glad I am that you stick to the cleavage and foliation
question. Nothing will ever convince me that it is not a noble subject
of investigation, which will lead some day to great views. I think it
quite extraordinary how little the subject seems to interest British
geologists. You will, I think live to see the importance of your paper
recognised. (536/2. Probably the paper "On Slaty Cleavage." "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume III., page 74, 1847.) I had always thought
that Studer was one of the few geologists who had taken a correct and
enlarged view on the subject.
LETTER 537. TO D. SHARPE. Down [November 1846].
I have been much interested with your letter, and am delighted that
you have thought my few remarks worth attention. My observations on
foliation are more deserving confidence than those on cleavage; for
during my first year in clay-slate countries, I was quite unaware of
there being any marked difference between cleavage and stratification; I
well remember my astonishment at coming to the conclusion that they
were totally different actions, and my delight at subsequently reading
Sedgwick's views (537/1. "Remarks on the Structure of Large Mineral
Masses, and especially on the Chemical Changes produced in the
Aggregation of Stratified Rocks during different periods after their
Deposition." "Trans. Geol. Soc." Volume III., page 461, 1835. In the
section of this paper dealing with cleavage (page 469) Prof. Sedgwick
lays stress on the fact that "the cleavage is in no instance parallel
to the true beds."); hence at that time I was only just getting out of
a mist with respect to cleavage-laminae dipping inwards on mountain
flanks. I have certainly often observed it--so often that I thought
myself justified in propounding it as usual. I might perhaps have been
in some degree prejudiced by Von Buch's remarks, for which in those
days I had a somewhat greater deference than I now have. The Mount at
M. Video (page 146 of my book (537/2. "Geol. Obs. S. America." page 146.
The mount is described as consisting of hornblendic slate; "the laminae
of the slate on the north and south side near the summit dip inwards."))
is certainly an instance of the cleavage-laminae of a hornblendic schist
dipping inwards on both sides, for I examined this hill carefully
with compass in hand and notebook. I entirely admit, however, that a
conclusion drawn from striking a rough balance in one's mind is worth
nothing compared with the evidence drawn from one continuous line of
section. I read Studer's paper carefully, and drew the conclusion stated
from it; but I may very likely be in an error. I only state that I have
frequently seen cleavage-laminae dipping inwards on mountain sides;
that I cannot give up, but I daresay a general extension of the rule (as
might justly be inferred from the manner of my statement) would be quite
erroneous. Von Buch's statement is in his "Travels in Norway" (537/3.
"Travels through Norway and Lapland during the years 1806-8": London,
1813.); I have unfortunately lost the reference, and it is a high crime,
I confess, even to refer to an opinion without a precise reference. If
you never read these travels they might be worth skimming, chiefly as an
amusement; and if you like and will send me a line by the general
post of Monday or Tuesday, I will either send it up with Hopkins on
Wednesday, or bring it myself to the Geological Society. I am very glad
you are going to read Hopkins (537/4. "Researches in Physical Geology,"
by W. Hopkins. "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1839, page 381; ibid, 1842, page
43, etc.); his views appear to me eminently worth well comprehending;
false views and language appear to me to be almost universally held by
geologists on the formation of fissures, dikes and mountain chains. If
you would have the patience, I should be glad if you would read in my
"Volcanic Islands" from page 65, or even pages 54 to 72--viz., on
the lamination of volcanic rocks; I may add that I sent the series
of specimens there described to Professor Forbes of Edinburgh, and he
thought they bore out my views.
There is a short extract from Prof. Rogers (537/5. "On Cleavage of
Slate-strata." "Edinburgh New Phil. Journ." Volume XLI., page 422,
1846.) in the last "Edinburgh New Phil. Journal," well worth your
attention, on the cleavage of the Appalachian chain, and which seems far
more uniform in the direction of dip than in any case which I have met
with; the Rogers doctrine of the ridge being thrown up by great waves
I believe is monstrous; but the manner in which the ridges have been
thrown over (as if by a lateral force acting on one side on a higher
level than on the other) is very curious, and he now states that the
cleavage is parallel to the axis-planes of these thrown-over ridges.
Your case of the limestone beds to my mind is the greatest difficulty
on any mechanical doctrine; though I did not expect ever to find
actual displacement, as seems to be proved by your shell evidence. I am
extremely glad you have taken up this most interesting subject in such
a philosophical spirit; I have no doubt you will do much in it; Sedgwick
let a fine opportunity slip away. I hope you will get out another
section like that in your letter; these are the real things wanted.
LETTER 538. TO D. SHARPE. Down, [January 1847].
I am very much obliged for the MS., which I return. I do not quite
understand from your note whether you have struck out all on this point
in your paper: I much hope not; if you have, allow me to urge on you to
append a note, briefly stating the facts, and that you omitted them in
your paper from the observations not being finished.
I am strongly tempted to suspect that the cleavage planes will be proved
by you to have slided a little over each other, and to have been planes
of incipient tearing, to use Forbes' expression in ice; it will in that
case be beautifully analogical with my laminated lavas, and these in
composition are intimately connected with the metamorphic schists.
The beds without cleavage between those with cleavage do not weigh quite
so heavily on me as on you. You remember, of course, Sedgwick's facts
of limestone, and mine of sandstone, breaking in the line of cleavage,
transversely to the planes of deposition. If you look at cleavage as
I do, as the result of chemical action or crystalline forces,
super-induced in certain places by their mechanical state of tension,
then it is not surprising that some rocks should yield more or less
readily to the crystalline forces.
I think I shall write to Prof. Forbes (538/1. Prof. D. Forbes.) of
Edinburgh, with whom I corresponded on my laminated volcanic rocks, to
call his early attention to your paper.
LETTER 539. TO D. SHARPE. Down, October 16th [1851].
I am very much obliged to you for telling me the results of your
foliaceous tour, and I am glad you are drawing up an account for the
Royal Society. (539/1. "On the Arrangement of the Foliation and Cleavage
of the Rocks of the North of Scotland." "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1852,
page 445, with Plates XXIII. and XXIV.) I hope you will have a good
illustration or map of the waving line of junction of the slate and
schist with uniformly directed cleavage and foliation. It strikes me as
crucial. I remember longing for an opportunity to observe this point.
All that I say is that when slate and the metamorphic schists occur in
the same neighbourhood, the cleavage and foliation are uniform: of
this I have seen many cases, but I have never observed slate overlying
mica-slate. I have, however, observed many cases of glossy clay-slate
included within mica-schist and gneiss. All your other observations on
the order, etc., seem very interesting. From conversations with Lyell,
etc., I recommend you to describe in a little detail the nature of the
metamorphic schists; especially whether there are quasi-substrata of
different varieties of mica-slate or gneiss, etc.; and whether you
traced such quasi beds into the cleavage slate. I have not the least
doubt of such facts occurring, from what I have seen (and described at
M. Video) of portions of fine chloritic schists being entangled in the
midst of a gneiss district. Have you had any opportunity of tracing a
bed of marble? This, I think, from reasons given at page 166 of my
"S. America," would be very interesting. (539/2. "I have never had an
opportunity of tracing, for any distance, along the line both of strike
and dip, the so-called beds in the metamorphic schists, but I strongly
suspect that they would not be found to extend, with the same character,
very far in the line either of their dip or strike. Hence I am led to
believe that most of the so-called beds are of the nature of complex
folia, and have not been separately deposited. Of course, this view
cannot be extended to THICK masses included in the metamorphic series,
which are of totally different composition from the adjoining schists,
and which are far-extended, as is sometimes the case with quartz
and marble; these must generally be of the nature of true strata"
("Geological Observations," page 166).) A suspicion has sometimes
occurred to me (I remember more especially when tracing the clay-slate
at the Cape of Good Hope turning into true gneiss) that possibly all the
metamorphic schists necessarily once existed as clay-slate, and that
the foliation did not arise or take its direction in the metamorphic
schists, but resulted simply from the pre-existing cleavage. The
so-called beds in the metamorphic schists, so unlike common cleavage
laminae, seems the best, or at least one argument against such a
suspicion. Yet I think it is a point deserving your notice. Have you
thought at all over Rogers' Law, as he reiterates it, of cleavage being
parallel to his axes-planes of elevation?
If you know beforehand, will you tell me when your paper is read, for
the chance of my being able to attend? I very seldom leave home, as I
find perfect quietude suits my health best.
(PLATE: CHARLES DARWIN, Cir. 1854. Maull & Fox, photo. Walker &
Cockerell, ph. sc.)
LETTER 540. TO C. LYELL. Down, January 10th, 1855.
I received your letter yesterday, but was unable to answer it, as I had
to go out at once on business of importance. I am very glad that you
are reconsidering the subject of foliation; I have just read over what
I have written on the subject, and admire it very much, and abide by it
all. (540/1. "Geological Observations on South America," Chapter VI.,
1846.) You will not readily believe how closely I attended to the
subject, and in how many and wide areas I verified my remarks. I see I
have put pretty strongly the mechanical view of origin; but I might even
then, but was afraid, have put my belief stronger. Unfortunately I have
not D. Sharpe's paper here to look over, but I think his chief points
[are] (1) the foliation forming great symmetrical curves, and (2)
the proof from effects of form of shell (540/2. This refers to the
distortion of shells in cleaved rocks.) of the mechanical action in
cleaved rocks. The great curvature would be, I think, a grand discovery
of Sharpe's, but I confess there is some want of minuteness in the
statement of Sharpe which makes me wish to see his facts confirmed. That
the foliation and cleavage are parts of curves I am quite prepared,
from what I have seen, to believe; but the simplicity and grandeur of
Sharpe's curves rather stagger me. I feel deeply convinced that when
(and I and Sharpe have seen several most striking and obvious examples)
great neighbouring or alternating regions of true metamorphic schists
and clay-slate have their foliations and cleavage parallel, there is
no way of escaping the conclusion, that the layers of pure quartz,
feldspar, mica, chlorite, etc., etc., are due not to original
deposition, but to segregation; and this is I consider the point which I
have established. This is very odd, but I suspect that great metamorphic
areas are generally derived from the metamorphosis of clay-slate, and
not from alternating layers of ordinary sedimentary matter. I think you
have exactly put the chief difficulty in its strongest light--viz. what
would be the result of pure or nearly pure layers of very different
mineralogical composition being metamorphosed? I believe even such might
be converted into an ordinary varying mass of metamorphic schists. I am
certain of the correctness of my account of patches of chlorite schists
enclosed in other schist, and of enormous quartzose veins of segregation
being absolutely continuous and contemporaneous with the folia of
quartz, and such, I think, might be the result of the folia crossing
a true stratum of quartz. I think my description of the wonderful and
beautiful laminated volcanic rocks at Ascension would be worth your
looking at. (540/3. "Geological Observations on S. America," pages 166,
167; also "Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands," Chapter
III. (Ascension), 1844.)
LETTER 541. TO C. LYELL. Down, January 14th [1855].
We were yesterday and the day before house-hunting, so I could not
answer your letter. I hope we have succeeded in a house, after infinite
trouble, but am not sure, in York Place, Baker Street.
I do not doubt that I either read or heard from Sharpe about the
Grampians; otherwise from my own old suspicion I should not have
inserted the passage in the manual.
The laminated rocks at Ascension are described at page 54. (541/1.
"Volcanic Islands," page 54. "Singular laminated beds alternating with
and passing into obsidian.")
As far as my experience has gone, I should speak only of clay-slate
being associated with mica-slate, for when near the metamorphic schists
I have found stratification so gone that I should not dare to speak of
them as overlying them. With respect to the difficulty of beds of quartz
and marble, this has for years startled me, and I have longed (since I
have felt its force) to have some opportunity of testing this point,
for without you are sure that the beds of quartz dip, as well as strike,
parallel to the foliation, the case is only just like true strata of
sandstone included in clay-slate and striking parallel to the cleavage
of the clay-slate, but of course with different dip (excepting in those
rare cases when cleavage and stratification are parallel). Having this
difficulty before my eyes, I was much struck with MacCulloch's statement
(page 166 of my "S. America") about marble in the metamorphic series not
forming true strata.
(FIGURE 6.)
Your expectation of the metamorphic schists sending veins into
neighbouring rocks is quite new to me; but I much doubt whether you have
any right to assume fluidity from almost any amount of molecular
change. I have seen in fine volcanic sandstone clear evidence of all
the calcareous matter travelling at least 4 1/2 feet in distance to
concretions on either hand (page 113 of "S. America") (541/2. "Some
of these concretions (flattened spherical concretions composed of hard
calcareous sandstone, containing a few shells, occurring in a bed of
sandstone) were 4 feet in diameter, and in a horizontal line 9 feet
apart, showing that the calcareous matter must have been drawn to the
centres of attraction from a distance of four feet and a half on both
sides" ("Geological Observations on S. America," page 113).) I have not
examined carefully, from not soon enough seeing all the difficulties;
but I believe, from what I have seen, that the folia in the metamorphic
schists (I do not here refer to the so-called beds) are not of great
length, but thin out, and are succeeded by others; and the notion I have
of the molecular movements is shown in the indistinct sketch herewith
sent [Figure 6]. The quartz of the strata might here move into the
position of the folia without much more movement of molecules than in
the formation of concretions. I further suspect in such cases as this,
when there is a great original abundance of quartz, that great branching
contemporaneous veins of segregation (as sometimes called) of quartz
would be formed. I can only thus understand the relation which exists
between the distorted foliation (not appearing due to injection) and the
presence of such great veins.
I believe some gneiss, as the gneiss-granite of Humboldt, has been as
fluid as granite, but I do not believe that this is usually the case,
from the frequent alternations of glossy clay and chlorite slates, which
we cannot suppose to have been melted.
I am far from wishing to doubt that true sedimentary strata have been
converted into metamorphic schists: all I can say is, that in the three
or four great regions, where I could ascertain the relations of the
metamorphic schists to the neighbouring cleaved rocks, it was impossible
(as it appeared to me) to admit that the foliation was due to aqueous
deposition. Now that you intend agitating the subject, it will soon be
cleared up.
LETTER 542. TO C. LYELL. 27, York Place, Baker Street [1855].
I have received your letter from Down, and I have been studying my S.
American book.
I ought to have stated [it] more clearly, but undoubtedly in W. Tierra
del Fuego, where clay-slate passes by alternation into a grand district
of mica-schist, and in the Chonos Islands and La Plata, where glossy
slates occur within the metamorphic schists, the foliation is parallel
to the cleavage--i.e. parallel in strike and dip; but here comes, I am
sorry and ashamed to say, a great hiatus in my reasoning. I have assumed
that the cleavage in these neighbouring or intercalated beds was (as in
more distant parts) distinct from stratification. If you choose to
say that here the cleavage was or might be parallel to true bedding,
I cannot gainsay it, but can only appeal to apparent similarity to
the great areas of uniformity of strike and high angle--all certainly
unlike, as far as my experience goes, to true stratification. I have
long known how easily I overlook flaws in my own reasoning, and this is
a flagrant case. I have been amused to find, for I had quite forgotten,
how distinctly I give a suspicion (top of page 155) to the idea, before
Sharpe, of cleavage (not foliation) being due to the laminae forming
parts of great curves. (542/1. "I suspect that the varying and opposite
dips (of the cleavage-planes) may possibly be accounted for by the
cleavage-laminae...being parts of large abrupt curves, with their
summits cut off and worn down" ("Geological Observations on S. America,"
page 155). I well remember the fine section at the end of a region where
the cleavage (certainly cleavage) had been most uniform in strike and
most variable in dip.
I made with really great care (and in MS. in detail) observations on
a case which I believe is new, and bears on your view of metamorphosis
(page 149, at bottom). (Ibid., page 149.)
(FIGURE 7.)
In a clay-slate porphyry region, where certain thin sedimentary layers
of tuff had by self-attraction shortened themselves into little curling
pieces, and then again into crystals of feldspar of large size, and
which consequently were all strictly parallel, the series was perfect
and beautiful. Apparently also the rounded grains of quartz had in other
parts aggregated themselves into crystalline nodules of quartz. [Figure
7.]
I have not been able to get Sorby yet, but shall not probably have
anything to write on it. I am delighted you have taken up the subject,
even if I am utterly floored.
P.S.--I have a presentiment it will turn out that when clay-slate has
been metamorphosed the foliation in the resultant schist has been due
generally (if not, as I think, always) to the cleavage, and this to a
certain degree will "save my bacon" (please look at my saving clause,
page 167) (542/2. "As in some cases it appears that where a fissile rock
has been exposed to partial metamorphic action (for instance, from
the irruption of granite) the foliation has supervened on the already
existing cleavage-planes; so, perhaps in some instances, the foliation
of a rock may have been determined by the original planes of deposition
or of oblique current laminae. I have, however, myself never seen such
a case, and I must maintain that in most extensive metamorphic areas the
foliation is the extreme result of that process, of which cleavage is
the first effect" (Ibid., page 167).), but [with] other rocks than that,
stratification has been the ruling agent, the strike, but not the dip,
being in such cases parallel to any adjoining clay-slate. If this be
so, pre-existing planes of division, we must suppose on my view of the
cause, determining the lines of crystallisation and segregation, and
not planes of division produced for the first time during the act of
crystallisation, as in volcanic rocks. If this should ever be proved, I
shall not look back with utter shame at my work.
LETTER 543. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, September 8th [1856].
I got your letter of the 1st this morning, and a real good man you have
been to write. Of all the things I ever heard, Mrs. Hooker's pedestrian
feats beat them. My brother is quite right in his comparison of "as
strong as a woman," as a type of strength. Your letter, after what
you have seen in the Himalayas, etc., gives me a wonderful idea of the
beauty of the Alps. How I wish I was one-half or one-quarter as strong
as Mrs. Hooker: but that is a vain hope. You must have had some very
interesting work with glaciers, etc. When will the glacier structure
and motion ever be settled! When reading Tyndall's paper it seemed to me
that movement in the particles must come into play in his own doctrine
of pressure; for he expressly states that if there be pressure on all
sides, there is no lamination. I suppose I cannot have understood him,
for I should have inferred from this that there must have been movement
parallel to planes of pressure. (543/1. Prof. Tyndall had published
papers "On Glaciers," and "On some Physical Properties of Ice" ("Proc.
R. Inst." 1854-58) before the date of this letter. In 1856 he wrote
a paper entitled "Observations on 'The Theory of the Origin of Slaty
Cleavage,' by H.C. Sorby." "Phil. Mag." XII., 1856, page 129.)
Sorby read a paper to the Brit. Assoc., and he comes to the conclusion
that gneiss, etc., may be metamorphosed cleavage or strata; and I
think he admits much chemical segregation along the planes of division.
(543/2. "On the Microscopical Structure of Mica-schist:" "Brit. Ass.
Rep." 1856, page 78. See also Letters 540-542.) I quite subscribe to
this view, and should have been sorry to have been so utterly wrong, as
I should have been if foliation was identical with stratification.
I have been nowhere and seen no one, and really have no news of any kind
to tell you. I have been working away as usual, floating plants in salt
water inter alia, and confound them, they all sink pretty soon, but at
very different rates. Working hard at pigeons, etc., etc. By the way,
I have been astonished at the differences in the skeletons of domestic
rabbits. I showed some of the points to Waterhouse, and asked him
whether he could pretend that they were not as great as between species,
and he answered, "They are a great deal more." How very odd that no
zoologist should ever have thought it worth while to look to the real
structure of varieties...
2.IX.VI. AGE OF THE WORLD, 1868-1877.
LETTER 544. TO J. CROLL. Down, September 19th, 1868.
I hope that you will allow me to thank you for sending me your papers
in the "Phil. Magazine." (544/1. Croll published several papers in
the "Philosophical Magazine" between 1864 and the date of this letter
(1868).) I have never, I think, in my life been so deeply interested
by any geological discussion. I now first begin to see what a million
means, and I feel quite ashamed of myself at the silly way in which I
have spoken of millions of years. I was formerly a great believer in the
power of the sea in denudation, and this was perhaps natural, as most of
my geological work was done near sea-coasts and on islands. But it is a
consolation to me to reflect that as soon as I read Mr. Whitaker's paper
(544/2. "On Subaerial Denudation," and "On Cliffs and Escarpments of
the Chalk and Lower Tertiary Beds," "Geol. Mag." Volume IV., page 447,
1867.) on the escarpments of England, and Ramsay (544/3. "Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 185, 1862. "On the Glacial Origin of
certain Lakes in Switzerland, the Black Forest, Great Britain, Sweden,
North America, and elsewhere.') and Jukes' papers (544/4. "Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page 378, 1862. "On the Mode of Formation of
some River-Valleys in the South of Ireland."), I gave up in my own mind
the case; but I never fully realised the truth until reading your papers
just received. How often I have speculated in vain on the origin of the
valleys in the chalk platform round this place, but now all is clear. I
thank you cordially for having cleared so much mist from before my eyes.
LETTER 545. TO T. MELLARD READE. Down, February 9th, 1877.
I am much obliged for your kind note, and the present of your essay.
I have read it with great interest, and the results are certainly most
surprising. (545/1. Presidential Address delivered by T. Mellard Reade
before the Liverpool Geological Society ("Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc."
Volume III., pt. iii., page 211, 1877). See also "Examination of a
Calculation of the Age of the Earth, based upon the hypothesis of the
Permanence of Oceans and Continents." "Geol. Mag." Volume X., page 309,
1883.) It appears to me almost monstrous that Professor Tait should
say that the duration of the world has not exceeded ten million years.
(545/2. "Lecture on Some Recent Advances in Physical Science," by P.G.
Tait, London, 1876.) The argument which seems the most weighty in favour
of the belief that no great number of millions of years have elapsed
since the world was inhabited by living creatures is the rate at which
the temperature of the crust increases, and I wish that I could see this
argument answered.
LETTER 546. TO J. CROLL. Down, August 9th, 1877.
I am much obliged for your essay, which I have read with the greatest
interest. With respect to the geological part, I have long wished to see
the evidence collected on the time required for denudation, and you have
done it admirably. (546/1. In a paper "On the Tidal Retardation Argument
for the Age of the Earth" ("Brit. Assoc. Report," 1876, page 88), Croll
reverts to the influence of subaerial denudation in altering the form of
the earth as an objection to the argument from tidal retardation. He had
previously dealt with this subject in "Climate and Time," Chapter
XX., London, 1875.) I wish some one would in a like spirit compare
the thickness of sedimentary rocks with the quickest estimated rate of
deposition by a large river, and other such evidence. Your main argument
with respect to the sun seems to me very striking.
My son George desires me to thank you for his copy, and to say how much
he has been interested by it.
2.IX.VII. GEOLOGICAL ACTION OF EARTHWORMS, 1880-1882.
"My whole soul is absorbed with worms just at present." (From a letter
to Sir W. Thistleton-Dyer, November 26th, 1880.)
LETTER 547. TO T.H. FARRER (Lord Farrer).
(547/1. The five following letters, written shortly before and after the
publication of "The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of
Worms," 1881, deal with questions connected with Mr. Darwin's work on
the habits and geological action of earthworms.)
Down, October 20th, 1880.
What a man you are to do thoroughly whatever you undertake to do! The
supply of specimens has been magnificent, and I have worked at them for
a day and a half. I find a very few well-rounded grains of brick in
the castings from over the gravel walk, and plenty over the hole in the
field, and over the Roman floor. (547/2. See "The Formation of Vegetable
Mould," 1881, pages 178 et seq. The Roman remains formed part of a villa
discovered at Abinger, Surrey. Excavations were carried out, under Lord
Farrer's direction, in a field adjoining the ground in which the Roman
villa was first found, and extended observations were made by Lord
Farrer, which led Mr. Darwin to conclude that a large part of the fine
vegetable mould covering the floor of the villa had been brought up
from below by worms.) You have done me the greatest possible service
by making me more cautious than I should otherwise have been--viz., by
sending me the rubbish from the road itself; in this rubbish I find
very many particles, rounded (I suppose) by having been crushed, angles
knocked off, and somewhat rolled about. But not a few of the particles
may have passed through the bodies of worms during the years since the
road was laid down. I still think that the fragments are ground in the
gizzards of worms, which always contain bits of stone; but I must try
and get more evidence. I have to-day started a pot with worms in very
fine soil, with sharp fragments of hard tiles laid on the surface, and
hope to see in the course of time whether any of those become rounded. I
do not think that more specimens from Abinger would aid me...
LETTER 548. TO G.J. ROMANES. Down, March 7th.
I was quite mistaken about the "Gardeners' Chronicle;" in my index there
are only the few enclosed and quite insignificant references having any
relation to the minds of animals. When I returned to my work, I found
that I had nearly completed my statement of facts about worms plugging
up their burrows with leaves (548/1. Chapter II., of "The Formation
of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms," 1881, contains a
discussion on the intelligence shown by worms in the manner of plugging
up their burrows with leaves (pages 78 et seq.).), etc., etc., so I
waited until I had naturally to draw up a few concluding remarks. I hope
that it will not bore you to read the few accompanying pages, and in the
middle you will find a few sentences with a sort of definition of, or
rather discussion on, intelligence. I am altogether dissatisfied with
it. I tried to observe what passed in my own mind when I did the work
of a worm. If I come across a professed metaphysician, I will ask him
to give me a more technical definition, with a few big words about the
abstract, the concrete, the absolute, and the infinite; but seriously, I
should be grateful for any suggestions, for it will hardly do to assume
that every fool knows what "intelligent" means. (548/2. "Mr. Romanes,
who has specially studied the minds of animals, believes that we can
safely infer intelligence only when we see an individual profiting
by its own experience...Now, if worms try to drag objects into their
burrows, first in one way and then in another, until they at last
succeed, they profit, at least in each particular instance, by
experience" ("The Formation of Vegetable Mould," 1881, page 95).) You
will understand that the MS. is only the first rough copy, and will need
much correction. Please return it, for I have no other copy--only a few
memoranda. When I think how it has bothered me to know what I mean by
"intelligent," I am sorry for you in your great work on the minds of
animals.
I daresay that I shall have to alter wholly the MS.
LETTER 549. TO FRANCIS GALTON. Down, March 8th [1881].
Very many thanks for your note. I have been observing the [worm] tracks
on my walks for several months, and they occur (or can be seen) only
after heavy rain. As I know that worms which are going to die (generally
from the parasitic larva of a fly) always come out of their burrows,
I have looked out during these months, and have usually found in the
morning only from one to three or four along the whole length of my
walks. On the other hand, I remember having in former years seen scores
or hundreds of dead worms after heavy rain. (549/1. "After heavy
rain succeeding dry weather, an astonishing number of dead worms may
sometimes be seen lying on the ground. Mr. Galton informs me that on
one occasion (March, 1881), the dead worms averaged one for every
two-and-a-half paces in length on a walk in Hyde Park, four paces in
width" (loc. cit., page 14).) I cannot possibly believe that worms are
drowned in the course of even three or four days' immersion; and I am
inclined to conclude that the death of sickly (probably with parasites)
worms is thus hastened. I will add a few words to what I have said about
these tracks. Occasionally worms suffer from epidemics (of what nature I
know not) and die by the million on the surface of the ground. Your ruby
paper answers capitally, but I suspect that it is only for dimming the
light, and I know not how to illuminate worms by the same intensity of
light, and yet of a colour which permits the actinic rays to pass. I
have tried drawing triangles of damp paper through a small cylindrical
hole, as you suggested, and I can discover no source of error. (549/2.
Triangles of paper were used in experiments to test the intelligence of
worms (loc. cit., page 83).) Nevertheless, I am becoming more doubtful
about the intelligence of worms. The worst job is that they will do
their work in a slovenly manner when kept in pots (549/3. Loc. cit.,
page 75.), and I am beyond measure perplexed to judge how far such
observations are trustworthy.
LETTER 550. TO E. RAY LANKESTER.
(550/1. Mr. Lankester had written October 11th, 1881, to thank Mr.
Darwin for the present of the Earthworm book. He asks whether Darwin
knows of "any experiments on the influence of sea-water on earthworms.
I have assumed that it is fatal to them. But there is a littoral species
(Pontodrilus of Perrier) found at Marseilles." Lankester adds, "It is
a great pleasure and source of pride to me to see my drawing of the
earthworm's alimentary canal figuring in your pages."
Down, October 13th [1881].
I have been much pleased and interested by your note. I never actually
tried sea-water, but I was very fond of angling when a boy, and as I
could not bear to see the worms wriggling on the hook, I dipped them
always first in salt water, and this killed them very quickly. I
remember, though not very distinctly, seeing several earthworms dead on
the beach close to where a little brook entered, and I assumed that they
had been brought down by the brook, killed by the sea-water, and cast
on shore. With your skill and great knowledge, I have no doubt that you
will make out much new about the anatomy of worms, whenever you take up
the subject again.
LETTER 551. TO J.H. GILBERT. Down, January, 12th, 1882.
I have been much interested by your letter, for which I thank you
heartily. There was not the least cause for you to apologise for not
having written sooner, for I attributed it to the right cause, i.e. your
hands being full of work.
Your statement about the quantity of nitrogen in the collected castings
is most curious, and much exceeds what I should have expected. In lately
reading one of your and Mr. Lawes' great papers in the "Philosophical
Transactions" (551/1. The first Report on "Agricultural, Botanical,
and Chemical Results of Experiments on the Mixed Herbage of Permanent
Grassland, conducted for many years in succession on the same land," was
published in the "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society" in
1880, the second paper appeared in the "Phil. Trans." for 1882, and the
third in the "Phil. Trans." of 1900, Volume 192, page 139.) (the value
and importance of which cannot, in my opinion, be exaggerated) I
was struck with the similarity of your soil with that near here; and
anything observed here would apply to your land. Unfortunately I have
never made deep sections in this neighbourhood, so as to see how deep
the worms burrow, except in one spot, and here there had been left on
the surface of the chalk a little very fine ferruginous sand, probably
of Tertiary age; into this the worms had burrowed to a depth of 55 and
61 inches. I have never seen here red castings on the surface, but it
seems possible (from what I have observed with reddish sand) that much
of the red colour of the underlying clay would be discharged in passing
through the intestinal canal.
Worms usually work near the surface, but I have noticed that at certain
seasons pale-coloured earth is brought up from beneath the outlying
blackish mould on my lawn; but from what depth I cannot say. That some
must be brought up from a depth of four or five or six feet is certain,
as the worms retire to this depth during very dry and very cold weather.
As worms devour greedily raw flesh and dead worms, they could devour
dead larvae, eggs, etc., etc., in the soil, and thus they might locally
add to the amount of nitrogen in the soil, though not of course if the
whole country is considered. I saw in your paper something about
the difference in the amount of nitrogen at different depths in the
superficial mould, and here worms may have played a part. I wish that
the problem had been before me when observing, as possibly I might have
thrown some little light on it, which would have pleased me greatly.
2.IX.VIII. MISCELLANEOUS, 1846-1878.
(552/1. The following four letters refer to questions connected with the
origin of coal.)
LETTER 552. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, May [1846].
I am delighted that you are in the field, geologising or
palaeontologising. I beg you to read the two Rogers' account of the
Coal-fields of N. America; in my opinion they are eminently instructive
and suggestive. (552/1. "On the Physical Structure of the Appalachian
Chain," by W.B. and H.D. Rogers. Boston, 1843. See also "Geology of
Pennsylvania," by H.D. Rogers. 4 volumes. London and Philadelphia,
1843.) I can lend you their resume of their own labours, and, indeed, I
do not know that their work is yet published in full. L. Horner gives
a capital balance of difficulties on the Coal-theory in his last
Anniversary Address, which, if you have not read, will, I think,
interest you. (552/2. "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume II., 1846, page
170.) In a paper just read an author (552/3. "On the Remarkable Fossil
Trees lately discovered near St. Helen's." By E.W. Binney. "Phil.
Mag." Volume XXIV., page 165, 1844. On page 173 the author writes: "The
Stigmaria or Sigillaria, whichever name is to be retained... was a
tree that undoubtedly grew in water.") throws out the idea that the
Sigillaria was an aquatic plant (552/4. See "Life and Letters," I.,
pages 356 et seq.)--I suppose a Cycad-Conifer with the habits of the
mangrove. From simple geological reasoning I have for some time been led
to suspect that the great (and great and difficult it is) problem of
the Coal would be solved on the theory of the upright plants having been
aquatic. But even on such, I presume improbable notion, there are, as it
strikes me, immense difficulties, and none greater than the width of the
coal-fields. On what kind of coast or land could the plants have lived?
It is a grand problem, and I trust you will grapple with it. I shall
like much to have some discussion with you. When will you come here
again? I am very sorry to infer from your letter that your sister has
been ill.
LETTER 553. TO J.D. HOOKER. [June 2nd, 1847.]
I received your letter the other day, full of curious facts, almost all
new to me, on the coal-question. (553/1. Sir Joseph Hooker deals with
the formation of coal in his classical paper "On the Vegetation of the
Carboniferous Period, as compared with that of the Present Day." "Mem.
Geol. Surv. Great Britain," Volume II., pt. ii., 1848.) I will bring
your note to Oxford (553/2. The British Association met at Oxford in
1847.), and then we will talk it over. I feel pretty sure that some of
your purely geological difficulties are easily solvable, and I can, I
think, throw a very little light on the shell difficulty. Pray put
no stress in your mind about the alternate, neatly divided, strata of
sandstone and shale, etc. I feel the same sort of interest in the coal
question as a man does watching two good players at play, he knowing
little or nothing of the game. I confess your last letter (and this
you will think very strange) has almost raised Binney's notion (an old,
growing hobby-horse of mine) to the dignity of an hypothesis (553/3.
Binney suggested that the Coal-plants grew in salt water. (See Letters
102, 552.) Recent investigations have shown that several of the plants
of the Coal period possessed certain anatomical peculiarities, which
indicate xerophytic characteristics, and lend support to the view that
some at least of the plants grew in seashore swamps.), though very far
yet below the promotion of being properly called a theory.
I will bring the remainder of my species-sketch to Oxford to go over
your remarks. I have lately been getting a good many rich facts. I saw
the poor old Dean of Manchester (553/4. Dean Herbert.) on Friday, and
he received me very kindly. He looked dreadfully ill, and about an hour
afterwards died! I am most sincerely sorry for it.
LETTER 554. TO J.D. HOOKER. [May 12th, 1847.]
I cannot resist thanking you for your most kind note. Pray do not
think that I was annoyed by your letter. I perceived that you had been
thinking with animation, and accordingly expressed yourself strongly,
and so I understood it. Forefend me from a man who weighs every
expression with Scotch prudence. I heartily wish you all success in your
noble problem, and I shall be very curious to have some talk with you
and hear your ultimatum. (554/1. The above paragraph was published in
"Life and Letters," I., page 359.) I do really think, after Binney's
pamphlet (554/2. "On the Origin of Coal," "Mem. Lit. Phil. Soc."
Manchester Volume VIII., page 148, 1848.), it will be worth your while
to array your facts and ideas against an aquatic origin of the coal,
though I do not know whether you object to freshwater. I am sure I have
read somewhere of the cones of Lepidodendron being found round the
stump of a tree, or am I confusing something else? How interesting all
rooted--better, it seems from what you say, than upright--specimens
become.
I wish Ehrenberg would undertake a microscopical hunt for infusoria in
the underclay and shales; it might reveal something. Would a comparison
of the ashes of terrestrial peat and coal give any clue? (554/3. In an
article by M. F. Rigaud on "La Formation de la Houille," published in
the "Revue Scientifique," Volume II., page 385, 1894, the author lays
stress on the absence of certain elements in the ash of coals, which
ought to be present, on the assumption that the carbon has been derived
from plant tissues. If coal consists of altered vegetable debris, we
ought to find a certain amount of alkalies and phosphoric acid in
its ash. Had such substances ever been present, it is difficult to
understand how they could all have been removed by the solvent action of
water. (Rigaud's views are given at greater length in an article on the
"Structure and Formation of Coal," "Science Progress," Volume II., pages
355 and 431, 1895.)) Peat ashes are good manure, and coal ashes, except
mechanically, I believe are of little use. Does this indicate that the
soluble salts have been washed out? i.e., if they are NOT present. I go
up to Geological Council to-day--so farewell.
(554/4. In a letter to Sir Joseph Hooker, October 6th, 1847, Mr. Darwin,
in referring to the origin of Coal, wrote: "...I sometimes think it
could not have been formed at all. Old Sir Anthony Carlisle once said to
me gravely that he supposed Megatherium and such cattle were just sent
down from heaven to see whether the earth would support them, and I
suppose the coal was rained down to puzzle mortals. You must work the
coal well in India.")
LETTER 555. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, May 22nd, 1860.
Lyell tells me that Binney has published in Proceedings of Manchester
Society a paper trying to show that Coal plants must have grown in very
marine marshes. (555/1. "On the Origin of Coal," by E.W. Binney, "Mem.
Lit. Phil. Soc. Manchester," Volume VIII., 1848, page 148. Binney
examines the evidence on which dry land has been inferred to exist
during the formation of the Coal Measures, and comes to the conclusion
that the land was covered by water, confirming Brongniart's opinion that
Sigillaria was an aquatic plant. He believes the Sigillaria "grew in
water, on the deposits where it is now discovered, and that it is the
plant which in a great measure contributed to the formation of our
valuable beds of coal." (Loc. cit., page 193.)) Do you remember how
savage you were long years ago at my broaching such a conjecture?
LETTER 556. TO L. HORNER. Down [1846?].
I am truly pleased at your approval of my book (556/1. "Geological
Observations on South America," London, 1846.): it was very kind of
you taking the trouble to tell me so. I long hesitated whether I
would publish it or not, and now that I have done so at a good cost of
trouble, it is indeed highly satisfactory to think that my labour has
not been quite thrown away.
I entirely acquiesce in your criticism on my calling the Pampean
formation "recent" (556/2. "We must, therefore, conclude that the
Pampean formation belongs, in the ordinary geological sense of the word,
to the Recent Period." ("Geol. Obs." page 101).); Pleistocene would have
been far better. I object, however, altogether on principle (whether I
have always followed my principle is another question) to designate any
epoch after man. It breaks through all principles of classification
to take one mammifer as an epoch. And this is presupposing we know
something of the introduction of man: how few years ago all beds earlier
than the Pleistocene were characterised as being before the monkey
epoch. It appears to me that it may often be convenient to speak of an
Historical or Human deposit in the same way as we speak of an Elephant
bed, but that to apply it to an epoch is unsound.
I have expressed myself very ill, and I am not very sure that my notions
are very clear on this subject, except that I know that I have often
been made wroth (even by Lyell) at the confidence with which people
speak of the introduction of man, as if they had seen him walk on the
stage, and as if, in a geological chronological sense, it was more
important than the entry of any other mammifer.
You ask me to do a most puzzling thing, to point out what is newest in
my volume, and I found myself incapable of doing almost the same for
Lyell. My mind goes from point to point without deciding: what has
interested oneself or given most trouble is, perhaps quite falsely,
thought newest. The elevation of the land is perhaps more carefully
treated than any other subject, but it cannot, of course, be called new.
I have made out a sort of index, which will not take you a couple of
minutes to skim over, and then you will perhaps judge what seems newest.
The summary at the end of the book would also serve same purpose.
I do not know where E. de B. [Elie de Beaumont] has lately put forth
on the recent elevation of the Cordillera. He "rapported" favourably
on d'Orbigny, who in late times fires off a most Royal salute; every
volcano bursting forth in the Andes at the same time with their
elevation, the debacle thus caused depositing all the Pampean mud and
all the Patagonian shingle! Is not this making Geology nice and simple
for beginners?
We have been very sorry to hear of Bunbury's severe illness; I believe
the measles are often dangerous to grown-up people. I am very glad that
your last account was so much better.
I am astonished that you should have had the courage to go right through
my book. It is quite obvious that most geologists find it far easier to
write than to read a book.
Chapter I. and II.--Elevation of the land: equability on E. coast as
shown by terraces, page 19; length on W. coast, page 53; height at
Valparaiso, page 32; number of periods of rest at Coquimbo, page 49;
elevation within Human period near Lima greater than elsewhere observed;
the discussion (page 41) on non-horizontality of terraces perhaps one of
newest features--on formation of terraces rather newish.
Chapter III., page 65.--Argument of horizontal elevation of Cordillera
I believe new. I think the connection (page 54) between earthquake
[shocks] and insensible rising important.
Chapter IV.--The strangeness of the (Eocene) mammifers, co-existing with
recent shells.
Chapter V.--Curious pumiceous infusorial mudstone (page 118) of
Patagonia; climate of old Tertiary period, page 134. The subject which
has been most fertile in my mind is the discussion from page 135 to end
of chapter on the accumulation of fossiliferous deposits. (556/3. The
last section of Chapter V. treats of "the Absence of extensive modern
Conchiferous Deposits in South America; and on the contemporaneousness
of the older Tertiary Deposits at distant points being due to
contemporaneous movements of subsidence." Darwin expresses the view that
"the earth's surface oscillates up and down; and...during the elevatory
movements there is but a small chance of durable fossiliferous deposits
accumulating" (loc. cit., page 139).)
Chapter VI.--Perhaps some facts on metamorphism, but chiefly on the
layers in mica-slate, etc., being analogous to cleavage.
Chapter VII.--The grand up-and-down movements (and vertical silicified
trees) in the Cordillera: see summary, page 204 and page 240. Origin of
the Claystone porphyry formation, page 170.
Chapter VIII., page 224.--Mixture of Cretaceous and Oolitic forms (page
226)--great subsidence. I think (page 232) there is some novelty in
discussion on axes of eruption and injection. (page 247) Continuous
volcanic action in the Cordillera. I think the concluding summary (page
237) would show what are the most salient features in the book.
LETTER 557. TO C. LYELL. Shrewsbury [August 10th, 1846].
I was delighted to receive your letter, which was forwarded here to
me. I am very glad to hear about the new edition of the "Principles,"
(557/1. The seventh edition of the "Principles of Geology" was published
in 1847.), and I most heartily hope you may live to bring out half a
dozen more editions. There would not have been such books as d'Orbigny's
S. American Geology (557/2. "Voyage dans l'Amerique meridionale execute
pendant les Annees 1826-37." 6 volumes, Paris, 1835-43.) published, if
there had been seven editions of the "Principles" distributed in France.
I am rather sorry about the small type; but the first edition, my old
true love, which I never deserted for the later editions, was also in
small type. I much fear I shall not be able to give any assistance to
Book III. (557/3. This refers to Book III. of the "Principles"--"Changes
of the Organic World now in Progress.") I think I formerly gave my
few criticisms, but I will read it over again very soon (though I
am striving to finish my S. American Geology (557/4. "Geological
Observations on South America" was published in 1846.)) and see whether
I can give you any references. I have been thinking over the subject,
and can remember no one book of consequence, as all my materials (which
are in an absolute chaos on separate bits of paper) have been picked out
of books not directly treating of the subjects you have discussed, and
which I hope some day to attempt; thus Hooker's "Antarctic Flora" I have
found eminently useful (557/5. "Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M.S.
'Erebus' and 'Terror' in the Years 1839-43." I., "Flora Antarctica." 2
volumes, London, 1844-47.), and yet I declare I do not know what
precise facts I could refer you to. Bronn's "Geschichte" (557/6.
"Naturgeschichte der drei Reiche." H.E. Bronn, Stuttgart, 1834-49.)
which you once borrowed) is the only systematic book I have met with on
such subjects; and there are no general views in such parts as I have
read, but an immense accumulation of references, very useful to follow
up, but not credible in themselves: thus he gives hybrids from ducks and
fowls just as readily as between fowls and pheasants! You can have it
again if you like. I have no doubt Forbes' essay, which is, I suppose,
now fairly out, will be very good under geographical head. (557/7. "On
the Connection between the Distribution of the existing Fauna and Flora
of the British Isles, and the Geological Changes which have affected
their Area, especially during the Epoch of the Northern Drift," by E.
Forbes. "Memoirs of Geological Survey," Volume I., page 336, 1846.)
Kolreuter's German book is excellent on hybrids, but it will cost you a
good deal of time to work out any conclusion from his numerous details.
(557/8. Joseph Gottlieb Kolreuter's "Vorlaufige Nachricht von eininigen
das Geschlecht der Pflanzen betreffenden Versuchen und Beobachtungen."
Leipzig, 1761.) With respect to variation I have found nothing--but
minute details scattered over scores of volumes. But I will look over
Book III. again. What a quantity of work you have in hand! I almost wish
you could have finished America, and thus have allowed yourself rather
more time for the old "Principles"; and I am quite surprised that you
could possibly have worked your own new matter in within six weeks. Your
intention of being in Southampton will much strengthen mine, and I shall
be very glad to hear some of your American Geology news.
LETTER 558. TO L. HORNER. Down, Sunday [January 1847].
Your most agreeable praise of my book is enough to turn my head; I am
really surprised at it, but shall swallow it with very much gusto...
(558/1. "Geological Observations in S. America," London, 1846.)
E. de Beaumont measured the inclination with a sextant and artificial
horizon, just as you take the height of the sun for latitude.
With respect to my Journal, I think the sketches in the second edition
(558/2. "Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of
the Countries visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle.'" Edition II.
London, 1845.) are pretty accurate; but in the first they are not so,
for I foolishly trusted to my memory, and was much annoyed to find how
hasty and inaccurate many of my remarks were, when I went over my huge
pile of descriptions of each locality.
If ever you meet anyone circumstanced as I was, advise him not, on any
account, to give any sketches until his materials are fully worked out.
What labour you must be undergoing now; I have wondered at your patience
in having written to me two such long notes. How glad Mrs. Horner will
be when your address is completed. (558/3. Anniversary Address of the
President ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume III., page xxii, 1847).) I
must say that I am much pleased that you will notice my volume in your
address, for former Presidents took no notice of my two former volumes.
I am exceedingly glad that Bunbury is going on well.
LETTER 559. TO C. LYELL. Down, July 3rd [1849].
I don't know when I have read a book so interesting (559/1. "A Second
Visit to the United States of North America." 2 volumes, London, 1849.);
some of your stories are very rich. You ought to be made Minister of
Public Education--not but what I should think even that beneath the
author of the old "Principles." Your book must, I should think, do
a great deal of good and set people thinking. I quite agree with the
"Athenaeum" that you have shown how a man of science can bring his
powers of observation to social subjects. (559/2. "Sir Charles Lyell,
besides the feelings of a gentleman, seems to carry with him the best
habits of scientific observation into other strata than those of clay,
into other 'formations' than those of rock or river-margin." "The
Athenaeum," June 23rd, 1849, page 640.) You have made H. Wedgwood, heart
and soul, an American; he wishes the States would annex us, and was all
day marvelling how anyone who could pay his passage money was so foolish
as to remain here.
LETTER 560. TO C. LYELL. Down, [December, 1849].
(560/1. In this letter Darwin criticises Dana's statements in his volume
on "Geology," forming Volume X. of the "Wilkes Exploring Expedition,"
1849.)
...Dana is dreadfully hypothetical in many parts, and often as "d--d
cocked sure" as Macaulay. He writes however so lucidly that he is very
persuasive. I am more struck with his remarks on denudation than you
seem to be. I came to exactly the same conclusion in Tahiti, that the
wonderful valleys there (on the opposite extreme of the scale of wonder
[to] the valleys of New South Wales) were formed exclusively by fresh
water. He underrates the power of sea, no doubt, but read his remarks
on valleys in the Sandwich group. I came to the conclusion in S. America
(page 67) that the main effect of fresh water is to deepen valleys, and
sea to widen them; I now rather doubt whether in a valley or fiord...the
sea would deepen the rock at its head during the elevation of the land.
I should like to tour on the W. coast of Scotland, and attend to this.
I forget how far generally the shores of fiords (not straits) are
cliff-formed. It is a most interesting subject.
I return once again to Coral. I find he does not differ so much in
detail with me regarding areas of subsidence; his map is coloured on
some quite unintelligible principle, and he deduces subsidence from the
vaguest grounds, such as that the N. Marianne Islands must have subsided
because they are small, though long in volcanic action: and that the
Marquesas subsided because they are penetrated by deep bays, etc., etc.
I utterly disbelieve his statements that most of the atolls have
been lately raised a foot or two. He does not condescend to notice
my explanation for such appearances. He misrepresents me also when he
states that I deduce, without restriction, elevation from all fringing
reefs, and even from islands without any reefs! If his facts are true,
it is very curious that the atolls decrease in size in approaching the
vast open ocean S. of the Sandwich Islands. Dana puts me in a passion
several times by disputing my conclusions without condescending to
allude to my reasons; thus, regarding S. Lorenzo elevation, he is
pleased to speak of my "characteristic accuracy" (560/2. Dana's
"Geology" (Wilkes expedition), page 590.), and then gives difficulties
(as if his own) when they are stated by me, and I believe explained
by me--whereas he only alludes to a few of the facts. So in Australian
valleys, he does not allude to my several reasons. But I am forgetting
myself and running on about what can only interest myself. He strikes me
as a very clever fellow; I wish he was not quite so grand a generaliser.
I see little of interest except on volcanic action and denudation, and
here and there scattered remarks; some of the later chapters are very
bald.
LETTER 561. TO J.D. DANA. Down, December 5th, 1849.
I have not for some years been so much pleased as I have just been
by reading your most able discussion on coral reefs. I thank you most
sincerely for the very honourable mention you make of me. (561/1.
"United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1839-42 under the
Command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N." Volume X., "Geology," by J.D. Dana,
1849.) This day I heard that the atlas has arrived, and this completes
your munificent present to me. I have not yet come to the chapter
on subsidence, and in that I fancy we shall disagree, but in the
descriptive part our agreement has been eminently satisfactory to me,
and far more than I ever ventured to anticipate. I consider that now
the subsidence theory is established. I have read about half through
the descriptive part of the "Volcanic Geology" (561/2. Part of Dana's
"Geology" is devoted to volcanic action.) (last night I ascended the
peaks of Tahiti with you, and what I saw in my short excursion was most
vividly brought before me by your descriptions), and have been most
deeply interested by it. Your observations on the Sandwich craters
strike me as the most important and original of any that I have read
for a long time. Now that I have read yours, I believe I saw at the
Galapagos, at a distance, instances of those most curious fissures of
eruption. There are many points of resemblance between the Galapagos and
Sandwich Islands (even to the shape of the mound-like hills)--viz., in
the liquidity of the lavas, absence of scoriae, and tuff-craters. Many
of your scattered remarks on denudation have particularly interested me;
but I see that you attribute less to sea and more to running water than
I have been accustomed to do. After your remarks in your last very kind
letter I could not help skipping on to the Australian valleys (561/3.
Ibid., pages 526 et seq.: "The Formation of Valleys, etc., in New South
Wales."), on which your remarks strike me as exceedingly ingenious and
novel, but they have not converted me. I cannot conceive how the great
lateral bays could have been scooped out, and their sides rendered
precipitous by running water. I shall go on and read every word of your
excellent volume.
If you look over my "Geological Instructions" you will be amused to
see that I urge attention to several points which you have elaborately
discussed. (561/4. "A Manual of Scientific Enquiry, prepared for the use
of Her Majesty's Navy, and adapted for Travellers in General." Edited by
Sir John F.W. Herschel, Bart. London, 1849 (Section VI., "Geology." By
Charles Darwin).) I lately read a paper of yours on Chambers' book, and
was interested by it. I really believe the facts of the order described
by Chambers, in S. America, which I have described in my Geolog. volume.
This leads me to ask you (as I cannot doubt that you will have much
geological weight in N. America) to look to a discussion at page 135
in that volume on the importance of subsidence to the formation of
deposits, which are to last to a distant age. This view strikes me as of
some importance.
When I meet a very good-natured man I have that degree of badness of
disposition in me that I always endeavour to take advantage of him;
therefore I am going to mention some desiderata, which if you can supply
I shall be very grateful, but if not no answer will be required.
Thank you for your "Conspectus Crust.," but I am sorry to say I am not
worthy of it, though I have always thought the Crustacea a beautiful
subject. (561/5. "Conspectus Crustaceorum in orbis terrarum
circumnavigatione, C. Wilkes duce, collectorum." Cambridge (U.S.A.),
1847.)
LETTER 562. TO C. LYELL. [Down, March 9th, 1850.]
I am uncommonly much obliged to you for your address, which I had not
expected to see so soon, and which I have read with great interest.
(562/1. Anniversary Address of the President, "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc."
Volume VI., page 32, 1850.) I do not know whether you spent much time
over it, but it strikes me as extra well arranged and written--done
in the most artistic manner, to use an expression which I particularly
hate. Though I am necessarily pretty well familiar with your ideas from
your conversation and books, yet the whole had an original freshness
to me. I am glad that you broke through the routine of the President's
addresses, but I should be sorry if others did. Your criticisms on
Murchison were to me, and I think would be to many, particularly
acceptable. (562/2. In a paper "On the Geological Structure of the Alps,
etc." ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume V., page 157, 1849) Murchison
expressed his belief that the apparent inversion of certain Tertiary
strata along the flanks of the Alps afforded "a clear demonstration of
a sudden operation or catastrophe." It is this view of paroxysmal energy
that Lyell criticises in the address.) Capital, that metaphor of the
clock. (562/3. "In a word, the movement of the inorganic world is
obvious and palpable, and might be likened to the minute-hand of
a clock, the progress of which can be seen and heard, whereas the
fluctuations of the living creation are nearly invisible, and resemble
the motion of the hour-hand of a timepiece" (loc. cit., page xlvi).) I
shall next February be much interested by seeing your hour-hand of the
organic world going.
Many thanks for your kindness in taking the trouble to tell me of the
anniversary dinner. What a compliment that was which Lord Mahon paid me!
I never had so great a one. He must be as charming a man as his wife is
a woman, though I was formerly blind to his merit. Bunsen's speech must
have been very interesting and very useful, if any orthodox clergyman
were present. Your metaphor of the pebbles of pre-existing languages
reminds me that I heard Sir J. Herschel at the Cape say how he wished
some one would treat language as you had Geology, and study the existing
causes of change, and apply the deduction to old languages.
We are all pretty flourishing here, though I have been retrograding a
little, and I think I stand excitement and fatigue hardly better than in
old days, and this keeps me from coming to London. My cirripedial task
is an eternal one; I make no perceptible progress. I am sure that they
belong to the hour-hand, and I groan under my task.
LETTER 563. C. LYELL TO CHARLES DARWIN. April 23rd, 1855.
I have seen a good deal of French geologists and palaeontologists
lately, and there are many whom I should like to put on the R.S. Foreign
List, such as D'Archiac, Prevost, and others. But the man who has made
the greatest sacrifices and produced the greatest results, who has, in
fact, added a new period to the calendar, is Barrande.
The importance of his discoveries as they stand before the public fully
justify your choice of him; but what is unpublished, and which I
have seen, is, if possible, still more surprising. Thirty genera of
gasteropods (150 species) and 150 species of lamellibranchiate bivalves
in the Silurian! All obtained by quarries opened solely by him for
fossils. A man of very moderate fortune spending nearly all his capital
on geology, and with success.
E. Forbes' polarity doctrines are nearly overturned by the unpublished
discoveries of Barrande. (563/1. See note, Letter 41, Volume I.)
I have called Barrande's new period Cambrian (see "Manual," 5th
edition), and you will see why. I could not name it Protozoic, but had
Barrande called it Bohemian, I must have adopted that name. All the
French will rejoice if you confer an honour on Barrande. Dana is well
worthy of being a foreign member.
Should you succeed in making Barrande F.R.S., send me word.
LETTER 564. TO J.D. HOOKER. June 5th [1857].
(564/1. The following, which bears on the subject of medals, forms part
of the long letter printed in the "Life and Letters," II., page 100.)
I do not quite agree with your estimate of Richardson's merits. Do, I
beg you (whenever you quietly see), talk with Lyell on Prestwich: if
he agrees with Hopkins, I am silenced; but as yet I must look at the
correlation of the Tertiaries as one of the highest and most frightfully
difficult tasks a man could set himself, and excellent work, as I
believe, P. has done. (564/2. Prof. Prestwich had published numerous
papers dealing with Tertiary Geology before 1857. The contributions
referred to are probably those "On the Correlation of the Lower
Tertiaries of England with those of France and Belgium," "Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume X., 1854, page 454; and "On the Correlation of the
Middle Eocene Tertiaries of England, France, and Belgium," ibid., XII.,
1856, page 390.) I confess I do not value Hopkins' opinion on such a
point. I confess I have never thought, as you show ought to be done, on
the future. I quite agree, under all circumstances, with the propriety
of Lindley. How strange no new geologists are coming forward! Are there
not lots of good young chemists and astronomers or physicists? Fitton
is the only old geologist left who has done good work, except Sedgwick.
Have you thought of him? He would be a brilliant companion for Lindley.
Only it would never do to give Lyell a Copley and Sedgwick a Royal in
the same year. It seems wrong that there should be three Natural Science
medals in the same year. Lindley, Sedgwick, and Bunsen sounds well,
and Lyell next year for the Copley. (564/3. In 1857 a Royal medal was
awarded to John Lindley; Lyell received the Copley in 1858, and Bunsen
in 1860.) You will see that I am speculating as a mere idle amateur.
LETTER 565. TO S.P. WOODWARD. Down, May 27th [1856].
I am very much obliged to you for having taken the trouble to answer
my query so fully. I can now be at rest, for from what you say and from
what little I remember Forbes said, my point is unanswerable. The case
of Terebratula is to the point as far as it goes, and is negative.
I have already attempted to get a solution through geographical
distribution by Dr. Hooker's means, and he finds that the same genera
which have very variable species in Europe have other very variable
species elsewhere. This seems the general rule, but with some few
exceptions. I see from the several reasons which you assign, that there
is no hope of comparing the same genus at two different periods, and
seeing whether the tendency to vary is greater at one period in such
genus than at another period. The variability of certain genera or
groups of species strikes me as a very odd fact. (565/1. The late Dr.
Neumayr has dealt, to some extent, with this subject in "Die Stamme des
Thierreichs," Volume I., Wien, 1889.)
I shall have no points, as far as I can remember, to suggest for your
reconsideration, but only some on which I shall have to beg for a little
further information. However, I feel inclined very much to dispute your
doctrine of islands being generally ancient in comparison, I presume,
with continents. I imagine you think that islands are generally remnants
of old continents, a doctrine which I feel strongly disposed to doubt. I
believe them generally rising points; you, it seems, think them sinking
points.
LETTER 566. TO T.H. HUXLEY. Down, April 14th [1860].
Many thanks for your kind and pleasant letter. I have been much
interested by "Deep-sea Soundings,", and will return it by this post, or
as soon as I have copied a few sentences. (566/1. Specimens of the mud
dredged by H.M.S. "Cyclops" were sent to Huxley for examination, who
gave a brief account of them in Appendix A of Capt. Dayman's Report,
1858, under the title "Deep-sea Soundings in the North Atlantic.")
I think you said that some one was investigating the soundings. I
earnestly hope that you will ask the some one to carefully observe
whether any considerable number of the calcareous organisms are more or
less friable, or corroded, or scaling; so that one might form some crude
notion whether the deposition is so rapid that the foraminifera are
preserved from decay and thus are forming strata at this profound depth.
This is a subject which seems to me to have been much neglected in
examining soundings.
Bronn has sent me two copies of his Morphologische Studien uber die
Gestaltungsgesetze." (H.G. Bronn, "Morphologische Studien uber die
Gestaltungsgesetze der Naturkorper uberhaupt und der organischen
insbesondere": Leipzig, 1858.) It looks elementary. If you will write
you shall have the copy; if not I will give it to the Linnean Library.
I quite agree with the letter from Lyell that your extinguished
theologians lying about the cradle of each new science, etc., etc., is
splendid. (566/2. "Darwiniana, Collected Essays," Volume II., page 52.)
LETTER 567. TO T.H. HUXLEY. May 10th [1862 or later].
I have been in London, which has prevented my writing sooner. I am very
sorry to hear that you have been ill: if influenza, I can believe in any
degree of prostration of strength; if from over-work, for God's sake do
not be rash and foolish. You ask for criticisms; I have none to give,
only impressions. I fully agree with your "skimming-of-pot theory," and
very well you have put it. With respect [to] contemporaneity I nearly
agree with you, and if you will look to the d--d book, 3rd edition, page
349 you will find nearly similar remarks. (567/1. "When the marine forms
are spoken of as having changed simultaneously throughout the world, it
must not be supposed that this expression relates to the same year, or
to the same century, or even that it has a very strict geological sense;
for if all the marine animals now living in Europe, and all those that
lived in Europe during the Pleistocene period (a very remote period as
measured by years, including the whole Glacial epoch), were compared
with those now existing in South America or in Australia, the most
skilful naturalist would hardly be able to say whether the present or
the Pleistocene inhabitants of Europe resembled most closely those of
the Southern hemisphere." "Origin," Edition VI., page 298. The passage
in Edition III., page 350, is substantially the same.) But at page 22
of your Address, in my opinion you put your ideas too far. (567/2.
Anniversary Address to the Geological Society of London ("Quart. Journ.
Geol. Soc." Volume XVIII., page xl, 1862). As an illustration of the
misleading use of the term "contemporaneous" as employed by geologists,
Huxley gives the following illustration: "Now suppose that, a million
or two of years hence, when Britain has made another dip beneath the sea
and has come up again, some geologist applies this doctrine [i.e.,
the doctrine of the Contemporaneity of the European and of the North
American Silurians: proof of contemporaneity is considered to be
established by the occurrence of 60 per cent. of species in common], in
comparing the strata laid bare by the upheaval of the bottom, say, of
St. George's Channel with what may then remain of the Suffolk Crag.
Reasoning in the same way, he will at once decide the Suffolk Crag and
the St. George's Channel beds to be contemporaneous; although we happen
to know that a vast period...of time...separates the two" (loc. cit.,
page xlv). This address is republished in the "Collected Essays," Volume
VIII.; the above passage is at page 284.) I cannot think that
future geologists would rank the Suffolk and St. George's strata as
contemporaneous, but as successive sub-stages; they rank N. America
and British stages as contemporaneous, notwithstanding a percentage
of different species (which they, I presume, would account for by
geographical difference) owing to the parallel succession of the forms
in both countries. For terrestrial productions I grant that great errors
may creep in (567/3. Darwin supposes that terrestrial productions have
probably not changed to the same extent as marine organisms. "If the
Megatherium, Mylodon...had been brought to Europe from La Plata, without
any information in regard to their geological position, no one would
have suspected that they had co-existed with sea shells all still
living" ("Origin," Edition VI., page 298).); but I should require
strong evidence before believing that, in countries at all well-known,
so-called Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous strata could
be contemporaneous. You seem to me on the third point, viz., on
non-advancement of organisation, to have made a very strong case. I have
not knowledge or presumption enough to criticise what you say. I have
said what I could at page 363 of "Origin." It seems to me that the whole
case may be looked at from several points of view. I can add only
one miserable little special case of advancement in cirripedes. The
suspicion crosses me that if you endeavoured your best you would say
more on the other side. Do you know well Bronn in his last Entwickelung
(or some such word) on this subject? it seemed to me very well done.
(567/4. Probably "Untersuchungen uber die Entwickelungsgesetze der
organischen Welt wahrend der Bildungszeit unserer Erdoberflache,"
Stuttgart, 1858. Translated by W.S. Dallas in the "Ann. and Mag. Nat.
Hist." Volume IV., page 81.) I hope before you publish again you will
read him again, to consider the case as if you were a judge in a court
of appeal; it is a very important subject. I can say nothing against
your side, but I have an "inner consciousness" (a highly philosophical
style of arguing!) that something could be said against you; for I
cannot help hoping that you are not quite as right as you seem to be.
Finally, I cannot tell why, but when I finished your Address I felt
convinced that many would infer that you were dead against change of
species, but I clearly saw that you were not. I am not very well, so
good-night, and excuse this horrid letter.
LETTER 568. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, June 30th [1866].
I have heard from Sulivan (who, poor fellow, gives a very bad account
of his own health) about the fossils (568/1. In a letter to Huxley (June
4th, 1866) Darwin wrote: "Admiral Sulivan several years ago discovered
an astonishingly rich accumulation of fossil bones not far from the
Straits [of Magellan]...During many years it has seemed to me extremely
desirable that these should be collected; and here is an excellent
opportunity.")... The place is Gallegos, on the S. coast of Patagonia.
Sulivan says that in the course of two or three days all the boats in
the ship could be filled twice over; but to get good specimens out of
the hardish rock two or three weeks would be requisite. It would be a
grand haul for Palaeontology. I have been thinking over your lecture.
(568/2. A lecture on "Insular Floras" given at the British Association
meeting at Nottingham, August 27th, 1866, published in the "Gard.
Chron." 1867.) Will it not be possible to give enlarged drawings of
some leading forms of trees? You will, of course, have a large map, and
George tells me that he saw at Sir H. James', at Southampton, a map of
the world on a new principle, as seen from within, so that almost 4/5ths
of the globe was shown at once on a large scale. Would it not be worth
while to borrow one of these from Sir H. James as a curiosity to hang
up?
Remember you are to come here before Nottingham. I have almost finished
the last number of H. Spencer, and am astonished at its prodigality of
original thought. But the reflection constantly recurred to me that each
suggestion, to be of real value to science, would require years of work.
It is also very unsatisfactory, the impossibility of conjecturing where
direct action of external circumstances begins and ends--as he candidly
owns in discussing the production of woody tissue in the trunks of trees
on the one hand, and on the other in spines and the shells of nuts. I
shall like to hear what you think of this number when we meet.
LETTER 569. TO A. GAUDRY. Down, November 17th, 1868.
On my return home after a short absence I found your note of Nov. 9th,
and your magnificent work on the fossil animals of Attica. (569/1. The
"Geologie de l'Attique," 2 volumes 4to, 1862-7, is the only work of
Gaudry's of this date in Mr. Darwin's library.) I assure you that I feel
very grateful for your generosity, and for the honour which you have
thus conferred on me. I know well, from what I have already read of
extracts, that I shall find your work a perfect mine of wealth. One long
passage which Sir C. Lyell quotes from you in the 10th and last edition
of the "Principles of Geology" is one of the most striking which I
have ever read on the affiliation of species. (569/2. The quotation
in Lyell's "Principles," Edition X., Volume II., page 484, is from M.
Gaudry's "Animaux Fossiles de Pikermi," 1866, page 34:--
"In how different a light does the question of the nature of species now
present itself to us from that in which it appeared only twenty years
ago, before we had studied the fossil remains of Greece and the allied
forms of other countries. How clearly do these fossil relics point to
the idea that species, genera, families, and orders now so distinct have
had common ancestors. The more we advance and fill up the gaps, the more
we feel persuaded that the remaining voids exist rather in our knowledge
than in nature. A few blows of the pickaxe at the foot of the Pyrenees,
of the Himalaya, of Mount Pentelicus in Greece, a few diggings in the
sandpits of Eppelsheim, or in the Mauvaises Terres of Nebraska, have
revealed to us the closest connecting links between forms which seemed
before so widely separated. How much closer will these links be drawn
when Palaeontology shall have escaped from its cradle!")
LETTER 570. A. SEDGWICK TO CHARLES DARWIN.
(570/1. In May, 1870, Darwin "went to the Bull Hotel, Cambridge, to see
the boys, and for a little rest and enjoyment." (570/2. See "Life and
Letters," III., 125.) The following letter was received after his return
to Down.)
Trinity College, Cambridge, May 30th, 1870.
My dear Darwin,
Your very kind letter surprised me. Not that I was surprised at the
pleasant and very welcome feeling with which it was written. But I could
not make out what I had done to deserve the praise of "extraordinary
kindness to yourself and family." I would most willingly have done
my best to promote the objects of your visit, but you gave me no
opportunity of doing so. I was truly grieved to find that my joy at
seeing you again was almost too robust for your state of nerves, and
that my society, after a little while, became oppressive to you. But I
do trust that your Cambridge visit has done you no constitutional harm;
nay, rather that it has done you some good. I only speak honest truth
when I say that I was overflowing with joy when I saw you, and saw you
in the midst of a dear family party, and solaced at every turn by
the loving care of a dear wife and daughters. How different from my
position--that of a very old man, living in cheerless solitude! May god
help and cheer you all with the comfort of hopeful hearts--you and your
wife, and your sons and daughters!
You were talking about my style of writing,--I send you my last
specimen, and it will probably continue to be my last. It is the
continuation of a former pamphlet of which I have not one spare copy.
I do not ask you to read it. It is addressed to the old people in my
native Dale of Dent, on the outskirts of Westmorland. While standing
at the door of the old vicarage, I can see down the valley the Lake
mountains--Hill Bell at the head of Windermere, about twenty miles off.
On Thursday next (D.V.) I am to start for Dent, which I have not visited
for full two years. Two years ago I could walk three or four miles with
comfort. Now, alas! I can only hobble about on my stick.
I remain your true-hearted old friend A. Sedgwick.
LETTER 571. TO C. LYELL. Down, September 3rd [1874].
Many thanks for your very kind and interesting letter. I was glad to
hear at Southampton from Miss Heathcote a good account of your health
and strength.
With respect to the great subject to which you refer in your P.S.,
I always try to banish it from my mind as insoluble; but if I were
circumstanced as you are, no doubt it would recur in the dead of the
night with painful force. Many persons seem to make themselves quite
easy about immortality (571/1. See "Life and Letters," I., page 312.)
and the existence of a personal God, by intuition; and I suppose that I
must differ from such persons, for I do not feel any innate conviction
on any such points.
We returned home about ten days ago from Southampton, and I enjoyed
my holiday, which did me much good. But already I am much fatigued by
microscope and experimental work with insect-eating plants.
When at Southampton I was greatly interested by looking at the odd
gravel deposits near at hand, and speculating about their formation. You
once told me something about them, but I forget what; and I think that
Prestwich has written on the superficial deposits on the south coasts,
and I must find out his paper and read it. (571/2. Prof. Prestwich
contributed several papers to the Geological Society on the Superficial
Deposits of the South of England.)
From what I have seen of Mr. Judd's papers I have thought that he would
rank amongst the few leading British geologists.
LETTER 572. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(572/1. The following letter was written before Mr. Darwin knew that Sir
Charles Lyell was to be buried in Westminster Abbey, a memorial which
thoroughly satisfied him. See "Life and Letters," III., 197.)
Down, February 23rd, 1875.
I have just heard from Miss Buckley of Lyell's death. I have long felt
opposed to the present rage for testimonials; but when I think how
Lyell revolutionised Geology, and aided in the progress of so many other
branches of science, I wish that something could be done in his honour.
On the other hand it seems to me that a poor testimonial would be worse
than none; and testimonials seem to succeed only when a man has been
known and loved by many persons, as in the case of Falconer and Forbes.
Now, I doubt whether of late years any large number of scientific men
did feel much attachment towards Lyell; but on this head I am very ill
fitted to judge. I should like to hear some time what you think, and if
anything is proposed I should particularly wish to join in it. We have
both lost as good and as true a friend as ever lived.
LETTER 573. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(573/1. This letter shows the difficulty which the inscription for Sir
Charles Lyell's memorial gave his friends. The existing inscription is,
"Charles Lyell...Author of 'The Principles of Geology'...Throughout
a long and laborious life he sought the means of deciphering the
fragmentary records of the Earth's history in the patient investigation
of the present order of Nature, enlarging the boundaries of knowledge,
and leaving on Scientific thought an enduring influence..."
Down, June 21st [1876].
I am sorry for you about the inscription, which has almost burst me. We
think there are too many plurals in yours, and when read aloud it hisses
like a goose. I think the omission of some words makes it much stronger.
"World" (573/2. The suggested sentence runs: "he gave to the world the
results of his labour, etc.") is much stronger and truer than "public."
As Lyell wrote various other books and memoirs, I have some little
doubt about the "Principles of Geology." People here do not like your
"enduring value": it sounds almost an anticlimax. They do not much like
my "last (or endure) as long as science lasts." If one reads a sentence
often enough, it always becomes odious.
God help you.
LETTER 574. TO OSWALD HEER. Down, March 8th [1875].
I thank you for your very kind and deeply interesting letter of March
1st, received yesterday, and for the present of your work, which no
doubt I shall soon receive from Dr. Hooker. (574/1. "Flora Fossilis
Arctica," Volume III., 1874, sent by Prof. Heer through Sir Joseph
Hooker.) The sudden appearance of so many Dicotyledons in the Upper
Chalk appears to me a most perplexing phenomenon to all who believe
in any form of evolution, especially to those who believe in extremely
gradual evolution, to which view I know that you are strongly opposed.
(574/2. The volume referred to contains a paper on the Cretaceous
Flora of the Arctic Zone (Spitzbergen and Greenland), in which several
dicotyledonous plants are described. In a letter written by Heer to
Darwin the author speaks of a species of poplar which he describes as
the oldest Dicotyledon so far recorded.) The presence of even one true
Angiosperm in the Lower Chalk makes me inclined to conjecture that
plants of this great division must have been largely developed in
some isolated area, whence owing to geographical changes, they at last
succeeded in escaping, and spread quickly over the world. (574/3. No
satisfactory evidence has so far been brought forward of the occurrence
of fossil Angiosperms in pre-Cretaceous rocks. The origin of the
Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons remains one of the most difficult and
attractive problems of Palaeobotany.) (574/4. See Letters 395, 398.) But
I fully admit that this case is a great difficulty in the views which I
hold. Many as have been the wonderful discoveries in Geology during the
last half-century, I think none have exceeded in interest your results
with respect to the plants which formerly existed in the Arctic regions.
How I wish that similar collections could be made in the Southern
hemisphere, for instance in Kerguelen's Land.
The death of Sir C. Lyell is a great loss to science, but I do not think
to himself, for it was scarcely possible that he could have retained his
mental powers, and he would have suffered dreadfully from their loss.
The last time I saw him he was speaking with the most lively interest
about his last visit to you, and I was grieved to hear from him a very
poor account of your health. I have been working for some time on a
special subject, namely insectivorous plants. I do not know whether the
subject will interest you, but when my book is published I will have the
pleasure of sending you a copy.
I am very much obliged for your photograph, and enclose one of myself.
LETTER 574*. TO S.B.J. SKERTCHLY. March 2nd, 1878.
It is the greatest possible satisfaction to a man nearly at the close
of his career to believe that he has aided or stimulated an able and
energetic fellow-worker in the noble cause of science. Therefore your
letter has deeply gratified me. I am writing this away from home, as my
health failed, and I was forced to rest; and this will account for the
delay in answering your letter. No doubt on my return home I shall find
the memoir which you have kindly sent me. I shall read it with much
interest, as I have heard something of your work from Prof. Geikie, and
have read his admirable "Ice Age." (574/5. "The Great Ice Age and its
Relation to the Antiquity of Man": London, 1874. By James Geikie.) I
have noticed the criticisms on your work, but such opposition must
be expected by every one who draws fine grand conclusions, and such
assuredly are yours as abstracted in your letter. (574/6. Mr. S.B.J.
Skertchly recorded "the discovery of palaeolithic flint implements,
mammalian bones, and fresh-water shells in brick-earths below the
Boulder-clay of East Anglia," in a letter published in the "Geol. Mag."
Volume III., page 476, 1876. (See also "The Fenland, Past and Present."
S.H. Miller and S.B.J. Skertchly, London, 1878.) The conclusions of Mr.
Skertchly as to the pre-Glacial age of the flint implements were not
accepted by some authorities. (See correspondence in "Nature," Volume
XV., 1877, pages 141, 142.) We are indebted to Mr. Marr for calling
our attention to Mr. Skertchly's discovery.) What magnificent progress
Geology has made within my lifetime!
I shall have very great pleasure in sending you any of my books with my
autograph, but I really do not know which to send. It will cost you only
the trouble of a postcard to tell me which you would like, and it shall
soon be sent. Forgive this untidy note, as it is rather an effort to
write.
With all good wishes for your continued success in science and for your
happiness...
CHAPTER 2.X.--BOTANY, 1843-1871.
2.X.I. Miscellaneous.--2.X.II. Melastomaceae.--2.X.III. Correspondence
with John Scott.
2.X.I. MISCELLANEOUS, 1843-1862.
(PLATE: SIR JOSEPH HOOKER, 1897. From a Photograph by W.J. Hawker
Wimborne. Walker & Cockerell, ph. sc.)
LETTER 575. TO WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER. Down, March 12th [1843].
...When you next write to your son, will you please remember me kindly
to him and give him my best thanks for his note? I had the pleasure
yesterday of reading a letter from him to Mr. Lyell of Kinnordy, full of
the most interesting details and descriptions, and written (if I may be
permitted to make such a criticism) in a particularly agreeable style.
It leads me anxiously to hope, even more than I did before, that he will
publish some separate natural history journal, and not allow (if it can
be avoided) his materials to be merged in another work. I am very glad
to hear you talk of inducing your son to publish an Antarctic Flora.
I have long felt much curiosity for some discussion on the general
character of the flora of Tierra del Fuego, that part of the globe
farthest removed in latitude from us. How interesting will be a strict
comparison between the plants of these regions and of Scotland and
Shetland. I am sure I may speak on the part of Prof. Henslow that all
my collection (which gives a fair representation of the Alpine flora of
Tierra del Fuego and of Southern Patagonia) will be joyfully laid at his
disposal.
LETTER 576. TO JOHN LINDLEY. Down, Saturday [April 8th, 1843].
I take the liberty, at the suggestion of Dr. Royle, of forwarding to you
a few seeds, which have been found under very singular circumstances.
They have been sent to me by Mr. W. Kemp, of Galashiels, a (partially
educated) man, of whose acuteness and accuracy of observation, from
several communications on geological subjects, I have a VERY HIGH
opinion. He found them in a layer under twenty-five feet thickness of
white sand, which seems to have been deposited on the margins of an
anciently existing lake. These seeds are not known to the provincial
botanists of the district. He states that some of them germinated in
eight days after being planted, and are now alive. Knowing the interest
you took in some raspberry seeds, mentioned, I remember, in one of your
works, I hope you will not think me troublesome in asking you to have
these seeds carefully planted, and in begging you so far to oblige me as
to take the trouble to inform me of the result. Dr. Daubeny has started
for Spain, otherwise I would have sent him some. Mr. Kemp is anxious to
publish an account of his discovery himself, so perhaps you will be so
kind as to communicate the result to me, and not to any periodical. The
chance, though appearing so impossible, of recovering a plant lost to
any country if not to the world, appears to me so very interesting, that
I hope you will think it worth while to have these seeds planted, and
not returned to me.
LETTER 577. TO C. LYELL. [September, 1843.]
An interesting fact has lately, as it were, passed through my hands. A
Mr. Kemp (almost a working man), who has written on "parallel roads,"
and has corresponded with me (577/1. In a letter to Henslow, Darwin
wrote: "If he [Mr. Kemp] had not shown himself a most careful and
ingenious observer, I should have thought nothing of the case."), sent
me in the spring some seeds, with an account of the spot where they
were found, namely, in a layer at the bottom of a deep sand pit, near
Melrose, above the level of the river, and which sand pit he thinks must
have been accumulated in a lake, when the whole features of the valleys
were different, ages ago; since which whole barriers of rock, it
appears, must have been worn down. These seeds germinated freely, and
I sent some to the Horticultural Society, and Lindley writes to me that
they turn out to be a common Rumex and a species of Atriplex, which
neither he nor Henslow (as I have since heard) have ever seen, and
certainly not a British plant! Does this not look like a vivification of
a fossil seed? It is not surprising, I think, that seeds should last ten
or twenty thousand [years], as they have lasted two or three [thousand
years] in the Druidical mounds, and have germinated.
When not building, I have been working at my volume on the volcanic
islands which we visited; it is almost ready for press...I hope you will
read my volume, for, if you don't, I cannot think of anyone else who
will! We have at last got our house and place tolerably comfortable, and
I am well satisfied with our anchorage for life. What an autumn we have
had: completely Chilian; here we have had not a drop of rain or a cloudy
day for a month. I am positively tired of the fine weather, and long for
the sight of mud almost as much as I did when in Peru.
(577/2. The vitality of seeds was a subject in which Darwin continued to
take an interest. In July, 1855 ("Life and Letters," II., page 65),
he wrote to Hooker: "A man told me the other day of, as I thought, a
splendid instance--and splendid it was, for according to his evidence
the seed came up alive out of the lower part of the London Clay! I
disgusted him by telling him that palms ought to have come up."
In the "Gardeners' Chronicle," 1855, page 758, appeared a notice (half
a column in length) by Darwin on the "Vitality of Seeds." The facts
related refer to the "Sand-walk" at Down; the wood was planted in 1846
on a piece of pasture land laid down as grass in 1840. In 1855, on the
soil being dug in several places, Charlock (Brassica sinapistrum) sprang
up freely. The subject continued to interest him, and we find a note
dated July 2nd, 1874, in which Darwin recorded that forty-six plants
of Charlock sprang up in that year over a space (14 x 7 feet) which had
been dug to a considerable depth. In the course of the article in the
"Gardeners' Chronicle," Darwin remarks: "The power in seeds of retaining
their vitality when buried in damp soil may well be an element in
preserving the species, and therefore seeds may be specially endowed
with this capacity; whereas the power of retaining vitality in a dry
artificial condition must be an indirect, and in one sense accidental,
quality in seeds of little or no use to the species."
The point of view expressed in the letter to Lyell above given is of
interest in connection with the research of Horace Brown and F. Escombe
(577/3. "Proc. Roy. Soc." Volume LXII., page 160.) on the remarkable
power possessed by dry seeds of resistance to the temperature of liquid
air. The point of the experiment is that life continues at a temperature
"below that at which ordinary chemical reactions take place." A still
more striking demonstration of the fact has been made by Thiselton-Dyer
and Dewar who employed liquid hydrogen as a refrigerant. (577/4. Read
before the British Association (Dover), 1899, and published in the
"Comptes rendus," 1899, and in the "Proc. R. Soc." LXV., page 361,
1899.) The connection between these facts and the dormancy of buried
seeds is only indirect; but inasmuch as the experiment proves the
possibility of life surviving a period in which no ordinary chemical
change occurs, it is clear that they help one to believe in greatly
prolonged dormancy in conditions which tend to check metabolism. For a
discussion of the bearing of their results on the life-problem, and for
the literature of the subject, reference should be made to the paper by
Brown and Escombe. See also C. de Candolle "On Latent Life in Seeds,"
"Brit. Assoc. Report," 1896, page 1023 and F. Escombe, "Science
Progress," Volume I., N.S., page 585, 1897.)
LETTER 578. TO J.S. HENSLOW. Down, Saturday [November 5th, 1843].
I sent that weariful Atriplex to Babington, as I said I would, and
he tells me that he has reared a facsimile by sowing the seeds of A.
angustifolia in rich soil. He says he knows the A. hastata, and that it
is very different. Until your last note I had not heard that Mr. Kemp's
seeds had produced two Polygonums. He informs me he saw each plant bring
up the husk of the individual seed which he planted. I believe myself in
his accuracy, but I have written to advise him not to publish, for as
he collected only two kinds of seeds--and from them two Polygomuns, two
species or varieties of Atriplex and a Rumex have come up, any one would
say (as you suggested) that more probably all the seeds were in the
soil, than that seeds, which must have been buried for tens of thousands
of years, should retain their vitality. If the Atriplex had turned out
new, the evidence would indeed have been good. I regret this result of
poor Mr. Kemp's seeds, especially as I believed, from his statements and
the appearance of the seeds, that they did germinate, and I further have
no doubt that their antiquity must be immense. I am sorry also for the
trouble you have had. I heard the other day through a circuitous course
how you are astonishing all the clodhoppers in your whole part of the
county: and [what is] far more wonderful, as it was remarked to me, that
you had not, in doing this, aroused the envy of all the good surrounding
sleeping parsons. What good you must do to the present and all
succeeding generations. (578/1. For an account of Professor Henslow's
management of his parish of Hitcham see "Memoir of the Rev. John Stevens
Henslow, M.A." by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns: 8vo, London, 1862.)
LETTER 579. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, November 14th [1855].
You well know how credulous I am, and therefore you will not be
surprised at my believing the Raspberry story (579/1. This probably
refers to Lindley's story of the germination of raspberry seeds taken
from a barrow 1600 years old.): a very similar case is on record in
Germany--viz., seeds from a barrow; I have hardly zeal to translate it
for the "Gardeners' Chronicle." (579/2. "Vitality of Seeds," "Gardeners'
Chronicle," November 17th, 1855, page 758.) I do not go the whole
hog--viz., that sixty and two thousand years are all the same, for I
should imagine that some slight chemical change was always going on in a
seed. Is this not so? The discussions have stirred me up to send my very
small case of the charlock; but as it required some space to give all
details, perhaps Lindley will not insert; and if he does, you, you worse
than an unbelieving dog, will not, I know, believe. The reason I do
not care to try Mr. Bentham's plan is that I think it would be very
troublesome, and it would not, if I did not find seed, convince me
myself that none were in the earth, for I have found in my salting
experiments that the earth clings to the seeds, and the seeds are very
difficult to find. Whether washing would do I know not; a gold-washer
would succeed, I daresay.
LETTER 580. TO W.J. HOOKER.
Testimonial from Charles Darwin, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. and G.S., late
Naturalist to Captain Fitz-Roy's Voyage.
Down House, Farnborough, August 25th, 1845.
I have heard with much interest that your son, Dr. Hooker, is a
candidate for the Botanical Chair at Edinburgh. From my former
attendance at that University, I am aware how important a post it is for
the advancement of science, and I am therefore the more anxious for your
son's success, from my firm belief that no one will fulfil its duties
with greater zeal or ability. Since his return from the famous Antarctic
expedition, I have had, as you are aware, much communication with him,
with respect to the collections brought home by myself, and on other
scientific subjects; and I cannot express too strongly my admiration
at the accuracy of his varied knowledge, and at his powers of
generalisation. From Dr. Hooker's disposition, no one, in my opinion,
is more fitted to communicate to beginners a strong taste for those
pursuits to which he is himself so ardently devoted. For the sake of
the advancement of Botany in all its branches, your son has my warmest
wishes for his success.
LETTER 581. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, Thursday [June 11th, 1847].
Many thanks for your kindness about the lodgings--it will be of great
use to me. (581/1. The British Association met at Oxford in 1847.)
Please let me know the address if Mr. Jacobson succeeds, for I think I
shall go on the 22nd and write previously to my lodgings. I have since
had a tempting invitation from Daubeny to meet Henslow, etc., but upon
the whole, I believe, lodgings will answer best, for then I shall have a
secure solitary retreat to rest in.
I am extremely glad I sent the Laburnum (581/2. This refers to the
celebrated form known as Cytisus Adami, of which a full account is given
in "Variation of Animals and Plants," Volume I., Edition II., page 413.
It has been supposed to be a seminal hybrid or graft-hybrid between C.
laburnum and C. purpureus. It is remarkable for bearing "on the same
tree tufts of dingy red, bright yellow, and purple flowers, borne on
branches having widely different leaves and manner of growth." In a
paper by Camuzet in the "Annales de la Societe d'Horticulture de Paris,
XIII., 1833, page 196, the author tries to show that Cytisus Adami is
a seminal hybrid between C. alpinus and C. laburnum. Fuchs ("Sitz. k.
Akad. Wien," Bd. 107) and Beijerinck ("K. Akad. Amsterdam," 1900) have
spoken on Cytisus Adami, but throw no light on the origin of the hybrid.
See letters to Jenner Weir in the present volume.): the raceme grew in
centre of tree, and had a most minute tuft of leaves, which presented
no unusual appearance: there is now on one raceme a terminal bilateral
[i.e., half yellow, half purple] flower, and on other raceme a single
terminal pure yellow and one adjoining bilateral flower. If you would
like them I will send them; otherwise I would keep them to see whether
the bilateral flowers will seed, for Herbert (581/3. Dean Herbert.) says
the yellow ones will. Herbert is wrong in thinking there are no somewhat
analogous facts: I can tell you some, when we meet. I know not whether
botanists consider each petal and stamen an individual; if so, there
seems to me no especial difficulty in the case, but if a flower-bud is a
unit, are not their flowers very strange?
I have seen Dillwyn in the "Gardeners' Chronicle," and was disgusted
at it, for I thought my bilateral flowers would have been a novelty for
you.
(581/4. In a letter to Hooker, dated June 2nd, 1847, Darwin makes a bold
suggestion as to floral symmetry:--)
I send you a tuft of the quasi-hybrid Laburnum, with two kinds of
flowers on same stalk, and with what strikes [me] as very curious
(though I know it has been observed before), namely, a flower
bilaterally different: one other, I observe, has half its calyx purple.
Is this not very curious, and opposed to the morphological idea that a
flower is a condensed continuous spire of leaves? Does it not look as
if flowers were normally bilateral; just in the same way as we now know
that the radiating star-fish, etc., are bilateral? The case reminds me
of those insects with exactly half having secondary male characters and
the other half female.
(581/5. It is interesting to note his change of view in later years.
In an undated letter written to Mr. Spencer, probably in 1873, he
says: "With respect to asymmetry in the flowers themselves, I remain
contented, from all that I have seen, with adaptation to visits of
insects. There is, however, another factor which it is likely enough may
have come into play--viz., the protection of the anthers and pollen
from the injurious effects of rain. I think so because several flowers
inhabiting rainy countries, as A. Kerner has lately shown, bend their
heads down in rainy weather.")
LETTER 582. TO J.D. HOOKER. June [1855].
(582/1. This is an early example of Darwin's interest in the movements
of plants. Sleeping plants, as is well-known, may acquire a rhythmic
movement differing from their natural period, but the precise experiment
here described has not, as far as known, been carried out. See Pfeffer,
"Periodische Bewegungen," 1875, page 32.)
I thank you much for Hedysarum: I do hope it is not very precious,
for, as I told you, it is for probably a most foolish purpose. I read
somewhere that no plant closes its leaves so promptly in darkness, and I
want to cover it up daily for half an hour, and see if I can TEACH IT to
close by itself, or more easily than at first in darkness. I am rather
puzzled about its transmission, from not knowing how tender it is...
LETTER 583. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, July 19th, 1856.
I thank you warmly for the very kind manner with which you have taken my
request. It will, in truth, be a most important service to me; for it is
absolutely necessary that I should discuss single and double creations,
as a very crucial point on the general origin of species, and I must
confess, with the aid of all sorts of visionary hypotheses, a very
hostile one. I am delighted that you will take up possibility of
crossing, no botanist has done so, which I have long regretted, and I am
glad to see that it was one of A. De Candolle's desiderata. By the way,
he is curiously contradictory on subject. I am far from expecting that
no cases of apparent impossibility will be found; but certainly I expect
that ultimately they will disappear; for instance, Campanulaceae seems
a strong case, but now it is pretty clear that they must be liable to
crossing. Sweet-peas (583/1. In Lathyrus odoratus the absence of the
proper insect has been supposed to prevent crossing. See "Variation
under Domestication," Edition II., Volume II., page 68; but the
explanation there given for Pisum may probably apply to Lathyrus.),
bee-orchis, and perhaps hollyhocks are, at present, my greatest
difficulties; and I find I cannot experimentise by castrating
sweet-peas, without doing fatal injury. Formerly I felt most interest
on this point as one chief means of eliminating varieties; but I feel
interest now in other ways. One general fact [that] makes me believe in
my doctrine (583/2. The doctrine which has been epitomised as "Nature
abhors perpetual self-fertilisation," and is generally known as
Knight's Law or the Knight-Darwin Law, is discussed by Francis Darwin in
"Nature," 1898. References are there given to the chief passages in
the "Origin of Species," etc., bearing on the question. See Letter 19,
Volume I.), is that NO terrestrial animal in which semen is liquid is
hermaphrodite except with mutual copulation; in terrestrial plants in
which the semen is dry there are many hermaphrodites. Indeed, I do wish
I lived at Kew, or at least so that I could see you oftener. To return
again to subject of crossing: I have been inclined to speculate so far,
as to think (my!?) notion (I say MY notion, but I think others have put
forward nearly or quite similar ideas) perhaps explains the frequent
separation of the sexes in trees, which I think I have heard remarked
(and in looking over the mono- and dioecious Linnean classes in Persoon
seems true) are very apt to have sexes separated; for [in] a tree having
a vast number of flowers on the same individual, or at least the same
stock, each flower, if only hermaphrodite on the common plan, would
generally get its own pollen or only pollen from another flower on
same stock,--whereas if the sexes were separate there would be a better
chance of occasional pollen from another distinct stock. I have thought
of testing this in your New Zealand Flora, but I have no standard of
comparison, and I found myself bothered by bushes. I should propound
that some unknown causes had favoured development of trees and bushes
in New Zealand, and consequent on this there had been a development
of separation of sexes to prevent too much intermarriage. I do not, of
course, suppose the prevention of too much intermarriage the only good
of separation of sexes. But such wild notions are not worth troubling
you with the reading of.
LETTER 584. TO J.D. HOOKER. Moor Park [May 2nd, 1857].
The most striking case, which I have stumbled on, on apparent, but
false relation of structure of plants to climate, seems to be Meyer
and Doege's remark that there is not one single, even moderately-sized,
family at the Cape of Good Hope which has not one or several species
with heath-like foliage; and when we consider this together with the
number of true heaths, any one would have been justified, had it not
been for our own British heaths (584/1. It is well known that plants
with xerophytic characteristics are not confined to dry climates; it
is only necessary to mention halophytes, alpine plants and certain
epiphytes. The heaths of Northern Europe are placed among the xerophytes
by Warming ("Lehrbuch der okologischen Pflanzengeographie," page 234,
Berlin, 1896).), in saying that heath-like foliage must stand in direct
relation to a dry and moderately warm climate. Does this not strike you
as a good case of false relation? I am so pleased with this place and
the people here, that I am greatly tempted to bring Etty here, for she
has not, on the whole, derived any benefit from Hastings. With thanks
for your never failing assistance to me...
I remember that you were surprised at number of seeds germinating in
pond mud. I tried a fourth pond, and took about as much mud (rather
more than in former case) as would fill a very large breakfast cup, and
before I had left home 118 plants had come up; how many more will be up
on my return I know not. This bears on chance of birds by their muddy
feet transporting fresh-water plants.
This would not be a bad dodge for a collector in country when plants
were not in seed, to collect and dry mud from ponds.
LETTER 585. TO ASA GRAY. Down [1857].
I am very glad to hear that you think of discussing the relative ranges
of the identical and allied U. States and European species, when
you have time. Now this leads me to make a very audacious remark in
opposition to what I imagine Hooker has been writing (585/1. See Letter
338, Volume I.), and to your own scientific conscience. I presume he
has been urging you to finish your great "Flora" before you do anything
else. Now I would say it is your duty to generalise as far as you safely
can from your as yet completed work. Undoubtedly careful discrimination
of species is the foundation of all good work; but I must look at such
papers as yours in Silliman as the fruit. As careful observation is far
harder work than generalisation, and still harder than speculation, do
you not think it very possible that it may be overvalued? It ought never
to be forgotten that the observer can generalise his own observations
incomparably better than any one else. How many astronomers have
laboured their whole lives on observations, and have not drawn a single
conclusion; I think it is Herschel who has remarked how much better it
would be if they had paused in their devoted work and seen what they
could have deduced from their work. So do pray look at this side of the
question, and let us have another paper or two like the last admirable
ones. There, am I not an audacious dog!
You ask about my doctrine which led me to expect that trees would tend
to have separate sexes. I am inclined to believe that no organic being
exists which perpetually self-fertilises itself. This will appear very
wild, but I can venture to say that if you were to read my observations
on this subject you would agree it is not so wild as it will at first
appear to you, from flowers said to be always fertilised in bud, etc. It
is a long subject, which I have attended to for eighteen years. Now, it
occurred to me that in a large tree with hermaphrodite flowers, we will
say it would be ten to one that it would be fertilised by the pollen of
its own flower, and a thousand or ten thousand to one that if crossed
it would be crossed only with pollen from another flower of same tree,
which would be opposed to my doctrine. Therefore, on the great principle
of "Nature not lying," I fully expected that trees would be apt to be
dioecious or monoecious (which, as pollen has to be carried from flower
to flower every time, would favour a cross from another individual of
the same species), and so it seems to be in Britain and New Zealand. Nor
can the fact be explained by certain families having this structure
and chancing to be trees, for the rule seems to hold both in genera and
families, as well as in species.
I give you full permission to laugh your fill at this wild speculation;
and I do not pretend but what it may be chance which, in this case, has
led me apparently right. But I repeat that I feel sure that my doctrine
has more probability than at first it appears to have. If you had not
asked, I should not have written at such length, though I cannot give
any of my reasons.
The Leguminosae are my greatest opposers: yet if I were to trust to
observations on insects made during many years, I should fully expect
crosses to take place in them; but I cannot find that our garden
varieties ever cross each other. I do NOT ask you to take any trouble
about it, but if you should by chance come across any intelligent
nurseryman, I wish you would enquire whether they take any pains
in raising the varieties of papilionaceous plants apart to prevent
crossing. (I have seen a statement of naturally formed crossed Phaseoli
near N. York.) The worst is that nurserymen are apt to attribute all
varieties to crossing.
Finally I incline to believe that every living being requires an
occasional cross with a distinct individual; and as trees from the mere
multitude of flowers offer an obstacle to this, I suspect this obstacle
is counteracted by tendency to have sexes separated. But I have
forgotten to say that my maximum difficulty is trees having
papilionaceous flowers: some of them, I know, have their keel-petals
expanded when ready for fertilisation; but Bentham does not believe
that this is general: nevertheless, on principle of nature not lying, I
suspect that this will turn out so, or that they are eminently sought by
bees dusted with pollen. Again I do NOT ask you to take trouble, but if
strolling under your Robinias when in full flower, just look at stamens
and pistils whether protruded and whether bees visit them. I must just
mention a fact mentioned to me the other day by Sir W. Macarthur, a
clever Australian gardener: viz., how odd it was that his Erythrinas in
N.S. Wales would not set a seed, without he imitated the movements of
the petals which bees cause. Well, as long as you live, you will never,
after this fearfully long note, ask me why I believe this or that.
LETTER 586. TO ASA GRAY. June 18th [1857].
It has been extremely kind of you telling me about the trees: now with
your facts, and those from Britain, N. Zealand, and Tasmania I shall
have fair materials for judging. I am writing this away from home, but
I think your fraction of 95/132 is as large as in other cases, and is at
least a striking coincidence.
I thank you much for your remarks about my crossing notions, to which,
I may add, I was led by exactly the same idea as yours, viz., that
crossing must be one means of eliminating variation, and then I wished
to make out how far in animals and vegetables this was possible.
Papilionaceous flowers are almost dead floorers to me, and I cannot
experimentise, as castration alone often produces sterility. I am
surprised at what you say about Compositae and Gramineae. From what I
have seen of latter they seemed to me (and I have watched wheat,
owing to what L. de Longchamps has said on their fertilisation in bud)
favourable for crossing; and from Cassini's observations and Kolreuter's
on the adhesive pollen, and C.C. Sprengel's, I had concluded that the
Compositae were eminently likely (I am aware of the pistil brushing
out pollen) to be crossed. (586/1. This is an instance of the curious
ignorance of the essential principles of floral mechanism which was to
be found even among learned and accomplished botanists such as Gray,
before the publication of the "Fertilisation of Orchids." Even in 1863
we find Darwin explaining the meaning of dichogamy in a letter to Gray.)
If in some months' time you can find time to tell me whether you have
made any observations on the early fertilisation of plants in these two
orders, I should be very glad to hear, as it would save me from great
blunder. In several published remarks on this subject in various genera
it has seemed to me that the early fertilisation has been inferred
from the early shedding of the pollen, which I think is clearly a false
inference. Another cause, I should think, of the belief of fertilisation
in the bud, is the not-rare, abnormal, early maturity of the pistil as
described by Gartner. I have hitherto failed in meeting with detailed
accounts of regular and normal impregnation in the bud. Podostemon and
Subularia under water (and Leguminosae) seem and are strongest cases
against me, as far as I as yet know. I am so sorry that you are so
overwhelmed with work; it makes your VERY GREAT kindness to me the more
striking.
It is really pretty to see how effectual insects are. A short time ago
I found a female holly sixty measured yards from any other holly, and
I cut off some twigs and took by chance twenty stigmas, cut off their
tops, and put them under the microscope: there was pollen on every one,
and in profusion on most! weather cloudy and stormy and unfavourable,
wind in wrong direction to have brought any.
LETTER 587. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, January 12th [1858].
I want to ask a question which will take you only few words to answer.
It bears on my former belief (and Asa Gray strongly expressed opinion)
that Papilionaceous flowers were fatal to my notion of there being no
eternal hermaphrodites. First let me say how evidence goes. You will
remember my facts going to show that kidney-beans require visits of bees
to be fertilised. This has been positively stated to be the case with
Lathyrus grandiflorus, and has been very partially verified by me.
Sir W. Macarthur tells me that Erythrina will hardly seed in Australia
without the petals are moved as if by bee. I have just met the statement
that, with common bean, when the humble-bees bite holes at the base
of the flower, and therefore cease visiting the mouth of the corolla,
"hardly a bean will set." But now comes a much more curious statement,
that [in] 1842-43, "since bees were established at Wellington (New
Zealand), clover seeds all over the settlement, WHICH IT DID NOT
BEFORE." (587/1. See Letter 362, Volume I.) The writer evidently has no
idea what the connection can be. Now I cannot help at once connecting
this statement (and all the foregoing statements in some degree support
each other, as all have been advanced without any sort of theory) with
the remarkable absence of Papilionaceous plants in N. Zealand. I see in
your list Clianthus, Carmichaelia (four species), a new genus, a shrub,
and Edwardsia (is latter Papilionaceous?). Now what I want to know is
whether any of these have flowers as small as clover; for if they
have large flowers they may be visited by humble-bees, which I think I
remember do exist in New Zealand; and which humble-bees would not visit
the smaller clover. Even the very minute little yellow clover in England
has every flower visited and revisited by hive-bees, as I know by
experience. Would it not be a curious case of correlation if it could be
shown to be probable that herbaceous and small Leguminosae do not exist
because when [their] seeds [are] washed ashore (!!!) no small bees exist
there. Though this latter fact must be ascertained. I may not prove
anything, but does it not seem odd that so many quite independent facts,
or rather statements, should point all in one direction, viz., that bees
are necessary to the fertilisation of Papilionaceous flowers?
LETTER 588. TO JOHN LUBBOCK (Lord Avebury). Sunday [1859].
Do you remember calling my attention to certain flowers in the truss
of Pelargoniums not being true, or not having the dark shade on the two
upper petals? I believe it was Lady Lubbock's observation. I find, as
I expected, it is always the central or sub-central flower; but what is
far more curious, the nectary, which is blended with the peduncle of
the flowers, gradually lessens and quite disappears (588/1. This fact
is mentioned in Maxwell Masters' "Vegetable Teratology" (Ray Society's
Publications), 1869, page 221.), as the dark shade on the two upper
petals disappears. Compare the stalk in the two enclosed parcels, in
each of which there is a perfect flower.
Now, if your gardener will not be outrageous, do look over your
geraniums and send me a few trusses, if you can find any, having the
flowers without the marks, sending me some perfect flowers on same
truss. The case seems to me rather a pretty one of correlation of
growth; for the calyx also becomes slightly modified in the flowers
without marks.
LETTER 589. TO MAXWELL MASTERS. Down, April 7th [1860].
I hope that you will excuse the liberty which I take in writing to you
and begging a favour. I have been very much interested by the abstract
(too brief) of your lecture at the Royal Institution. Many of the facts
alluded to are full of interest for me. But on one point I should be
infinitely obliged if you could procure me any information: namely, with
respect to sweet-peas. I am a great believer in the natural crossing of
individuals of the same species. But I have been assured by Mr. Cattell
(589/1. The nurseryman he generally dealt with.), of Westerham, that the
several varieties of sweet-pea can be raised close together for a number
of years without intercrossing. But on the other hand he stated that
they go over the beds, and pull up any false plant, which they very
naturally attribute to wrong seeds getting mixed in the lot. After many
failures, I succeeded in artificially crossing two varieties, and the
offspring out of the same pod, instead of being intermediate, was very
nearly like the two pure parents; yet in one, there was a trace of the
cross, and these crossed peas in the next generation showed still more
plainly their mongrel origin. Now, what I want to know is, whether there
is much variation in sweet-peas which might be owing to natural crosses.
What I should expect would be that they would keep true for many years,
but that occasionally, perhaps at long intervals, there would be a
considerable amount of crossing of the varieties grown close together.
Can you give, or obtain from your father, any information on this head,
and allow me to quote your authority? It would really be a very great
favour and kindness.
LETTER 590. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(590/1. The genera Scaevola and Leschenaultia, to which the following
letter refers, belong to the Goodeniaceae (Goodenovieae, Bentham &
Hooker), an order allied to the Lobeliaceae, although the mechanism
of fertilisation resembles rather more nearly that of Campanula. The
characteristic feature of the flower in this order is the indusium, or,
as Delpino (590/2. Delpino's observations on Dichogamy, summarised by
Hildebrand in "Bot. Zeitung," 1870, page 634.) calls it, the "collecting
cup": this cuplike organ is a development of the style, and serves the
same function as the hairs on the style of Campanula, namely, that of
taking the pollen from the anthers and presenting it to the visiting
insect. During this stage the immature stigma is at the bottom of the
cup, and though surrounded by pollen is incapable of being pollinated.
In most genera of the order the pollen is pushed out of the indusium by
the growth of the style or stigma, very much as occurs in Lobelia or
the Compositae. Finally the style emerges from the indusium (590/3.
According to Hamilton ("Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales," X., 1895, page
361) the stigma rarely grows beyond the indusium in Dampiera. In the
same journal (1885-6, page 157, and IX., 1894, page 201) Hamilton
has given a number of interesting observations on Goodenia, Scaevola,
Selliera, Brunonia. There seem to be mechanisms for cross- and also
for self-fertilisation.), the stigmas open out and are pollinated from
younger flowers. The mechanism of fertilisation has been described by
F. Muller (590/4. In a letter to Hildebrand published in the "Bot.
Zeitung," 1868, page 113.), and more completely by Delpino (loc. cit.).
Mr. Bentham wrote a paper (590/5. "Linn. Soc. Journal," 1869, page 203.)
on the style and stigma in the Goodenovieae, where he speaks of Mr.
Darwin's belief that fertilisation takes place outside the indusium.
This statement, which we imagine Mr. Bentham must have had from an
unpublished source, was incomprehensible to him as long as he confined
his work to such genera as Goodenia, Scaevola, Velleia, Coelogyne,
in which the mechanism is much as above described; but on examining
Leschenaultia the meaning became clear. Bentham writes of this
genus:--"The indusium is usually described as broadly two-lipped,
without any distinct stigma. The fact appears to be that the upper less
prominent lip is stigmatic all over, inside and out, with a transverse
band of short glandular hairs at its base outside, while the lower more
prominent lip is smooth and glabrous, or with a tuft of rigid hairs.
Perhaps this lower lip and the upper band of hairs are all that
correspond to the indusium of other genera; and the so-called upper lip,
outside of which impregnation may well take place, as observed by Mr.
Darwin, must be regarded as the true stigma."
Darwin's interest in the Goodeniaceae was due to the mechanism being
apparently fitted for self-fertilisation. In 1871 a writer signing
himself F.W.B. made a communication to the "Gardeners' Chronicle"
(590/6. 1871, page 1103.), in which he expresses himself as "agreeably
surprised" to find Leschenaultia adapted for self-fertilisation, or at
least for self-pollinisation. This led Darwin to publish a short note in
the same journal, in which he describes the penetration of pollen-tubes
into the viscid surface on the outside of the indusium. (590/7. 1871,
page 1166. He had previously written in the "Journal of Horticulture and
Cottage Gardener," May 28th, 1861, page 151:--"Leschenaultia formosa has
apparently the most effective contrivance to prevent the stigma of one
flower ever receiving a grain of pollen from another flower; for the
pollen is shed in the early bud, and is there shut up round the stigma
within a cup or indusium. But some observations led me to suspect that
nevertheless insect agency here comes into play; for I found by holding
a camel-hair pencil parallel to the pistil, and moving it as if it were
a bee going to suck the nectar, the straggling hairs of the brush opened
the lip of the indusium, entered it, stirred up the pollen, and brought
out some grains. I did this to five flowers, and marked them. These
five flowers all set pods; whereas only two other pods set on the whole
plant, though covered with innumerable flowers...I wrote to Mr. James
Drummond, at Swan River in Australia,...and he soon wrote to me that he
had seen a bee cleverly opening the indusium and extracting pollen.")
He also describes how a brush, pushed into the flower in imitation of
an insect, presses "against the slightly projecting lower lip of the
indusium, opens it, and some of the hairs enter and become smeared
with pollen." The yield of pollen is therefore differently arranged in
Leschenaultia; for in the more typical genera it depends on the growth
of the style inside the indusium. Delpino, however (see Hildebrand's
version, loc. cit.), describes a similar opening of the cup produced by
pressure on the hairs in some genera of the order.)
Down, June 7th [1860].
Best and most beloved of men, I supplicate and entreat you to observe
one point for me. Remember that the Goodeniaceae have weighed like an
incubus for years on my soul. It relates to Scaevola microcarpa. I
find that in bud the indusium collects all the pollen splendidly, but,
differently from Leschenaultia, cannot be afterwards easily opened.
Further, I find that at an early stage, when the flower first opens, a
boat-shaped stigma lies at the bottom of the indusium, and further
that this stigma, after the flower has some time expanded, grows very
rapidly, when the plant is kept hot, and pushes out of the indusium a
mass of pollen; and at same time two horns project at the corners of the
indusium. Now the appearance of these horns makes me suppose that these
are the stigmatic surfaces. Will you look to this? for if they be by the
relative position of the parts (with indusium and stigma bent at right
angles to style) [I am led to think] that an insect entering a flower
could not fail to have [its] whole back (at the period when, as I have
seen, a whole mass of pollen is pushed out) covered with pollen, which
would almost certainly get rubbed on the two horns. Indeed, I doubt
whether, without this aid, pollen would get on to the horns. What
interests me in the case is the analogy in result with the Lobelia, but
by very different means. In Lobelia the stigma, before it is mature,
pushes by its circular brush of hairs the pollen out of the conjoined
anthers; here the indusium collects pollen, and then the growth of the
stigma pushes it out. In the course of about 1 1/2 hour, I found an
indusium with hairs on the outer edge perfectly clogged with pollen, and
horns protruded, which before the 1 1/2 hour had not one grain of pollen
outside the indusium, and no trace of protruding horns. So you will see
how I wish to know whether the horns are the true stigmatic surfaces. I
would try the case experimentally by putting pollen on the horns, but my
greenhouse is so cold, and my plant so small, and in such a little pot,
that I suppose it would not seed...
The little length of stigmatic horns at the moment when pollen is forced
out of the indusium, compared to what they ultimately attain, makes me
fancy that they are not then mature or ready, and if so, as in Lobelia,
each flower must be fertilised by pollen from another and earlier
flower.
How curious that the indusium should first so cleverly collect pollen
and then afterwards push it out! Yet how closely analogous to Campanula
brushing pollen out of the anther and retaining it on hairs till the
stigma is ready. I am going to try whether Campanula sets seed without
insect agency.
LETTER 591. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(591/1. The following letters are given here rather than in
chronological order, as bearing on the Leschenaultia problem. The latter
part of Letter 591 refers to the cleistogamic flowers of Viola.)
Down, May 1st [1862].
If you can screw out time, do look at the stigma of the blue
Leschenaultia biloba. I have just examined a large bud with the indusium
not yet closed, and it seems to me certain that there is no stigma
within. The case would be very important for me, and I do not like to
trust solely to myself. I have been impregnating flowers, but it is
rather difficult...
I have just looked again at Viola canina. The case is odder: only 2
stamens which embrace the stigma have pollen; the 3 other stamens have
no anther-cells and no pollen. These 2 fertile anthers are of different
shape from the 3 sterile others, and the scale representing the
lower lip is larger and differently shaped from the 4 other scales
representing 4 other petals.
In V. odorata (single flower) all five stamens produce pollen. But I
daresay all this is known.
LETTER 592. TO J.D. HOOKER. November 3rd [1862].
Do you remember the scarlet Leschenaultia formosa with the sticky margin
outside the indusium? Well, this is the stigma--at least, I find the
pollen-tubes here penetrate and nowhere else. What a joke it would be if
the stigma is always exterior, and this by far the greatest difficulty
in my crossing notions should turn out a case eminently requiring insect
aid, and consequently almost inevitably ensuring crossing. By the
way, have you any other Goodeniaceae which you could lend me, besides
Leschenaultia and Scaevola, of which I have seen enough?
I had a long letter the other day from Crocker of Chichester; he has the
real spirit of an experimentalist, but has not done much this summer.
LETTER 593. TO F. MULLER. Down, April 9th and 15th [1866].
I am very much obliged by your letter of February 13th, abounding with
so many highly interesting facts. Your account of the Rubiaceous plant
is one of the most extraordinary that I have ever read, and I am glad
you are going to publish it. I have long wished some one to observe the
fertilisation of Scaevola, and you must permit me to tell you what I
have observed. First, for the allied genus of Leschenaultia: utterly
disbelieving that it fertilises itself, I introduced a camel-hair brush
into the flower in the same way as a bee would enter, and I found that
the flowers were thus fertilised, which never otherwise happens; I then
searched for the stigma, and found it outside the indusium with the
pollen-tubes penetrating it; and I convinced Dr. Hooker that botanists
were quite wrong in supposing that the stigma lay inside the indusium.
In Scaevola microcarpa the structure is very different, for the immature
stigma lies at the base within the indusium, and as the stigma grows it
pushes the pollen out of the indusium, and it then clings to the hairs
which fringe the tips of the indusium; and when an insect enters the
flower, the pollen (as I have seen) is swept from these long hairs on to
the insect's back. The stigma continues to grow, but is not apparently
ready for impregnation until it is developed into two long protruding
horns, at which period all the pollen has been pushed out of the
indusium. But my observations are here at fault, for I did not observe
the penetration of the pollen-tubes. The case is almost parallel with
that of Lobelia. Now, I hope you will get two plants of Scaevola, and
protect one from insects, leaving the other uncovered, and observe the
results, both in the number of capsules produced, and in the average
number of seeds in each. It would be well to fertilise half a dozen
flowers under the net, to prove that the cover is not injurious to
fertility.
With respect to your case of Aristolochia, I think further observation
would convince you that it is not fertilised only by larvae, for in a
nearly parallel case of an Arum and a Aristolochia, I found that insects
flew from flower to flower. I would suggest to you to observe any cases
of flowers which catch insects by their probosces, as occurs with
some of the Apocyneae (593/1. Probably Asclepiadeae. See H. Muller,
"Fertilisation of Flowers," page 396.); I have never been able to
conceive for what purpose (if any) this is effected; at the same time,
if I tempt you to neglect your zoological work for these miscellaneous
observations I shall be guilty of a great crime.
To return for a moment to the indusium: how curious it is that the
pollen should be thus collected in a special receptacle, afterwards to
be swept out by insects' agency!
I am surprised at what you tell me about the fewness of the flowers of
your native orchids which produce seed-capsules. What a contrast with
our temperate European species, with the exception of some species of
Ophrys!--I now know of three or four cases of self-fertilising orchids,
but all these are provided with means for an occasional cross.
I am sorry to say Dr. Cruger is dead from a fever.
I received yesterday your paper in the "Botanische Zeitung" on the wood
of climbing plants. (593/2. Fritz Muller, "Ueber das Holz einiger um
Desterro wachsenden Kletterpflanzen." "Botanische Zeitung," 1866, pages
57, 65.) I have read as yet only your very interesting and curious
remarks on the subject as bearing on the change of species; you have
pleased me by the very high compliments which you pay to my paper. I
have been at work since March 1st on a new English edition (593/3. The
4th Edition.) of my "Origin," of which when published I will send you a
copy. I have much regretted the time it has cost me, as it has stopped
my other work. On the other hand, it will be useful for a new third
German edition, which is now wanted. I have corrected it largely, and
added some discussions, but not nearly so much as I wished to do, for,
being able to work only two hours daily, I feared I should never get it
finished. I have taken some facts and views from your work "Fur Darwin";
but not one quarter of what I should like to have quoted.
LETTER 594. TO A.G. MORE. Down, June 24th, 1860.
I hope that you will forgive the liberty which I take in writing to you
and requesting a favour. Mr. H.C. Watson has given me your address, and
has told me that he thought that you would be willing to oblige me. Will
you please to read the enclosed, and then you will understand what I
wish observed with respect to the bee-orchis. (594/1. Ophrys apifera.)
What I especially wish, from information which I have received since
publishing the enclosed, is that the state of the pollen-masses should
be noted in flowers just beginning to wither, in a district where the
bee-orchis is extremely common. I have been assured that in parts of
Isle of Wight, viz., Freshwater Gate, numbers occur almost crowded
together: whether anything of this kind occurs in your vicinity I know
not; but, if in your power, I should be infinitely obliged for any
information. As I am writing, I will venture to mention another wish
which I have: namely, to examine fresh flowers and buds of the Aceras,
Spiranthes, marsh Epipactis, and any other rare orchis. The point which
I wish to examine is really very curious, but it would take too long
space to explain. Could you oblige me by taking the great trouble to
send me in an old tin canister any of these orchids, permitting me, of
course, to repay postage? It would be a great kindness, but perhaps I am
unreasonable to make such a request. If you will inform me whether you
have leisure so far to oblige me, I would tell you my movements, for on
account of my own health and that of my daughter, I shall be on the move
for the next two or three weeks.
I am sure I have much cause to apologise for the liberty which I have
taken...
LETTER 595. TO A.G. MORE. Down, August 3rd, 1860.
I thank you most sincerely for sending me the Epipactis [palustris]. You
can hardly imagine what an interesting morning's work you have given me,
as the rostellum exhibited a quite new modification of structure. It has
been extremely kind of you to take so very much trouble for me. Have you
looked at the pollen-masses of the bee-Ophrys? I do not know whether the
Epipactis grows near to your house: if it does, and any object takes you
to the place (pray do not for a moment think me so very unreasonable
as to ask you to go on purpose), would you be so kind [as] to watch
the flowers for a quarter of an hour, and mark whether any insects (and
what?) visit these flowers.
I should suppose they would crawl in by depressing the terminal portion
of the labellum; and that when within the flower this terminal portion
would resume its former position; and lastly, that the insect in
crawling out would not depress the labellum, but would crawl out at back
of flower. (595/1. The observations of Mr. William Darwin on Epipactis
palustris given in the "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., 1877,
page 99, bear on this point. The chief fertilisers are hive-bees, which
are too big to crawl into the flower. They cling to the labellum, and
by depressing it open up the entrance to the flower. Owing to the
elasticity of the labellum and its consequent tendency to spring up
when released, the bees, "as they left the flower, seemed to fly rather
upwards." This agrees with Darwin's conception of the mechanism of the
flower as given in the first edition of the Orchid book, 1862, page 100,
although at that time he imagined that the fertilising insect crawled
into the flower. The extreme flexibility and elasticity of the labellum
was first observed by Mr. More (see first edition, page 99). The
description of the flower given in the above letter to Mr. More is not
quite clear; the reader is referred to the "Fertilisation of Orchids,"
loc. cit.) An insect crawling out of a recently opened flower would,
I believe, have parts of the pollen-masses adhering to the back or
shoulder. I have seen this in Listera. How I should like to watch the
Epipactis.
If you can it any time send me Spiranthes or Aceras or O. ustulata, you
would complete your work of kindness.
P.S.--If you should visit the Epipactis again, would you gather a few of
the lower flowers which have been opened for some time and have begun
to wither a little, and observe whether pollen is well cleared out of
anther-case. I have been struck with surprise that in nearly all the
lower flowers sent by you, though much of the pollen has been removed,
yet a good deal of pollen is left wasted within the anthers. I observed
something of this kind in Cephalanthera grandiflora. But I fear that you
will think me an intolerable bore.
LETTER 596. TO A.G. MORE. Down, August 5th, 1860.
I am infinitely obliged for your most clearly stated observations on
the bee-orchis. It is now perfectly clear that something removes the
pollen-masses far more with you than in this neighbourhood. But I am
utterly puzzled about the foot-stalk being so often cut through. I
should suspect snails. I yesterday found thirty-nine flowers, and of
them only one pollen-mass in three flowers had been removed, and as
these were extremely much-withered flowers I am not quite sure of
the truth of this. The wind again is a new element of doubt. Your
observations will aid me extremely in coming to some conclusion. (596/1.
Mr. More's observations on the percentage of flowers in which the
pollinia were absent are quoted in "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition
I., page 68.) I hope in a day or two to receive some day-moths, on the
probosces of which I am assured the pollen-masses of the bee-orchis
still adhere (596/2. He was doomed to disappointment. On July 17th,
1861, he wrote to Mr. More:--"I found the other day a lot of bee-Ophrys
with the glands of the pollinia all in their pouches. All facts point
clearly to eternal self-fertilisation in this species; yet I cannot
swallow the bitter pill. Have you looked at any this year?")...
I wrote yesterday to thank you for the Epipactis. For the chance of your
liking to look at what I have found: take a recently opened flower, drag
gently up the stigmatic surface almost any object (the side of a hooked
needle), and you will find the cap of the hemispherical rostellum comes
off with a touch, and being viscid on under-surface, clings to needle,
and as pollen-masses are already attached to the back of rostellum, the
needle drags out much pollen. But to do this, the curiously projecting
and fleshy summits of anther-cases must at some time be pushed back
slightly. Now when an insect's head gets into the flower, when the flap
of the labellum has closed by its elasticity, the insect would naturally
creep out by the back-side of the flower. And mark when the insect flies
to another flower with the pollen-masses adhering to it, if the flap of
labellum did not easily open and allow free ingress to the insect, it
would surely rub off the pollen on the upper petals, and so not leave
it on stigma. It is to know whether I have rightly interpreted the
structure of this whole flower that I am so curious to see how insects
act. Small insects, I daresay, would crawl in and out and do nothing. I
hope that I shall not have wearied you with these details.
If you would like to see a pretty and curious little sight, look
to Orchis pyramidalis, and you will see that the sticky glands are
congenitally united into a saddle-shaped organ. Remove this under
microscope by pincers applied to foot-stalk of pollen-mass, and look
quickly at the spontaneous movement of the saddle-shaped organs and see
how beautifully adapted to seize proboscis of moth.
LETTER 597. TO J.D. HOOKER December 4th [1860].
Many thanks about Apocynum and Meyen.
The latter I want about some strange movements in cells of Drosera,
which Meyen alone seems to have observed. (597/1. No observations of
Meyen are mentioned in "Insectivorous Plants.") It is very curious, but
Trecul disbelieves that Drosera really clasps flies! I should very much
wish to talk over Drosera with you. I did chloroform it, and the leaves
which were already expanded did not recover thirty seconds of exposure
for three days. I used the expression weight for the bit of hair which
caused movement and weighed 1/78000 of a grain; but I do not believe it
is weight, and what it is, I cannot after many experiments conjecture.
(597/2. The doubt here expressed as to whether the result is due to
actual weight is interesting in connection with Pfeffer's remarkable
discovery that a smooth object in contact with the gland produces no
effect if the plant is protected from all vibration; on an ordinary
table the slight shaking which reaches the plant is sufficient to make
the body resting on the gland tremble, and thus produce a series of
varying pressures--under these circumstances the gland is irritated, and
the tentacle moves. See Pfeffer, "Untersuchungen aus d. bot. Institut
zu Tubingen," Volume I., 1885, page 483; also "Insectivorous Plants,"
Edition II., page 22.) The movement in this case does not depend on
the chemical nature of substance. Latterly I have tried experiments on
single glands, and a microscopical atom of raw meat causes such rapid
movement that I could see it move like hand of clock. In this case it
is the nature of the object. It is wonderful the rapidity of the
absorption: in ten seconds weak solution of carbonate of ammonia changes
not the colour, but the state of contents within the glands. In two
minutes thirty seconds juice of meat has been absorbed by gland and
passed from cell to cell all down the pedicel (or hair) of the gland,
and caused the sap to pass from the cells on the upper side of the
pedicel to the lower side, and this causes the curvature of the pedicel.
I shall work away next summer when Drosera opens again, for I am much
interested in subject. After the glandular hairs have curved, the oddest
changes take place--viz., a segregation of the homogeneous pink fluid
and necessary slow movements in the thicker matter. By Jove, I sometimes
think Drosera is a disguised animal! You know that I always so like
telling you what I do, that you must forgive me scribbling on my beloved
Drosera. Farewell. I am so very glad that you are going to reform your
ways; I am sure that you would have injured your health seriously. There
is poor Dana has done actually nothing--cannot even write a letter--for
a year, and it is hoped that in another YEAR he may quite recover.
After this homily, good night, my dear friend. Good heavens, I ought
not to scold you, but thank you, for writing so long and interesting a
letter.
LETTER 598. TO E. CRESY. Down, December 12th [1860?].
After writing out the greater part of my paper on Drosera, I thought of
so many points to try, and I wished to re-test the basis of one large
set of experiments, namely, to feel still more sure than I am, that a
drop of plain water never produces any effect, that I have resolved
to publish nothing this year. For I found in the record of my daily
experiments one suspicious case. I must wait till next summer. It will
be difficult to try any solid substances containing nitrogen, such
as ivory; for two quite distinct causes excite the movement, namely,
mechanical irritation and presence of nitrogen. When a solid substance
is placed on leaf it becomes clasped, but is released sooner than when a
nitrogenous solid is clasped; yet it is difficult (except with raw meat
and flies) to be sure of the result, owing to differences in vigour of
different plants. The last experiments which I tried before my
plants became too languid are very curious, and were tried by putting
microscopical atoms on the gland itself of single hairs; and it is
perfectly evident that an atom of human hair, 1/76000 of a grain (as
ascertained by weighing a length of hair) in weight, causes conspicuous
movement. I do not believe (for atoms of cotton thread acted) it is the
chemical nature; and some reasons make me doubt whether it is
actual weight; it is not the shadow; and I am at present, after many
experiments, confounded to know what the cause is. That these atoms did
really act and alter the state of the contents of all the cells in the
glandular hair, which moved, was perfectly clear. But I hope next summer
to make out a good deal more...
LETTER 599. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, May 14th [1861].
I have been putting off writing from day to day, as I did not wish to
trouble you, till my wish for a little news will not let me rest...
I have no news to tell you, for I have had no interesting letters for
some time, and have not seen a soul. I have been going through the
"Cottage Gardener" of last year, on account chiefly of Beaton's articles
(599/1. Beaton was a regular contributor to the "Cottage Gardener," and
wrote various articles on cross breeding, etc., in 1861. One of these
was in reply to a letter published in the "Cottage Gardener," May
14th, 1861, page 112, in which Darwin asked for information as to the
Compositae and the hollyhock being crossed by insect visitors. In the
number for June 8th, 1861, page 211, Darwin wrote on the variability of
the central flower of the carrot and the peloria of the central flower
in Pelargonium. An extract from a letter by Darwin on Leschenaultia,
"Cottage Gardener," May 28th, 1861, page 151, is given in Letter 590,
note.); he strikes me as a clever but d--d cock-sure man (as Lord
Melbourne said), and I have some doubts whether to be much trusted. I
suspect he has never recorded his experiment at the time with care. He
has made me indignant by the way he speaks of Gartner, evidently
knowing nothing of his work. I mean to try and pump him in the
"Cottage Gardener," and shall perhaps defend Gartner. He alludes to me
occasionally, and I cannot tell with what spirit. He speaks of "this Mr.
Darwin" in one place as if I were a very noxious animal.
Let me have a line about poor Henslow pretty soon.
(599/2. In a letter of May 18th, 1861, Darwin wrote again:--)
By the way, thanks about Beaton. I have now read more of his writings,
and one answer to me in "Cottage Gardener." I can plainly see that he is
not to be trusted. He does not well know his own subject of crossing.
LETTER 600. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(600/1. Part of this letter has been published in "Life and Letters,"
III., page 265.)
2, Hesketh Crescent, Torquay [1861].
...The beauty of the adaptation of parts seems to me unparalleled. I
should think or guess [that] waxy pollen was most differentiated. In
Cypripedium, which seems least modified, and a much exterminated group,
the grains are single. In all others, as far as I have seen, they are in
packets of four; and these packets cohere into many wedge-formed masses
in Orchis, into eight, four, and finally two. It seems curious that
a flower should exist which could, at most, fertilise only two other
flowers, seeing how abundant pollen generally is; this fact I look at
as explaining the perfection of the contrivance by which the pollen,
so important from its fewness, is carried from flower to flower. By the
way, Cephalanthera has single pollen-grains, but this seems to be a case
of degradation, for the rostellum is utterly aborted. Oddly, the
columns of pollen are here kept in place by very early penetration of
pollen-tubes into the edge of the stigma; nevertheless, it receives more
pollen by insect agency. Epithecia [Dichaea] has done me one good little
turn. I often speculated how the caudicle of Orchis had been formed.
(600/2. The gradation here suggested is thoroughly worked out in the
"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition I., page 323, Edition II., page
257.) I had noticed slight clouds in the substance half way down; I
have now dissected them out, and I find they are pollen-grains fairly
embedded and useless. If you suppose the pollen-grains to abort in
the lower half of the pollinia of Epipactis, but the parallel elastic
threads to remain and cohere, you have the caudicle of Orchis, and can
understand the few embedded and functionless pollen-grains. I must not
look at any more exotic orchids: hearty thanks for your offer. But if
you would make one single observation for me on Cypripedium, I should
be glad. Asa Gray writes to me that the outside of the pollen-masses
is sticky in this genus; I find that the whole mass consists of
pollen-grains immersed in a sticky brownish thick fluid. You could tell
by a mere lens and penknife. If it is, as I find it, pollen could not
get on the stigma without insect aid. Cypripedium confounds me much.
I conjecture that drops of nectar are secreted by the surface of the
labellum beneath the anthers and in front of the stigma, and that the
shield over the anthers and the form of labellum is to compel insects
to insert their proboscis all round both organs. (600/3. This view was
afterwards given up.) It would be troublesome for you to look at this,
as it is always bothersome to catch the nectar secreting, and the cup of
the labellum gets filled with water by gardener's watering.
I have examined Listera ovata, cordata, and Neottia nidus avis: the
pollen is uniform; I suspect you must have seen some observation founded
on a mistake from the penetration and hardening of sticky fluid from the
rostellum, which does penetrate the pollen a little.
It is mere virtue which makes me not wish to examine more orchids; for
I like it far better than writing about varieties of cocks and hens and
ducks. Nevertheless, I have just been looking at Lindley's list in
the "Vegetable Kingdom," and I cannot resist one or two of his great
division of Arethuseae, which includes Vanilla. And as I know so well
the Ophreae, I should like (God forgive me) any one of the Satyriadae,
Disidae and Corycidae.
I fear my long lucubrations will have wearied you, but it has amused me
to write, so forgive me.
LETTER 601. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(601/1. Part of the following letter is published in the "Life and
Letters," the remainder, with the omission of part bearing on the
Glen Roy problem, is now given as an example of the varied botanical
assistance Darwin received from Sir Joseph Hooker. For the part relating
to Verbascum see the "Variation of Animals and Plants," Edition II.,
1875, Volume II., page 83. The point is that the white and yellow
flowered plants which occur in two species of Verbascum are undoubted
varieties, yet "the sterility which results from the crossing of the
differently coloured varieties of the same species is fully as great as
that which occurs in many cases when distinct species are crossed."
The sterility of the long-styled form (B) of Linum grandiflorum, with
its own pollen is described in "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 87:
his conclusions on the short-styled form (A) differ from those in the
present letter.)
September 28th [1861].
I am going to beg for help, and I will explain why I want it.
You offer Cypripedium; I should be very glad of a specimen, and of any
good-sized Vandeae, or indeed any orchids, for this reason: I never
thought of publishing separately, and therefore did not keep specimens
in spirits, and now I should be very glad of a few woodcuts to
illustrate my few remarks on exotic orchids. If you can send me any,
send them by post in a tin canister on middle of day of Saturday,
October 5th, for Sowerby will be here.
Secondly: Have you any white and yellow varieties of Verbascum which
you could give me, or propagate for me, or LEND me for a year? I have
resolved to try Gartner's wonderful and repeated statement, that pollen
of white and yellow varieties, whether used on the varieties or on
DISTINCT species, has different potency. I do not think any experiment
can be more important on the origin of species; for if he is correct we
certainly have what Huxley calls new physiological species arising. I
should require several species of Verbascum besides the white and yellow
varieties of the same species. It will be tiresome work, but if I can
anyhow get the plants, it shall be tried.
Thirdly: Can you give me seeds of any Rubiaceae of the sub-order
Cinchoneae, as Spermacoce, Diodia, Mitchella, Oldenlandia? Asa Gray says
they present two forms like Primula. I am sure that this subject is
well worth working out. I have just almost proved a very curious case
in Linum grandiflorum which presents two forms, A and B. Pollen of A is
perfectly fertile on stigma of A. But pollen of B is absolutely barren
on its own stigma; you might as well put so much flour on it. It
astounded me to see the stigmas of B purple with its own pollen; and
then put a few grains of similar-looking pollen of A on them, and the
germen immediately and always swelled; those not thus treated never
swelling.
Fourthly: Can you give me any very hairy Saxifraga (for their functions)
[i.e. the functions of the hairs]?
I send you a resume of my requests, to save you trouble. Nor would I ask
for so much aid if I did not think all these points well worth trying to
investigate.
My dear old friend, a letter from you always does me a world of good.
And, the Lord have mercy on me, what a return I make.
LETTER 602. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, October 4th [1861].
Will you have the kindness to read the enclosed, and look at the
diagram. Six words will answer my question. It is not an important
point, but there is to me an irresistible charm in trying to make out
homologies. (602/1. In 1880 he wrote to Mr. Bentham: "It was very kind
of you to write to me about the Orchideae, for it has pleased me to an
extreme degree that I could have been of the least use to you about the
nature of the parts."--"Life and Letters," III., page 264.) You know
the membranous cup or clinandrum, in many orchids, behind the stigma and
rostellum: it is formed of a membrane which unites the filament of the
normal dorsal anther with the edges of the pistil. The clinandrum is
largely developed in Malaxis, and is of considerable importance in
retaining the pollinia, which as soon as the flower opens are quite
loose.
The appearance and similarity of the tissues, etc., at once gives
suspicion that the lateral membranes of the clinandrum are the two other
and rudimentary anthers, which in Orchis and Cephalanthera, etc., exist
as mere papillae, here developed and utilised.
Now for my question. Exactly in the middle of the filament of the
normal anther, and exactly in the middle of the lateral membrane of the
clinandrum, and running up to the same height, are quite similar bundles
of spiral vessels; ending upwards almost suddenly. Now is not this
structure a good argument that I interpret the homologies of the sides
of clinandrum rightly? (602/2. Though Robert Brown made use of the
spiral vessels of orchids, yet according to Eichler, "Bluthendiagramme,"
1875, Volume I., page 184, Darwin was the first to make substantial
additions to the conclusions deducible from the course of the vessels in
relation to the problem of the morphology of these plants. Eichler
gives Darwin's diagram side by side with that of Van Tieghem without
attempting to decide between the differences in detail by which they are
characterised.)
I find that the great Bauer does not draw very correctly! (602/3. F.
Bauer, whom Pritzel calls "der grosste Pflanzenmaler." The reference is
to his "Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants, with Notes and Prefatory
Remarks by John Lindley," London, 1830-38, Folio. See "Fertilisation
of Orchids," Edition II., page 82.) And, good Heavens, what a jumble he
makes on functions.
LETTER 603. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, October 22nd. [1861].
Acropera is a beast,--stigma does not open, everything seems contrived
that it shall NOT be anyhow fertilised. There is something very odd
about it, which could only be made out by incessant watching on several
individual plants.
I never saw the very curious flower of Canna; I should say the pollen
was deposited where it is to prevent inevitable self-fertilisation.
You have no time to try the smallest experiment, else it would be worth
while to put pollen on some stigmas (supposing that it does not seed
freely with you). Anyhow, insects would probably carry pollen from
flower to flower, for Kurr states the tube formed by pistil, stamen and
"nectarblatt" secretes (I presume internally) much nectar. Thanks for
sending me the curious flower.
Now I want much some wisdom; though I must write at considerable length,
your answer may be very brief.
(FIGURE 8.--FLORAL DIAGRAM OF AN ORCHID. The "missing bundle" could not
be found in some species.)
In R. Brown's admirable paper in the "Linnean Transacts." (603/4. Volume
XVI., page 685.) he suggests (and Lindley cautiously agrees) that the
flower of orchids consists of five whorls, the inner whorl of the two
whorls of anthers being all rudimentary, and when the labellum presents
ridges, two or three of the anthers of both whorls [are] combined with
it. In the ovarium there are six bundles of vessels: R. Brown judged by
transverse sections. It occurred to me, after what you said, to trace
the vessels longitudinally, and I have succeeded well. Look at my
diagram [Figure 8] (which please return, for I am transported with
admiration at it), which shows the vessels which I have traced, one
bundle to each of fifteen theoretical organs, and no more. You will see
the result is nothing new, but it seems to confirm strongly R. Brown,
for I have succeeded (perhaps he did, but he does not say so) in tracing
the vessels belonging to each organ in front of each other to the same
bundle in the ovarium: thus the vessels going to the lower sepal, to
the side of the labellum, and to one stigma (when there are two) all
distinctly branch from one ovarian bundle. So in other cases, but I have
not completely traced (only seen) that going to the rostellum. But here
comes my only point of novelty: in all orchids as yet looked at (even
one with so simple a labellum as Gymnadenia and Malaxis) the vessels on
the two sides of the labellum are derived from the bundle which goes to
the lower sepal, as in the diagram. This leads me to conclude that the
labellum is always a compound organ. Now I want to know whether it
is conceivable that the vessels coming from one main bundle should
penetrate an organ (the labellum) which receives its vessels from
another main bundle? Does it not imply that all that part of the
labellum which is supplied by vessels coming from a lateral bundle must
be part of a primordially distinct organ, however closely the two may
have become united? It is curious in Gymnadenia to trace the middle
anterior bundle in the ovarium: when it comes to the orifice of the
nectary it turns and runs right down it, then comes up the opposite side
and runs to the apex of the labellum, whence each side of the nectary
is supplied by vessels from the bundles, coming from the lower sepals.
Hence even the thin nectary is essentially, I infer, tripartite; hence
its tendency to bifurcation at its top. This view of the labellum always
consisting of three organs (I believe four when thick, as in Mormodes,
at base) seems to me to explain its great size and tripartite form,
compared with the other petals. Certainly, if I may trust the vessels,
the simple labellum of Gymnadenia consists of three organs soldered
together. Forgive me for writing at such length; a very brief answer
will suffice. I am desperately interested in the subject: the destiny
of the whole human race is as nothing to the course of vessels of
orchids...
What plant has the most complex single stigma and pistil? The most
complex I, in my ignorance, can think of is in Iris. I want to know
whether anything beats in modification the rostellum of Catasetum.
To-morrow I mean to be at Catasetum. Hurrah! What species is it? It
is wonderfully different from that which Veitch sent me, which was C.
saccatum.
According to the vessels, an orchid flower consists of three sepals and
two petals free; and of a compound organ (its labellum), consisting
of one petal and of two (or three) modified anthers; and of a second
compound body consisting of three pistils, one normal anther, and two
modified anthers often forming the sides of the clinandrum.
LETTER 604. TO JOHN LINDLEY.
(604/1. It was in the autumn of 1861 that Darwin made up his mind to
publish his Orchid work as a book, rather than as a paper in the Linnean
Society's "Journal." (604/2. See "Life and Letters," III., page 266.)
The following letter shows that the new arrangement served as an
incitement to fresh work.)
Down, October 25th [1861?]
Mr. James Veitch has been most generous. I did not know that you had
spoken to him. If you see him pray say I am truly grateful; I dare not
write to a live Bishop or a Lady, but if I knew the address of "Rucker"?
and might use your name as introduction, I might write. I am half mad on
the subject. Hooker has sent me many exotics, but I stopped him, for I
thought I should make a fool of myself; but since I have determined to
publish I much regret it.
(FIGURE 9.--HABENARIA CHLORANTHA (Longitudinal course of bundles).)
(605/1. The three upper curved outlines, two of which passing through
the words "upper sepal," "upper petal," "lower sepal," were in red in
the original; for explanation see text.)
LETTER 605. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(605/2. The following letter is of interest because it relates to one of
the two chief difficulties Darwin met with in working out the morphology
of the orchid flower. In the orchid book (605/3. Edition I., page 303.)
he wrote, "This anomaly [in Habenaria] is so far of importance, as it
throws some doubt on the view which I have taken of the labellum being
always an organ compounded of one petal and two petaloid stamens." That
is to say, it leaves it open for a critic to assert that the vessels
which enter the sides of the labellum are lateral vessels of the petal
and do not necessarily represent petaloid stamens. In the sequel he
gives a satisfactory answer to the supposed objector.)
Down, November 10th, [1861].
For the love of God help me. I believe all my work (about a
fortnight) is useless. Look at this accursed diagram (Figure 9) of the
butterfly-orchis [Habenaria], which I examined after writing to you
yesterday, when I thought all my work done. Some of the ducts of the
upper sepal (605/4. These would be described by modern morphologists as
lower, not upper, sepals, etc. Darwin was aware that he used these terms
incorrectly.) and upper petal run to the wrong bundles on the column. I
have seen no such case.
This case apparently shows that not the least reliance can be placed on
the course of ducts. I am sure of my facts.
There is great adhesion and extreme displacement of parts where the
organs spring from the top of the ovarium. Asa Gray says ducts are very
early developed, and it seems to me wonderful that they should pursue
this course. It may be said that the lateral ducts in the labellum
running into the antero-lateral ovarian bundle is no argument that the
labellum consists of three organs blended together.
In desperation (and from the curious way the base of upper petals are
soldered at basal edges) I fancied the real form of upper sepal, upper
petal and lower sepal might be as represented by red lines, and that
there had been an incredible amount of splitting of sepals and petals
and subsequent fusion.
This seems a monstrous notion, but I have just looked at Bauer's drawing
of allied Bonatea, and there is a degree of lobing of petals and sepals
which would account for anything.
Now could you spare me a dry flower out of your Herbarium of Bonatea
speciosa (605/5. See "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition I., page 304
(note), where the resemblances between the anomalous vessels of Bonatea
and Habenaria are described. On November 14th, 1861, he wrote to Sir
Joseph: "You are a true friend in need. I can hardly bear to let the
Bonatea soak long enough."), that I might soak and look for ducts. If
I cannot explain the case of Habenaria all my work is smashed. I was a
fool ever to touch orchids.
LETTER 606. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, November 17th [1861].
What two very interesting and useful letters you have sent me. You
rather astound me with respect to value of grounds of generalisation
in the morphology of plants. It reminds me that years ago I sent you
a grass to name, and your answer was, "It is certainly Festuca
(so-and-so), but it agrees as badly with the description as most
plants do." I have often laughed over this answer of a great
botanist...Lindley, from whom I asked for an orchid with a simple
labellum, has most kindly sent me a lot of what he marks "rare" and
"rarissima" of peloric orchids, etc., but as they are dried I know not
whether they will be of use. He has been most kind, and has suggested
my writing to Lady D. Nevill, who has responded in a wonderfully kind
manner, and has sent a lot of treasures. But I must stop; otherwise,
by Jove, I shall be transformed into a botanist. I wish I had been one;
this morphology is surprisingly interesting. Looking to your note, I
may add that certainly the fifteen alternating bundles of spiral vessels
(mingled with odd beadlike vessels in some cases) are present in many
orchids. The inner whorl of anther ducts are oftenest aborted. I must
keep clear of Apostasia, though I have cast many a longing look at it in
Bauer. (606/1. Apostasia has two fertile anthers like Cypripedium. It
is placed by Engler and Prantl in the Apostasieae or Apostasiinae, among
the Orchideae, by others in a distinct but closely allied group.)
I hope I may be well enough to read my own paper on Thursday, but I
have been very seedy lately. (606/2. "On the two Forms, or Dimorphic
Condition, in the Species of the Genus Primula," "Linn. Soc. Journ."
1862. He did read the paper, but it cost him the next day in bed. "Life
and Letters," III., page 299.) I see there is a paper at the Royal on
the same night, which will more concern you, on fossil plants of Bovey
(606/3. Oswald Heer, "The Fossil Flora of Bovey Tracey," "Phil. Trans.
R. Soc." 1862, page 1039.), so that I suppose I shall not have you; but
you must read my paper when published, as I shall very much like to hear
what you think. It seems to me a large field for experiment. I shall
make use of my Orchid little volume in illustrating modification of
species doctrine, but I keep very, very doubtful whether I am not doing
a foolish action in publishing. How I wish you would keep to your old
intention and write a book on plants. (606/4. Possibly a book similar to
that described in Letter 696.)
LETTER 607. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, November 26th [1861].
Our notes have crossed on the road. I know it is an honour to have a
paper in the "Transactions," and I am much obliged to you for proposing
it, but I should greatly prefer to publish in the "Journal." Nor does
this apply exclusively to myself, for in old days at the Geological
Society I always protested against an abstract appearing when the paper
itself might appear. I abominate also the waste of time (and it would
take me a day) in making an abstract. If the referee on my paper should
recommend it to appear in the "Transactions," will you be so kind as to
lay my earnest request before the Council that it may be permitted to
appear in the "Journal?"
You must be very busy with your change of residence; but when you are
settled and have some leisure, perhaps you will be so kind as to give me
some cases of dimorphism, like that of Primula. Should you object to my
adding them to those given me by A. Gray? By the way, I heard from A.
Gray this morning, and he gives me two very curious cases in Boragineae.
LETTER 608. TO JOHN LINDLEY.
(608/1. In the following fragment occurs the earliest mention of
Darwin's work on the three sexual forms of Catasetum tridentatum. Sir
R. Schomburgk (608/2. "Trans. Linn. Soc." XVII., page 522.) described
Catasetum tridentatum, Monacanthus viridis and Myanthus barbatus
occurring on a single plant, but it remained for Darwin to make out that
they are the male, female and hermaphrodite forms of a single species.
(608/3. "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition I., page 236; Edition II.,
page 196.)
With regard to the species of Acropera (Gongora) (608/4. Acropera
Loddigesii = Gongora galeata: A. luteola = G. fusca ("Index Kewensis").)
he was wrong in his surmise. The apparent sterility seems to be
explicable by Hildebrand's discovery (608/5. "Bot. Zeitung," 1863
and 1865.) that in some orchids the ovules are not developed until
pollinisation has occurred. (608/6. "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition
II., page 172. See Letter 633.))
Down, December 15th [1861].
I am so nearly ready for press that I will not ask for anything more;
unless, indeed, you stumbled on Mormodes in flower. As I am writing I
will just mention that I am convinced from the rudimentary state of
the ovules, and from the state of the stigma, that the whole plant of
Acropera luteola (and I believe A. Loddigesii) is male. Have you ever
seen any form from the same countries which could be the females? Of
course no answer is expected unless you have ever observed anything to
bear on this. I may add [judging from the] state of the ovules and of
the pollen [that]:--
Catasetum tridentatum is male (and never seeds, according to Schomburgk,
whom you have accidentally misquoted in the "Vegetable Kingdom").
Monacanthus viridis is female. Myanthus barbatus is the hermaphrodite
form of same species.
LETTER 609. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, December 18th [1861].
Thanks for your note. I have not written for a long time, for I always
fancy, busy as you are, that my letters must be a bore; though I like
writing, and always enjoy your notes. I can sympathise with you about
fear of scarlet fever: to the day of my death I shall never forget all
the sickening fear about the other children, after our poor little baby
died of it. The "Genera Plantarum" must be a tremendous work, and no
doubt very valuable (such a book, odd as it may appear, would be very
useful even to me), but I cannot help being rather sorry at the length
of time it must take, because I cannot enter on and understand your
work. Will you not be puzzled when you come to the orchids? It seems to
me orchids alone would be work for a man's lifetime; I cannot somehow
feel satisfied with Lindley's classification; the Malaxeae and
Epidendreae seem to me very artificially separated. (609/1. Pfitzer (in
the "Pflanzenfamilien") places Epidendrum in the Laeliinae-Cattleyeae,
Malaxis in the Liparidinae. He states that Bentham united the Malaxideae
and Epidendreae.) Not that I have seen enough to form an opinion worth
anything.
Your African plant seems to be a vegetable Ornithorhynchus, and indeed
much more than that. (609/2. See Sir J.D. Hooker, "On Welwitschia, a new
genus of Gnetaceae." "Linn. Soc. Trans." XXIV., 1862-3.) The more I read
about plants the more I get to feel that all phanerogams seem comparable
with one class, as lepidoptera, rather than with one kingdom, as the
whole insecta. (609/3. He wrote to Hooker (December 28th, 1861): "I
wrote carelessly about the value of phanerogams; what I was thinking of
was that the sub-groups seemed to blend so much more one into another
than with most classes of animals. I suspect crustacea would show more
difference in the extreme forms than phanerogams, but, as you say, it is
wild speculation. Yet it is very strange what difficulty botanists seem
to find in grouping the families together into masses.")
Thanks for your comforting sentence about the accursed ducts (accursed
though they be, I should like nothing better than to work at them in the
allied orders, if I had time). I shall be ready for press in three
or four weeks, and have got all my woodcuts drawn. I fear much that
publishing separately will prove a foolish job, but I do not care much,
and the work has greatly amused me. The Catasetum has not flowered yet!
In writing to Lindley about an orchid which he sent me, I told him a
little about Acropera, and in answer he suggests that Gongora may be its
female. He seems dreadfully busy, and I feel that I have more right to
kill you than to kill him; so can you send me one or at most two dried
flowers of Gongora? if you know the habitat of Acropera luteola, a
Gongora from the same country would be the best, but any true Gongora
would do; if its pollen should prove as rudimentary as that of
Monacanthus relatively to Catasetum, I think I could easily perceive it
even in dried specimens when well soaked.
I have picked a little out of Lecoq, but it is awful tedious hunting.
Bates is getting on with his natural history travels in one volume.
(609/4. H.W. Bates, the "Naturalist on the Amazons," 1863. See Volume
I., Letters 123, 148, also "Life and Letters," Volume II., page 381.) I
have read the first chapter in MS., and I think it will be an excellent
book and very well written; he argues, in a good and new way to me,
that tropical climate has very little direct relation to the gorgeous
colouring of insects (though of course he admits the tropics have a far
greater number of beautiful insects) by taking all the few genera common
to Britain and Amazonia, and he finds that the species proper to the
latter are not at all more beautiful. I wonder how this is in species of
the same restricted genera of plants.
If you can remember it, thank Bentham for getting my Primula paper
printed so quickly. I do enjoy getting a subject off one's hands
completely.
I have now got dimorphism in structure in eight natural orders just like
Primula. Asa Gray sent me dried flowers of a capital case in Amsinkia
spectabilis, one of the Boragineae. I suppose you do not chance to have
the plant alive at Kew.
LETTER 610. TO A.G. MORE. Down, June 7th, 1862.
If you are well and have leisure, will you kindly give me one bit of
information: Does Ophrys arachnites occur in the Isle of Wight? or do
the intermediate forms, which are said to connect abroad this species
and the bee-orchis, ever there occur?
Some facts have led me to suspect that it might just be possible, though
improbable in the highest degree, that the bee [orchis] might be the
self-fertilising form of O. arachnites, which requires insects' aid,
something [in the same way] as we have self-fertilising flowers of
the violet and others requiring insects. I know the case is widely
different, as the bee is borne on a separate plant and is incomparably
commoner. This would remove the great anomaly of the bee being a
perpetual self-fertiliser. Certain Malpighiaceae for years produce only
one of the two forms. What has set my head going on this is receiving
to-day a bee having one alone of the best marked characters of O.
arachnites. (610/1. Ophrys arachnites is probably more nearly allied to
O. aranifera than to O. apifera. For a case somewhat analogous to
that suggested see the description of O. scolopax in "Fertilisation of
Orchids," Edition II., page 52.) Pray forgive me troubling you.
LETTER 611. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, June 22nd [1862?].
Here is a piece of presumption! I must think that you are mistaken in
ranking Hab[enaria] chlorantha (611/1. In Hooker's "Students' Flora,"
1884, page 395, H. chlorantha is given as a subspecies of H. bifolia.
Sir J.D. Hooker adds that they are "according to Darwin, distinct, and
require different species of moths to fertilise them. They vary in the
position and distances of their anther-cells, but intermediates occur."
See "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 73.) as a variety of
H. bifolia; the pollen-masses and stigma differ more than in most of the
best species of Orchis. When I first examined them I remember telling
Hooker that moths would, I felt sure, fertilise them in a different
manner; and I have just had proof of this in a moth sent me with the
pollinia (which can be easily recognised) of H. chlorantha attached to
its proboscis, instead of to the sides of its face, as an H. bifolia.
Forgive me scribbling this way; but when a man gets on his hobby-horse
he always is run away with. Anyhow, nothing here requires any answer.
LETTER 612. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, [September] 14th [1862].
Your letter is a mine of wealth, but first I must scold you: I cannot
abide to hear you abuse yourself, even in joke, and call yourself a
stupid dog. You, in fact, thus abuse me, because for long years I have
looked up to you as the man whose opinion I have valued more on any
scientific subject than any one else in the world. I continually
marvel at what you know, and at what you do. I have been looking at the
"Genera" (612/1. "Genera Plantarum," by Bentham and Hooker, Volume I.,
Part I., 1862.), and of course cannot judge at all of its real value,
but I can judge of the amount of condensed facts under each family and
genus.
I am glad you know my feeling of not being able to judge about one's own
work; but I suspect that you have been overworking. I should think you
could not give too much time to Wellwitchia (I spell it different every
time I write it) (612/2. "On Welwitschia," "Linn. Soc. Trans." [1862],
XXIV., 1863.); at least I am sure in the animal kingdom monographs
cannot be too long on the osculant groups.
Hereafter I shall be excessively glad to read a paper about Aldrovanda
(612/3. See "Insectivorous Plants," page 321.), and am very much obliged
for reference. It is pretty to see how the caught flies support Drosera;
nothing else can live.
Thanks about plants with two kinds of anthers. I presume (if an included
flower was a Cassia) (612/4. Todd has described a species of Cassia with
an arrangement of stamens like the Melastomads. See Chapter 2.X.II.)
that Cassia is like lupines, but with some stamens still more
rudimentary. If I hear I will return the three Melastomads; I do not
want them, and, indeed, have cuttings. I am very low about them, and
have wasted enormous labour over them, and cannot yet get a glimpse of
the meaning of the parts. I wish I knew any botanical collector to whom
I could apply for seeds in their native land of any Heterocentron or
Monochoetum; I have raised plenty of seedlings from your plants, but
I find in other cases that from a homomorphic union one generally gets
solely the parent form. Do you chance to know of any botanical collector
in Mexico or Peru? I must not now indulge myself with looking after
vessels and homologies. Some future time I will indulge myself. By the
way, some time I want to talk over the alternation of organs in flowers
with you, for I think I must have quite misunderstood you that it was
not explicable.
I found out the Verbascum case by pure accident, having transplanted
one for experiment, and finding it to my astonishment utterly sterile.
I formerly thought with you about rarity of natural hybrids, but I am
beginning to change: viz., oxlips (not quite proven), Verbascum, Cistus
(not quite proven), Aegilops triticoides (beautifully shown by Godron),
Weddell's and your orchids (612/5. For Verbascum see "Animals and
Plants," Edition II., Volume I., page 356; for Cistus, Ibid., Edition
II., Volume I., page 356, Volume II., page 122; for Aegilops, Ibid.,
Edition II., Volume I., page 330, note.), and I daresay many others
recorded. Your letters are one of my greatest pleasures in life, but I
earnestly beg you never to write unless you feel somewhat inclined, for
I know how hard you work, as I work only in the morning it is different
with me, and is only a pleasant relaxation. You will never know how much
I owe to you for your constant kindness and encouragement.
LETTER 613. TO JOHN LUBBOCK (Lord Avebury). Cliff Cottage, Bournemouth,
Hants, September 2nd [1862].
Hearty thanks for your note. I am so glad that your tour answered so
splendidly. My poor patients (613/1. Mrs. Darwin and one of her sons,
both recovering from scarlet fever.) got here yesterday, and are doing
well, and we have a second house for the well ones. I write now in great
haste to beg you to look (though I know how busy you are, but I cannot
think of any other naturalist who would be careful) at any field of
common red clover (if such a field is near you) and watch the hive-bees:
probably (if not too late) you will see some sucking at the mouth of the
little flowers and some few sucking at the base of the flowers, at holes
bitten through the corollas. All that you will see is that the bees put
their heads deep into the [flower] head and rout about. Now, if you see
this, do for Heaven's sake catch me some of each and put in spirits and
keep them separate. I am almost certain that they belong to two castes,
with long and short proboscids. This is so curious a point that it seems
worth making out. I cannot hear of a clover field near here.
LETTER 614. TO JOHN LUBBOCK (Lord Avebury). Cliff Cottage, Bournemouth,
Wednesday, September 3rd [1862].
I beg a million pardons. Abuse me to any degree, but forgive me: it
is all an illusion (but almost excusable) about the bees. (614/1.
H. Muller, "Fertilisation of Flowers," page 186, describes hive-bees
visiting Trifolium pratense for the sake of the pollen. Darwin may
perhaps have supposed that these were the variety of bees whose
proboscis was long enough to reach the nectar. In "Cross and Self
Fertilisation," page 361, Darwin describes hive-bees apparently
searching for a secretion on the calyx. In the same passage in "Cross
and Self Fertilisation" he quotes Muller as stating that hive-bees
obtain nectar from red clover by breaking apart the petals. This seems
to us a misinterpretation of the "Befruchtung der Blumen," page 224.) I
do so hope that you have not wasted any time from my stupid blunder. I
hate myself, I hate clover, and I hate bees.
(FIGURE 10.--DIAGRAM OF CRUCIFEROUS FLOWER.
FIGURE 11.--DISSECTION OF CRUCIFEROUS FLOWER.
Laid flat open, showing by dotted lines the course of spiral vessels
in all the organs; sepals and petals shown on one side alone, with the
stamens on one side above with course of vessels indicated, but not
prolonged. Near side of pistil with one spiral vessel cut away.)
LETTER 615. TO J.D. HOOKER. Cliff Cottage, Bournemouth, September 11th,
1862.
You once told me that Cruciferous flowers were anomalous in alternation
of parts, and had given rise to some theory of dedoublement.
Having nothing on earth to do here, I have dissected all the spiral
vessels in a flower, and instead of burning my diagrams [Figures 10 and
11], I send them to you, you miserable man. But mind, I do not want you
to send me a discussion, but just some time to say whether my notions
are rubbish, and then burn the diagrams. It seems to me that all parts
alternate beautifully by fours, on the hypothesis that two short
stamens of outer whorl are aborted (615/1. The view given by Darwin is
(according to Eichler) that previously held by Knuth, Wydler, Chatin,
and others. Eichler himself believes that the flower is dimerous, the
four longer stamens being produced by the doubling or splitting of the
upper (i.e. antero-posterior) pair of stamens. If this view is correct,
and there are good reasons for it, it throws much suspicion on the
evidence afforded by the course of vessels, for there is no trace of the
common origin of the longer stamens in the diagram (Figure 11). Again,
if Eichler is right, the four vessels shown in the section of the ovary
are misleading. Darwin afterwards gave a doubtful explanation of this,
and concluded that the ovary is dimerous. See Letter 616.); and this
view is perhaps supported by their being so few, only two sub-bundles
in the two lateral main bundles, where I imagine two short stamens
have aborted, but I suppose there is some valid objection against this
notion. The course of the side vessels in the sepals is curious, just
like my difficulty in Habenaria. (615/2. See Letter 605.) I am surprised
at the four vessels in the ovarium. Can this indicate four confluent
pistils? anyhow, they are in the right alternating position. The nectary
within the base of the shorter stamens seems to cause the end sepals
apparently, but not really, to arise beneath the lateral sepals.
I think you will understand my diagrams in five minutes, so forgive me
for bothering you. My writing this to you reminds me of a letter which I
received yesterday from Claparede, who helped the French translatress
of the "Origin" (615/3. The late Mlle. Royer.), and he tells me he had
difficulty in preventing her (who never looked at a bee's cell) from
altering my whole description, because she affirmed that an hexagonal
prism must have an hexagonal base! Almost everywhere in the "Origin,"
when I express great doubt, she appends a note explaining the
difficulty, or saying that there is none whatever!! (615/4. See
"Life and Letters," II., page 387.) It is really curious to know what
conceited people there are in the world (people, for instance, after
looking at one Cruciferous flower, explain their homologies).
This is a nice, but most barren country, and I can find nothing to
look at. Even the brooks and ponds produce nothing. The country is like
Patagonia. my wife is almost well, thank God, and Leonard is wonderfully
improved ...Good God, what an illness scarlet fever is! The doctor
feared rheumatic fever for my wife, but she does not know her risk. It
is now all over.
(FIGURE 12.)
LETTER 616. TO J.D. HOOKER. Cliff Cottage, Bournemouth, Thursday Evening
[September 18th, 1862].
Thanks for your pleasant note, which told me much news, and upon the
whole good, of yourselves. You will be awfully busy for a time, but I
write now to say that if you think it really worth while to send me a
few Dielytra, or other Fumariaceous plant (which I have already tried
in vain to find here) in a little tin box, I will try and trace the
vessels; but please observe, I do not know that I shall have time, for I
have just become wonderfully interested in experimenting on Drosera with
poisons, etc. If you send any Fumariaceous plant, send if you can, also
two or three single balsams. After writing to you, I looked at vessels
of ovary of a sweet-pea, and from this and other cases I believe that in
the ovary the midrib vessel alone gives homologies, and that the vessels
on the edge of the carpel leaf often run into the wrong bundle, just
like those on the sides of the sepals. Hence I [suppose] in Crucifers
that the ovarium consists of two pistils; AA [Figure 12] being the
midrib vessels, and BB being those formed of the vessels on edges of the
two carpels, run together, and going to wrong bundles. I came to this
conclusion before receiving your letter.
I wonder why Asa Gray will not believe in the quaternary arrangement;
I had fancied that you saw some great difficulty in the case, and that
made me think that my notion must be wrong.
LETTER 617. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, September 27th [1862].
Masdevallia turns out nothing wonderful (617/1. This may refer to the
homologies of the parts. He was unable to understand the mechanism of
the flower.--"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 136.); I was
merely stupid about it; I am not the less obliged for its loan, for if
I had lived till 100 years old I should have been uneasy about it. It
shall be returned the first day I send to Bromley. I have steamed the
other plants, and made the sensitive plant very sensitive, and
shall soon try some experiments on it. But after all it will only be
amusement. Nevertheless, if not causing too much trouble, I should be
very glad of a few young plants of this and Hedysarum in summer (617/2.
Hedysarum or Desmodium gyrans, the telegraph-plant.), for this kind
of work takes no time and amuses me much. Have you seeds of Oxalis
sensitiva, which I see mentioned in books? By the way, what a fault it
is in Henslow's "Botany" that he gives hardly any references; he alludes
to great series of experiments on absorption of poison by roots, but
where to find them I cannot guess. Possibly the all-knowing Oliver may
know. I can plainly see that the glands of Drosera, from rapid power
(almost instantaneous) of absorption and power of movement, give
enormous advantage for such experiments. And some day I will enjoy
myself with a good set to work; but it will be a great advantage if I
can get some preliminary notion on other sensitive plants and on roots.
Oliver said he would speak about some seeds of Lythrum hyssopifolium
being preserved for me. By the way, I am rather disgusted to find
I cannot publish this year on Lythrum salicaria; I must make 126
additional crosses. All that I expected is true, but I have plain
indication of much higher complexity. There are three pistils of
different structure and functional power, and I strongly suspect
altogether five kinds of pollen all different in this one species!
(617/3. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 138.)
By any chance have you at Kew any odd varieties of the common potato? I
want to grow a few plants of every variety, to compare flowers, leaves,
fruit, etc., as I have done with peas, etc. (617/4. "Animals and
Plants," Edition II., Volume I., page 346. Compare also the similar
facts with regard to cabbages, loc. cit., page 342. Some of the original
specimens are in the Botanical Museum at Cambridge.)
LETTER 618. J.D. HOOKER TO CHARLES DARWIN.
(618/1. The following is part of Letter 144, Volume I. It refers to
reviews of "Fertilisation of Orchids" in the "Gardeners' Chronicle,"
1862, pages 789, 863, 910, and in the "Natural History Review," October,
1862, page 371.)
November 7th, 1862.
Dear old Darwin,
I assure you it was not my fault! I worried Lindley over and over again
to notice your orchid book in the "Chronicle" by the very broadest hints
man could give. (618/2. See "Life and Letters," III., page 273.) At
last he said, "really I cannot, you must do it for me," and so I
did--volontiers. Lindley felt that he ought to have done it himself, and
my main effort was to write it "a la Lindley," and in this alone I have
succeeded--that people all think it is exactly Lindley's style!!! which
diverts me vastly. The fact is, between ourselves, I fear that poor L.
is breaking up--he said that he could not fix his mind on your book. He
works himself beyond his mental or physical powers.
And now, my dear Darwin, I may as well make a clean breast of it, and
tell you that I wrote the "Nat. Hist. Review" notice too--to me a very
difficult task, and one I fancied I failed in, comparatively. Of this
you are no judge, and can be none; you told me to tell Oliver it pleased
you, and so I am content and happy.
LETTER 619. TO W.E. DARWIN. Down, 4th [about 1862-3?]
I have been looking at the fertilisation of wheat, and I think possibly
you might find something curious. I observed in almost every one of
the pollen-grains, which had become empty and adhered to (I suppose the
viscid) branching hairs of the stigma, that the pollen-tube was always
(?) emitted on opposite side of grain to that in contact with the branch
of the stigma. This seems very odd. The branches of the stigma are
very thin, formed apparently of three rows of cells of hardly greater
diameter than pollen-tube. I am astonished that the tubes should be able
to penetrate the walls. The specimens examined (not carefully by me)
had pollen only during few hours on stigma; and the mere SUSPICION has
crossed me that the pollen-tubes crawl down these branches to the base
and then penetrate the stigmatic tissue. (619/1. See Strasburger's "Neue
Untersuchungen uber den Befruchtungsvorgang bei den Phanerogamen," 1884.
In Alopecurus pratensis he describes the pollen as adhering to the end
of a projection from the stigma where it germinates; the tube crawls
along or spirally round this projection until it reaches the angle where
the stigmatic branch is given off; here it makes an entrance and travels
in the middle lamella between two cells.) The paleae open for a
short period for stigma to be dusted, and then close again, and such
travelling down would take place under protection. High powers and good
adjustment are necessary. Ears expel anthers when kept in water in room;
but the paleae apparently do not open and expose stigma; but the stigma
could easily be artificially impregnated.
If I were you I would keep memoranda of points worth attending to.
2.X.II. MELASTOMACEAE, 1862-1881.
(620/1. The following series of letters (620-630) refers to the
Melastomaceae and certain other flowers of analogous form. In 1862
Darwin attempted to explain the existence of two very different sets of
stamens in these plants as a case of dimorphism, somewhat analogous to
the state of things in Primula. In this view he was probably wrong,
but this does not diminish the interest of the crossing experiments
described in the letters. The persistence of his interest in this part
of the subject is shown in the following passage from his Preface to the
English translation of H. Muller's "Befruchtung der Blumen"; the passage
is dated February, 1882, but was not published until the following year.
"There exist also some few plants the flowers of which include two sets
of stamens, differing in the shape of the anthers and in the colour of
the pollen; and at present no one knows whether this difference has
any functional significance, and this is a point which ought to be
determined."
It is not obvious why he spoke of the problem as if no light had been
thrown on it, since in 1881 Fritz Muller had privately (see Letter 629)
offered an explanation which Darwin was strongly inclined to accept.
(620/2. H. Muller published ("Nature," August 4th, 1881) a letter
from his brother Fritz giving the theory in question for Heeria. Todd
("American Naturalist," April 1882), described a similar state of things
in Solanum rostratum and in Cassia: and H.O. Forbes ("Nature," August
1882, page 386) has done the same for Melastoma. In Rhexia virginica Mr.
W.H. Leggett ("Bulletin Torrey Bot. Club, New York," VIII., 1881, page
102) describes the curious structure of the anther, which consists of
two inflated portions and a tubular part connecting the two. By pressing
with a blunt instrument on one of the ends, the pollen is forced out
in a jet through a fine pore in the other inflated end. Mr. Leggett has
seen bees treading on the anthers, but could not get near enough to
see the pollen expelled. In the same journal, Volume IX., page 11,
Mr. Bailey describes how in Heterocentron roseum, "upon pressing the
bellows-like anther with a blunt pencil, the pollen was ejected to
a full inch in distance." On Lagerstroemia as comparable with the
Melastomads see Letter 689.) Fritz Muller's theory with regard to
the Melastomads and a number of analogous cases in other genera are
discussed in H. Muller's article in "Kosmos" (620/3. "Kosmos," XIII.,
1883, page 241.), where the literature is given. F. Muller's theory is
that in Heeria the yellow anthers serve merely as a means of attracting
pollen-collecting bees, while the longer stamens with purple or crimson
anthers supply pollen for fertilising purposes. If Muller is right the
pollen from the yellow anthers would not normally reach the stigma. The
increased vigour observed in the seedlings from the yellow anthers
would seem to resemble the good effect of a cross between different
individuals of the same species as worked out in "Cross and Self
Fertilisation," for it is difficult to believe that the pollen of the
purple anthers has become, by adaptation, less effective than that
of the yellow anthers. In the letters here given there is some
contradiction between the statements as to the position of the two
sets of stamens in relation to the sepals. According to Eichler
("Bluthendiagramme, II., page 482) the longer stamens may be either
epipetalous or episepalous in this family.
The work on the Melastomads is of such intrinsic importance that we have
thought it right to give the correspondence in considerable detail; we
have done so in spite of the fact that Darwin arrived at no
definite conclusion, and in spite of an element of confusion and
unsatisfactoriness in the series of letters. This applies also to Letter
629, written after Darwin had learned Fritz Muller's theory, which is
obscured by some errors or slips of the pen.)
LETTER 620. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, February 3rd [1862?]
As you so kindly helped me before on dimorphism, will you forgive me
begging for a little further information, if in your power to give it?
The case is that of the Melastomads with eight stamens, on which I have
been experimenting. I am perplexed by opposed statements: Lindley says
the stamens which face the petals are sterile; Wallich says in Oxyspora
paniculata that the stamens which face the sepals are destitute of
pollen; I find plenty of apparently good pollen in both sets of stamens
in Heterocentron [Heeria], Monochoetum, and Centradenia. Can you throw
any light on this? But there is another point on which I am more anxious
for information. Please look at the enclosed miserable diagram. I find
that the pollen of the yellow petal-facing stamens produce more than
twice as much seed as the pollen of the purple sepal-facing stamens.
This is exactly opposed to Lindley's statement--viz., that the
petal-facing stamens are sterile. But I cannot at present believe that
the case has any relation to abortion; it is hardly possible to believe
that the longer and very curious stamens, which face the sepals in
this Heterocentron, are tending to be rudimentary, though their
pollen applied to their own flowers produces so much less seed. It is
conformable with what we see in Primula that the [purple] sepal-facing
anthers, which in the plant seen by me stood quite close on each side
of the stigma, should have been rendered less fitted to fertilise the
stigma than the stamens on the opposite side of the flower. Hence the
suspicion has crossed me that if many plants of the Heterocentron roseum
were examined, half would be found with the pistil nearly upright,
instead of being rectangularly bent down, as shown in the diagram
(620/4. According to Willis, "Flowering Plants and Ferns," 1897, Volume
II., page 252, the style in Monochoetum, "at first bent downwards, moves
slowly up till horizontal."); or, if the position of pistil is fixed,
that in half the plants the petal-facing stamens would bend down, and in
the other half of the plants the sepal-facing stamens would bend down as
in the diagram. I suspect the former case, as in Centradenia I find the
pistil nearly straight. Can you tell me? (620/5. No reply by Mr.
Bentham to this or the following queries has been found.) Can the name
Heterocentron have any reference to such diversity? Would it be
asking too great a favour to ask you to look at dried specimens of
Heterocentron roseum (which would be best), or of Monochoetum, or any
eight-stamened Melastomad, of which you have specimens from several
localities (as this would ensure specimens having been taken from
distinct plants), and observe whether the pistil bends differently or
stamens differently in different plants? You will at once see that, if
such were the fact, it would be a new form of dimorphism, and would open
up a large field of inquiry with respect to the potency of the pollen in
all plants which have two sets of stamens--viz., longer and shorter. Can
you forgive me for troubling you at such unreasonable length? But it is
such waste of time to experiment without some guiding light. I do not
know whether you have attended particularly to Melastoma; if you
have not, perhaps Hooker or Oliver may have done so. I should be very
grateful for any information, as it will guide future experiments.
P.S.--Do you happen to know, when there are only four stamens, whether
it is the petal or sepal-facers which are preserved? and whether in the
four-stamened forms the pistil is rectangularly bent or is straight?
LETTER 621. TO ASA GRAY. Down, February 16th [1862?].
I have been trying a few experiments on Melastomads; and they seem to
indicate that the pollen of the two curious sets of anthers (i.e. the
petal-facers and the sepal-facers) have very different powers; and it
does not seem that the difference is connected with any tendency to
abortion in the one set. Now I think I can understand the structure of
the flower and means of fertilisation, if there be two forms,--one with
the pistil bent rectangularly out of the flower, and the other with it
nearly straight.
Our hot-house and green-house plants have probably all descended by
cuttings from a single plant of each species; so I can make out nothing
from them. I applied in vain to Bentham and Hooker; but Oliver picked
out some sentences from Naudin, which seem to indicate differences in
the position of the pistil.
I see that Rhexia grows in Massachusetts; and I suppose has two
different sets of stamens. Now, if in your power, would you observe the
position of the pistil in different plants, in lately opened flowers
of the same age? (I specify this because in Monochaetum I find great
changes of position in the pistils and stamens, as flower gets old).
Supposing that my prophecy should turn out right, please observe whether
in both forms the passage into the flower is not [on] the upper side
of the pistil, owing to the basal part of the pistil lying close to the
ring of filaments on the under side of the flower. Also I should like to
know the colour of the two sets of anthers. This would take you only a
few minutes, and is the only way I see that I can find out whether these
plants are dimorphic in this peculiar way--i.e., only in the position
of the pistil (621/1. In Exacum and in Saintpaulia the flowers are
dimorphic in this sense: the style projects to either the right or the
left side of the corolla, from which it follows that a right-handed
flower would fertilise a left-handed one, and vice versa. See Willis,
"Flowering Plants and Ferns," 1897, Volume I., page 73.) and in its
relation to the two kinds of pollen. I am anxious about this, because if
it should prove so, it will show that all plants with longer and shorter
or otherwise different anthers will have to be examined for dimorphism.
LETTER 622. TO ASA GRAY. March 15th [1862].
...I wrote some little time ago about Rhexia; since then I have been
carefully watching and experimenting on another genus, Monochaetum; and
I find that the pistil is first bent rectangularly (as in the sketch
sent), and then in a few days becomes straight: the stamens also move.
If there be not two forms of Rhexia, will you compare the position of
the part in young and old flowers? I have a suspicion (perhaps it will
be proved wrong when the seed-capsules are ripe) that one set of anthers
are adapted to the pistil in early state, and the other set for it
in its later state. If bees visit the Rhexia, for Heaven's sake watch
exactly how the anther and stigma strike them, both in old and young
flowers, and give me a sketch.
Again I say, do not hate me.
LETTER 623. TO J.D. HOOKER. Leith Hill Place, Dorking, Thursday, 15th
[May 1862].
You stated at the Linnean Society that different sets of seedling
Cinchona (623/1. Cinchona is apparently heterostyled: see "Forms of
Flowers," Edition II., page 134.) grew at very different rate, and from
my Primula case you attributed it probably to two sorts of pollen. I
confess I thought you rash, but I now believe you were quite right.
I find the yellow and crimson anthers of the same flower in the
Melastomatous Heterocentron roseum have different powers; the yellow
producing on the same plant thrice as many seeds as the crimson anthers.
I got my neighbour's most skilful gardener to sow both kinds of seeds,
and yesterday he came to me and said it is a most extraordinary thing
that though both lots have been treated exactly alike, one lot all
remain dwarfs and the other lot are all rising high up. The dwarfs were
produced by the pollen of the crimson anthers. In Monochaetum ensiferum
the facts are more complex and still more strange; as the age and
position of the pistils comes into play, in relation to the two kinds of
pollen. These facts seem to me so curious that I do not scruple to ask
you to see whether you can lend me any Melastomad just before flowering,
with a not very small flower, and which will endure for a short time a
greenhouse or sitting-room; when fertilised and watered I could send it
to Mr. Turnbull's to a cool stove to mature seed. I fully believe the
case is worth investigation.
P.S.--You will not have time at present to read my orchid book; I never
before felt half so doubtful about anything which I published. When you
read it, do not fear "punishing" me if I deserve it.
Adios. I am come here to rest, which I much want.
Whenever you have occasion to write, pray tell me whether you have
Rhododendron Boothii from Bhootan, with a smallish yellow flower,
and pistil bent the wrong way; if so, I would ask Oliver to look for
nectary, for it is an abominable error of Nature that must be corrected.
I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the pistil.
LETTER 624. TO ASA GRAY. January 19th [1863].
I have been at those confounded Melastomads again; throwing good money
(i.e. time) after bad. Do you remember telling me you could see no
nectar in your Rhexia? well, I can find none in Monochaetum, and Bates
tells me that the flowers are in the most marked manner neglected by
bees and lepidoptera in Amazonia. Now the curious projections or horns
to the stamens of Monochaetum are full of fluid, and the suspicion
occurs to me that diptera or small hymenoptera may puncture these horns
like they puncture (proved since my orchid book was published) the dry
nectaries of true Orchis. I forget whether Rhexia is common; but I very
much wish you would next summer watch on a warm day a group of flowers,
and see whether they are visited by small insects, and what they do.
LETTER 625. TO I.A. HENRY. Down, January 20th [1863].
...You must kindly permit me to mention any point on which I want
information. If you are so inclined, I am curious to know from
systematic experiments whether Mr. D. Beaton's statement that the pollen
of two shortest anthers of scarlet Pelargonium produce dwarf plants
(625/1. See "Animals and Plants," Edition II., Volume II., page 150, for
a brief account of Darwin's experiments on this genus. Also loc. cit.,
page 338 (note), for a suggested experiment.), in comparison with plants
produced from the same mother-plant by the pollen of longer stamens from
the same flower. It would aid me much in some laborious experiments on
Melastomads. I confess I feel a little doubtful; at least, I feel pretty
nearly sure that I know the meaning of short stamens in most plants.
This summer (for another object) I crossed Queen of Scarlet Pelargonium
with pollen of long and short stamens of multiflora alba, and it so
turns out that plants from short stamens are the tallest; but I believe
this to have been mere chance. My few crosses in Pelargonium were made
to get seed from the central peloric or regular flower (I have got one
from peloric flower by pollen of peloric), and this leads me to suggest
that it would be very interesting to test fertility of peloric flowers
in three ways,--own peloric pollen on peloric stigma, common pollen
on peloric stigma, peloric pollen on common stigma of same species. My
object is to discover whether with change of structure of flower there
is any change in fertility of pollen or of female organs. This might
also be tested by trying peloric and common pollen on stigma of a
distinct species, and conversely. I believe there is a peloric and
common variety of Tropaeolum, and a peloric or upright and common
variation of some species of Gloxinia, and the medial peloric flowers of
Pelargonium, and probably others unknown to me.
LETTER 626. TO I.A. HENRY. Hartfield, May 2nd [1863].
In scarlet dwarf Pelargonium, you will find occasionally an additional
and abnormal stamen on opposite and lower side of flower. Now the pollen
of this one occasional short stamen, I think, very likely would produce
dwarf plants. If you experiment on Pelargonium I would suggest your
looking out for this single stamen.
I observed fluctuations in length of pistil in Phloxes, but thought it
was mere variability.
If you could raise a bed of seedling Phloxes of any species except
P. Drummondii, it would be highly desirable to see if two forms are
presented, and I should be very grateful for information and flowers for
inspection. I cannot remember, but I know that I had some reason to look
after Phloxes. (626/1. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 119,
where the conjecture is hazarded that Phlox subulata shows traces of a
former heterostyled condition.)
I do not know whether you have used microscopes much yet. It adds
immensely to interest of all such work as ours, and is indeed
indispensable for much work. Experience, however, has fully convinced me
that the use of the compound without the simple microscope is absolutely
injurious to progress of N[atural] History (excepting, of course, with
Infusoria). I have, as yet, found no exception to the rule, that when a
man has told me he works with the compound alone his work is valueless.
LETTER 627. TO ASA GRAY. March 20th [1863].
I wrote to him [Dr. H. Cruger, of Trinidad] to ask him to observe what
the insects did in the flowers of Melastomaceae: he says not proper
season yet, but that on one species a small bee seemed busy about the
horn-like appendages to the anthers. It will be too good luck if
my study of the flowers in the greenhouse has led me to right
interpretation of these appendages.
LETTER 628. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, November 28th [1871].
If you had come here on Sunday I should have asked you whether you could
give me seed or seedlings of any Melastomad which would flower soon to
experiment on! I wrote also to J. Scott to ask if he could give me seed.
Several years ago I raised a lot of seedlings of a Melastomad greenhouse
bush (Monochaetus or some such name) (628/1. Monochaetum.) from stigmas
fertilised separately by the two kinds of pollen, and the seedlings
differed remarkably in size, and whilst young, in appearance; and I
never knew what to think of the case (so you must not use it), and
have always wished to try again, but they are troublesome beasts to
fertilise.
On the other hand I could detect no difference in the product from
the two coloured anthers of Clarkia. (628/2. Clarkia has eight stamens
divided into two groups which differ in the colour of the anthers.) If
you want to know further particulars of my experiments on Monochaetum
(?) and Clarkia, I will hunt for my notes. You ask about difference in
pollen in the same species. All dimorphic and trimorphic plants present
such difference in function and in size. Lythrum and the trimorphic
Oxalis are the most wonderful cases. The pollen of the closed imperfect
cleistogamic flowers differ in the transparency of the integument, and
I think in size. The latter point I could ascertain from my notes. The
pollen or female organs must differ in almost every individual in some
manner; otherwise the pollen of varieties and even distinct individuals
of same varieties would not be so prepotent over the individual plant's
own pollen. Here follows a case of individual differences in function of
pollen or ovules or both. Some few individuals of Reseda odorata and R.
lutea cannot be fertilised, or only very rarely, by pollen of the same
plant, but can by pollen of any other individual. I chanced to have two
plants of R. odorata in this state; so I crossed them and raised five
seedlings, all of which were self sterile and all perfectly fertile
with pollen of any other individual mignonette. So I made a self sterile
race! I do not know whether these are the kinds of facts which you
require.
Think whether you can help me to seed or better seedlings (not cuttings)
of any Melastomad.
LETTER 629. TO F. MULLER. Down, March 20th, 1881.
I have received the seeds and your most interesting letter of February
7th. The seeds shall be sown, and I shall like to see the plants
sleeping; but I doubt whether I shall make any more detailed
observations on this subject, as, now that I feel very old, I require
the stimulus of some novelty to make me work. This stimulus you
have amply given me in your remarkable view of the meaning of the
two-coloured stamens in many flowers. I was so much struck with this
fact with Lythrum, that I began experimenting on some Melastomaceae,
which have two sets of extremely differently coloured anthers. After
reading your letter I turned to my notes (made 20 years ago!) to see
whether they would support or contradict your suggestion. I cannot tell
yet, but I have come across one very remarkable result, that seedlings
from the crimson anthers were not 11/20ths of the size of seedlings from
the yellow anthers of the same flowers. Fewer good seeds were produced
by the crimson pollen. I concluded that the shorter stamens were
aborting, and that the pollen was not good. (629/1. "Shorter stamens"
seems to be a slip of the pen for "longer,"--unless the observations
were made on some genus in which the structure is unusual.) The mature
pollen is incoherent, and must be [word illegible] against the visiting
insect's body. I remembered this, and I find it said in my EARLY
notes that bees would never visit the flowers for pollen. This made
me afterwards write to the late Dr. Cruger in the West Indies, and he
observed for me the flowers, and saw bees pressing the anthers with
their mandibles from the base upwards, and this forced a worm-like
thread of pollen from the terminal pore, and this pollen the bees
collected with their hind legs. So that the Melastomads are not opposed
to your views.
I am now working on the habits of worms, and it tires me much to change
my subject; so I will lay on one side your letter and my notes, until I
have a week's leisure, and will then see whether my facts bear on your
views. I will then send a letter to "Nature" or to the Linn. Soc., with
the extract of your letter (and this ought to appear in any case), with
my own observations, if they appear worth publishing. The subject had
gone out of my mind, but I now remember thinking that the imperfect
action of the crimson stamens might throw light on hybridism. If this
pollen is developed, according to your view, for the sake of attracting
insects, it might act imperfectly, as well as if the stamens were
becoming rudimentary. (629/2. As far as it is possible to understand the
earlier letters it seems that the pollen of the shorter stamens, which
are adapted for attracting insects, is the most effective.) I do not
know whether I have made myself intelligible.
LETTER 630. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, March 21st [1881].
I have had a letter from Fritz Muller suggesting a novel and very
curious explanation of certain plants producing two sets of anthers
of different colour. This has set me on fire to renew the laborious
experiments which I made on this subject, now 20 years ago. Now, will
you be so kind as to turn in your much worked and much holding head,
whether you can think of any plants, especially annuals, producing
2 such sets of anthers. I believe that this is the case with Clarkia
elegans, and I have just written to Thompson for seeds. The Lythraceae
must be excluded, as these are heterostyled.
I have got seeds from Dr. King of some Melastomaceae, and will write
to Veitch to see if I can get the Melastomaceous genera Monochaetum and
Heterocentron or some such name, on which I before experimented. Now,
if you can aid me, I know that you will; but if you cannot, do not write
and trouble yourself.
2.X.III. CORRESPONDENCE WITH JOHN SCOTT, 1862-1871.
"If he had leisure he would make a wonderful observer, to my judgment;
I have come across no one like him."--Letter to J.D. Hooker, May 29th
[1863].
(631/1. The following group of letters to John Scott, of whom some
account is given elsewhere (Volume I., Letters 150 and 151, and Index.)
deal chiefly with experimental work in the fertilisation of flowers. In
addition to their scientific importance, several of the letters are
of special interest as illustrating the encouragement and friendly
assistance which Darwin gave to his correspondent.)
LETTER 631. JOHN SCOTT TO CHARLES DARWIN. Edinburgh Botanic Gardens,
November 11th, 1862.
I take the liberty of addressing you for the purpose of directing your
attention to an error in one of your ingenious explanations of the
structural adaptations of the Orchidaceae in your late work. This occurs
in the genus Acropera, two species of which you assume to be unisexual,
and so far as known represented by male individuals only. Theoretically
you have no doubt assigned good grounds for this view; nevertheless,
experimental observations that I am now making have already convinced me
of its fallacy. And I thus hurriedly, and as you may think prematurely,
direct your attention to it, before I have seen the final result of my
own experiment, that you might have the longer time for reconsidering
the structure of this genus for another edition of your interesting
book, if indeed it be not already called for. I am furthermore induced
to communicate the results of my yet imperfect experiments in the belief
that the actuating principle of your late work is the elicitation of
truth, and that you will gladly avail yourself of this even at the
sacrifice of much ingenious theoretical argumentation.
Since I have had an opportunity of perusing your work on orchid
fertilisation, my attention has been particularly directed to the
curiously constructed floral organs of Acropera. I unfortunately have
as yet had only a few flowers for experimental enquiry, otherwise my
remarks might have been clearer and more satisfactory. Such as they are,
however, I respectfully lay [them] before you, with a full assurance
of their veracity, and I sincerely trust that as such you will receive
them.
Your observations seem to have been chiefly directed to the A. luteola,
mine to the A. Loddigesii, which, however, as you remark, is in a very
similar constructural condition with the former; having the same narrow
stigmatic chamber, abnormally developed placenta, etc. In regard to the
former point--contraction of stigmatic chamber--I may remark that
it does not appear to be absolutely necessary that the pollen-masses
penetrate this chamber for effecting fecundation. Thus a raceme was
produced upon a plant of A. Loddigesii in the Botanic Gardens here
lately; upon this I left only six flowers. These I attempted to
fertilise, but with two only of the six have I been successful: I
succeeded in forcing a single pollen-mass into the stigmatic chamber
of one of the latter, but I failed to do this on the other; however, by
inserting a portion of a pedicel with a pollinium attached, I caused
the latter to adhere, with a gentle press, to the mouth of the stigmatic
chamber. Both of these, as I have already remarked, are nevertheless
fertilised; one of them I have cut off for examination, and its
condition I will presently describe; the other is still upon the plant,
and promises fair to attain maturity. In regard to the other four
flowers, I may remark that though similarly fertilised--part having
pollinia inserted, others merely attached--they all withered and dropped
off without the least swelling of the ovary. Can it be, then, that this
is really an [andro-monoecious] species?--part of the flowers male,
others truly hermaphrodite.
In making longitudinal sections of the fertilised ovary before
mentioned, I found the basal portion entirely destitute of ovules, their
place being substituted by transparent cellular ramification of the
placentae. As I traced the placentae upwards, the ovules appeared,
becoming gradually more abundant towards its apex. A transverse section
near the apex of the ovary, however, still exhibited a more than
ordinary placental development--i.e. [congenitally?] considered--each
end giving off two branches, which meet each other in the centre of the
ovary, the ovules being irregularly and sparingly disposed upon their
surfaces.
In regard to the mere question of fertilisation, then, I am perfectly
satisfied, but there are other points which require further elucidation.
Among these I may particularly refer to the contracted stigmatic
chamber, and the slight viscidity of its disk. The latter, however,
may be a consequence of uncongenial conditions--as you do not mention
particularly its examination by any author in its natural habitat. If
such be the case, the contracted stigmatic chamber will offer no real
difficulty, should the viscous exudations be only sufficient to render
the mouth adhesive. For, as I have already shown, the pollen-tubes may
be emitted in this condition, and effect fecundation without being in
actual contact with the stigmatic surface, as occurs pretty regularly in
the fertilisation of the Stapelias, for example. But, indeed, your
own discovery of the independent germinative capabilities of the
pollen-grains of certain Orchidaceae is sufficiently illustrative of
this.
I may also refer to the peculiar abnormal condition that many at least
of the ovaries present in a comparative examination of the placentae,
and of which I beg to suggest the following explanation, though it is as
yet founded on limited observations. In examining certain young ovaries
of A. Loddigesii, I found some of them filled with the transparent
membranous fringes of more or less distinctly cellular matter, which,
from your description of the ovaries of luteola, appears to differ
simply in the greater development in the former species. Again, in
others I found small mammillary bodies, which appeared to be true
ovules, though I could not perfectly satisfy myself as to the existence
of the micropyle or nucleus. I unfortunately neglected to apply any
chemical test. The fact, however, that in certain of the examined
ovaries few or none of the latter bodies occurred--the placenta alone
being developed in an irregular membranous form, taken in conjunction
with the results of my experiments--before alluded to--on their
fertilisation, leads me to infer that two sexual conditions are
presented by the flowers of this plant. In short, that many of the
ovaries are now normally abortive, though Nature occasionally makes
futile efforts for their perfect development, in the production of
ovuloid bodies; these then I regard as the male flowers. The others that
are still capable of fertilisation, and likewise possessing male
organs, are hermaphrodite, and must, I think, from the results of your
comparative examinations, present a somewhat different condition; as it
can scarcely be supposed that ovules in the condition you describe could
ever be fertilised.
This is at least the most plausible explanation I can offer for the
different results in my experiments on the fertilisation of apparently
similar morphologically constructed flowers; others may, however, occur
to you. Here there is not, as in the Catasetum, any external change
visible in the respective unisexual and bisexual flowers. And yet it
would appear from your researches that the ovules of Acropera are in a
more highly atrophied condition than occurs in Catasetum, though, as
you likewise remark, M. Neumann has never succeeded in fertilising C.
tridentatum. If there be not, then, an arrangement of the reproductive
structures, such as I have indicated, how can the different results in
M. Neumann's experiments and mine be accounted for? However, as you
have examined many flowers of both A. luteola and Loddigesii, such a
difference in the ovulary or placental structures could scarcely
have escaped your observation. But, be this as it may, the--to me at
least--demonstrated fact still remains, that certain flowers of A.
Loddigesii are capable of fertilisation, and that, though there are good
grounds for supposing that important physiological changes are going on
in the sexual phenomena of this species, there is no evidence whatever
for supposing that external morphological changes have so masked certain
individuals as to prevent their recognition.
I would now, sir, in conclusion beg you to excuse me for this
infringement upon your valuable time, as I have been induced to
write you in the belief that you have had negative results from
other experimenters, before you ventured to propose your theoretical
explanation, and consequently that you have been unknowingly led into
error. I will continue, as opportunities present themselves, to examine
the many peculiarities you have pointed out in this as well as others of
the Orchid family; and at present I am looking forward with anxiety for
the maturation of the ovary of A. Loddigesii, which will bear testimony
to the veracity of the remarks I have ventured to lay before you.
LETTER 632. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, 18th [November 1862].
Strange to say, I have only one little bother for you to-day, and that
is to let me know about what month flowers appear in Acropera Loddigesii
and luteola; for I want extremely to beg a few more flowers, and if I
knew the time I would keep a memorandum to remind you. Why I want these
flowers is (and I am much alarmed) that Mr. J. Scott, of Bot. Garden of
Edinburgh (do you know anything of him?) has written me a very long and
clever letter, in which he confirms most of my observations; but tells
me that with much difficulty he managed to get pollen into orifice, or
as far as mouth of orifice, of six flowers of A. Loddigesii (the ovarium
of which I did not examine), and two pods set; one he gathered, and saw
a very few ovules, as he thinks, on the large and mostly rudimentary
placenta. I shall be most curious to hear whether the other pod produces
a good lot of seed. He says he regrets that he did not test the ovules
with chemical agents: does he mean tincture of iodine? He suggests that
in a state of nature the viscid matter may come to the very surface of
stigmatic chamber, and so pollen-masses need not be inserted. This is
possible, but I should think improbable. Altogether the case is very
odd, and I am very uneasy, for I cannot hope that A. Loddigesii is
hermaphrodite and A. luteola the male of the same species. Whenever I
can get Acropera would be a very good time for me to look at Vanda in
spirits, which you so kindly preserved for me.
LETTER 633. TO J. SCOTT.
(633/1. The following is Darwin's reply to the above letter from Scott.
In the first edition of "Fertilisation of Orchids" (page 209) he assumed
that the sexes in Acropera, as in Catasetum, were separate. In the
second edition (page 172) he writes: "I was, however, soon convinced
of my error by Mr. Scott, who succeeded in artificially fertilising
the flowers with their own pollen. A remarkable discovery by Hildebrand
(633/2. "Bot. Zeitung," 1863 and 1865.), namely, that in many orchids
the ovules are not developed unless the stigma is penetrated by the
pollen-tubes...explains the state of the ovarium in Acropera, as
observed by me." In regard to this subject see Letter 608.)
Down, November 12th, 1862.
I thank you most sincerely for your kindness in writing to me, and for
[your] very interesting letter. Your fact has surprised me greatly, and
has alarmed me not a little, for if I am in error about Acropera I may
be in error about Catasetum. Yet when I call to mind the state of
the placentae in A. luteola, I am astonished that they should produce
ovules. You will see in my book that I state that I did not look at the
ovarium of A. Loddigesii. Would you have the kindness to send me word
which end of the ovarium is meant by apex (that nearest the flower?),
for I must try and get this species from Kew and look at its ovarium.
I shall be extremely curious to hear whether the fruit, which is now
maturing, produces a large number of good and plump seed; perhaps you
may have seen the ripe capsules of other Vandeae, and may be able
to form some conjecture what it ought to produce. In the young,
unfertilised ovaria of many Vandeae there seemed an infinitude of
ovules. In desperation it occurs to me as just possible, as almost
everything in nature goes by gradation, that a properly male flower
might occasionally produce a few seeds, in the same manner as female
plants sometimes produce a little pollen. All your remarks seem to me
excellent and very interesting, and I again thank you for your kindness
in writing to me. I am pleased to observe that my description of the
structure of Acropera seems to agree pretty well with what you have
observed. Does it not strike you as very difficult to understand
how insects remove the pollinia and carry them to the stigmas? Your
suggestion that the mouth of the stigmatic cavity may become charged
with viscid matter and thus secure the pollinia, and that the
pollen-tubes may then protrude, seems very ingenious and new to me; but
it would be very anomalous in orchids, i.e. as far as I have seen. No
doubt, however, though I tried my best, I shall be proved wrong in many
points. Botany is a new subject to me. With respect to the protrusion
of pollen-tubes, you might like to hear (if you do not already know the
fact) that, as I saw this summer, in the little imperfect flowers of
Viola and Oxalis, which never open, the pollen-tubes always come out of
the pollen-grain, whilst still in the anthers, and direct themselves in
a beautiful manner to the stigma seated at some little distance. I hope
that you will continue your very interesting observations.
LETTER 634. TO J. SCOTT. Down, November 19th [1862].
I am much obliged for your letter, which is full of interesting matter.
I shall be very glad to look at the capsule of the Acropera when
ripe, and pray present my thanks to Mr. MacNab. (634/1. See Letter 608
(Lindley, December 15th, 1861). Also "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition
II., page 172, for an account of the observations on Acropera which were
corrected by Scott.) I should like to keep it till I could get a capsule
of some other member of the Vandeae for comparison, but ultimately all
the seeds shall be returned, in case you would like to write any
notice on the subject. It was, as I said (634/2. Letter 633.), only
"in desperation" that I suggested that the flower might be a male and
occasionally capable of producing a few seeds. I had forgotten Gartner's
remark; in fact, I know only odds and ends of Botany, and you know far
more. One point makes the above view more probable in Acropera than in
other cases, viz. the presence of rudimentary placentae or testae, for
I cannot hear that these have been observed in the male plants. They do
not occur in male Lychnis dioica, but next spring I will look to male
holly flowers. I fully admit the difficulty of similarity of stigmatic
chamber in the two Acroperas. As far as I remember, the blunt end of
pollen-mass would not easily even stick in the orifice of the chamber.
Your view may be correct about abundance of viscid matter, but seems
rather improbable. Your facts about female flowers occurring where males
alone ought to occur is new to me; if I do not hear that you object, I
will quote the Zea case on your authority in what I am now writing on
the varieties of the maize. (634/3. See "Animals and Plants," Edition
II., Volume I., page 339: "Mr. Scott has lately observed the rarer case
of female flowers on a true male panicle, and likewise hermaphrodite
flowers." Scott's paper on the subject is in "Trans. Bot. Soc.
Edinburgh," Volume VIII. See Letter 151, Volume I.) I am glad to hear
that you are now working on the most curious subject of parthenogenesis.
I formerly fancied that I observed female Lychnis dioica seeded without
pollen. I send by this post a paper on Primula, which may interest you.
(634/4. "Linn. Soc. Journal," 1862.) I am working on the subject, and if
you should ever observe any analogous case I should be glad to hear. I
have added another very clever pamphlet by Prof. Asa Gray. Have you a
copy of my Orchis book? If you have not, and would like one, I should be
pleased to send one. I plainly see that you have the true spirit of an
experimentalist and good observer. Therefore, I ask whether you have
ever made any trials on relative fertility of varieties of plants (like
those I quote from Gartner on the varieties of Verbascum). I much
want information on this head, and on those marvellous cases (as some
Lobelias and Crinum passiflora) in which a plant can be more easily
fertilised by the pollen of another species than by its own good pollen.
I am compelled to write in haste. With many thanks for your kindness.
LETTER 635. TO J. SCOTT. Down, 20th [1862?].
What a magnificent capsule, and good Heavens, what a number of seeds!
I never before opened pods of larger orchids. It did not signify a
few seed being lost, as it would be hopeless to estimate number in
comparison with other species. If you sow any, had you not better sow
a good many? so I enclose small packet. I have looked at the seeds; I
never saw in the British orchids nearly so many empty testae; but
this goes for nothing, as unnatural conditions would account for it. I
suspect, however, from the variable size and transparency, that a
good many of the seeds when dry (and I have put the capsule on my
chimney-piece) will shrivel up. So I will wait a month or two till I get
the capsule of some large Vandeae for comparison. It is more likely that
I have made some dreadful blunder about Acropera than that it should be
male yet not a perfect male. May there be some sexual relation between
A. Loddigesii and luteola; they seem very close? I should very much like
to examine the capsule of the unimpregnated flower of A. Loddigesii.
I have got both species from Kew, but whether we shall have skill to
flower them I know not. One conjectures that it is imperfect male; I
still should incline to think it would produce by seed both sexes.
But you are right about Primula (and a very acute thought it was):
the long-styled P. sinensis, homomorphically fertilised with own-form
pollen, has produced during two successive homomorphic generations only
long-styled plants. (635/1. In "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page
216, a summary of the transmission of forms in the "homomorphic" unions
of P. sinensis is given. Darwin afterwards used "illegitimate" for
homomorphic, and "legitimate" for "heteromorphic" ("Forms of Flowers,"
Edition i., page 24).) The short-styled the same, i.e. produced
short-styled for two generations with the exception of a single plant.
I cannot say about cowslips yet. I should like to hear your case of the
Primula: is it certainly propagated by seed?
LETTER 636. TO J. SCOTT. Down, December 3rd, [1862?].
What a capital observer you are! and how well you have worked the
primulas. All your facts are new to me. It is likely that I overrate the
interest of the subject; but it seems to me that you ought to publish a
paper on the subject. It would, however, greatly add to the value if you
were to cover up any of the forms having pistil and anther of the same
height, and prove that they were fully self-fertile. The occurrence of
dimorphic and non-dimorphic species in the same genus is quite the
same as I find in Linum. (636/1. Darwin finished his paper on Linum
in December 1862, and it was published in the "Linn. Soc. Journal" in
1863.) Have any of the forms of Primula, which are non-dimorphic, been
propagated for some little time by seed in garden? I suppose not. I
ask because I find in P. sinensis a third rather fluctuating form,
apparently due to culture, with stigma and anthers of same height.
I have been working successive generations homomorphically of this
Primula, and think I am getting curious results; I shall probably
publish next autumn; and if you do not (but I hope you will) publish
yourself previously, I should be glad to quote in abstract some of your
facts. But I repeat that I hope you will yourself publish. Hottonia is
dimorphic, with pollen of very different sizes in the two forms. I think
you are mistaken about Siphocampylus, but I feel rather doubtful in
saying this to so good an observer. In Lobelia the closed pistil grows
rapidly, and pushes out the pollen and then the stigma expands, and the
flower in function is monoecious; from appearance I believe this is the
case with your plant. I hope it is so, for this plant can hardly require
a cross, being in function monoecious; so that dimorphism in such a case
would be a heavy blow to understanding its nature or good in all other
cases. I see few periodicals: when have you published on Clivia? I
suppose that you did not actually count the seeds in the hybrids in
comparison with those of the parent-forms; but this is almost necessary
after Gartner's observations. I very much hope you will make a good
series of comparative trials on the same plant of Tacsonia. (636/2. See
Scott in "Linn. Soc. Journal," VIII.) I have raised 700-800 seedlings
from cowslips, artificially fertilised with care; and they presented not
a hair's-breadth approach to oxlips. I have now seed in pots of cowslip
fertilised by pollen of primrose, and I hope they will grow; I have also
got fine seedlings from seed of wild oxlips; so I hope to make out the
case. You speak of difficulties on Natural Selection: there are indeed
plenty; if ever you have spare time (which is not likely, as I am sure
you must be a hard worker) I should be very glad to hear difficulties
from one who has observed so much as you have. The majority of
criticisms on the "Origin" are, in my opinion, not worth the paper they
are printed on. Sir C. Lyell is coming out with what, I expect, will
prove really good remarks. (636/3. Lyell's "Antiquity of Man" was
published in the spring of 1863. In the "Life and Letters," Volume III.,
pages 8, 11, Darwin's correspondence shows his deep disappointment at
what he thought Lyell's half-heartedness in regard to evolution. See
Letter 164, Volume I.) Pray do not think me intrusive; but if you
would like to have any book I have published, such as my "Journal of
Researches" or the "Origin," I should esteem it a compliment to be
allowed to send it. Will you permit me to suggest one experiment, which
I should much like to see tried, and which I now wish the more from
an extraordinary observation by Asa Gray on Gymnadenia tridentata (in
number just out of Silliman's N. American Journal) (636/4. In Gymnadenia
tridentata, according to Asa Gray, the anther opens in the bud, and the
pollen being somewhat coherent falls on the stigma and on the rostellum
which latter is penetrated by the pollen-tubes. "Fertilisation of
Orchids," Edition II., page 68. Asa Gray's papers are in "American
Journal of Science," Volume XXXIV., 1862, and XXXVI., 1863.); namely,
to split the labellum of a Cattleya, or of some allied orchis, remove
caudicle from pollen-mass (so that no loose grains are about) and put it
carefully into the large tongue-like rostellum, and see if pollen-tubes
will penetrate, or better, see if capsule will swell. Similar
pollen-masses ought to be put on true stigmas of two or three other
flowers of same plants for comparison. It is to discover whether
rostellum yet retains some of its primordial function of being
penetrated by pollen-tubes. You will be sorry that you ever entered
into correspondence with me. But do not answer till at leisure, and as
briefly as you like. My handwriting, I know, is dreadfully bad. Excuse
this scribbling paper, as I can write faster on it, and I have a rather
large correspondence to keep up.
LETTER 637. TO J. SCOTT. Down, January 21st, 1863.
I thank you for your very interesting letter; I must answer as briefly
as I can, for I have a heap of other letters to answer. I strongly
advise you to follow up and publish your observations on the
pollen-tubes of orchids; they promise to be very interesting. If you
could prove what I only conjectured (from state of utriculi in rostellum
and in stigma of Catasetum and Acropera) that the utriculi somehow
induce, or are correlated with, penetration of pollen-tubes you will
make an important physiological discovery. I will mention, as worth
your attention (and what I have anxiously wished to observe, if time had
permitted, and still hope to do)--viz., the state of tissues or cells
of stigma in an utterly sterile hybrid, in comparison with the same
in fertile parent species; to test these cells, immerse stigmas for
48 hours in spirits of wine. I should expect in hybrids that the cells
would not show coagulated contents. It would be an interesting discovery
to show difference in female organs of hybrids and pure species. Anyhow,
it is worth trial, and I recommend you to make it, and publish if
you do. The pollen-tubes directing themselves to stigma is also very
curious, though not quite so new, but well worth investigation when
you get Cattleya, etc., in flower. I say not so new, for remember small
flowers of Viola and Oxalis; or better, see Bibliography in "Natural
History Review," No. VIII., page 419 (October, 1862) for quotation
from M. Baillon on pollen-tubes finding way from anthers to stigma in
Helianthemum. I should doubt gum getting solid from [i.e. because of]
continued secretion. Why not sprinkle fresh plaster of Paris and make
impenetrable crust? (637/1. The suggestion that the stigma should be
covered with a crust of plaster of Paris, pierced by a hole to allow the
pollen-tubes to enter, bears a resemblance to Miyoshi's experiments with
germinating pollen and fungal spores. See "Pringsheim's Jahrbucher,"
1895; "Flora," 1894.) You might modify experiment by making little hole
in one lower corner, and see if tubes find it out. See in my future
paper on Linum pollen and stigma recognising each other. If you will
tell me that pollen smells the stigma I will try and believe you; but
I will not believe the Frenchman (I forget who) who says that stigma of
Vanilla actually attracts mechanically, by some unknown force, the solid
pollen-masses to it! Read Asa Gray in 2nd Review of my Orchis book on
pollen of Gymnadenia penetrating rostellum. I can, if you like, lend
you these Reviews; but they must be returned. R. Brown, I remember, says
pollen-tubes separate from grains before the lower ends of tubes reach
ovules. I saw, and was interested by, abstract of your Drosera paper
(637/2. A short note on the irritability of Drosera in the "Trans. Bot.
Soc. Edin." Volume VII.); we have been at very much the same work.
LETTER 638. TO J. SCOTT. Down, February 16th [1863].
Absence from home has prevented me from answering you sooner. I should
think that the capsule of Acropera had better be left till it shows some
signs of opening, as our object is to judge whether the seeds are good;
but I should prefer trusting to your better judgment. I am interested
about the Gongora, which I hope hereafter to try myself, as I have just
built a small hot-house.
Asa Gray's observations on the rostellum of Gymnadenia are very
imperfect, yet worth looking at. Your case of Imatophyllum is most
interesting (638/1. A sucker of Imatophyllum minatum threw up a shoot
in which the leaves were "two-ranked instead of four-ranked," and showed
other differences from the normal.--"Animals and Plants," Edition II.,
Volume I., page 411.); even if the sport does not flower it will be
worth my giving. I did not understand, or I had forgotten, that a single
frond on a fern will vary; I now see that the case does come under
bud-variation, and must be given by me. I had thought of it only
as proof [of] inheritance in cryptogams; I am much obliged for your
correction, and will consult again your paper and Mr. Bridgeman's.
(638/2. The facts are given in "Animals and Plants," Edition II., Volume
I., page 408.) I enclose varieties of maize from Asa Gray. Pray do not
thank me for trusting you; the thanks ought to go the other way. I
felt a conviction after your first letter that you were a real lover of
Natural History.
If you can advance good evidence showing that bisexual plants are more
variable than unisexual, it will be interesting. I shall be very glad to
read the discussion which you are preparing. I admit as fully as any
one can do that cross-impregnation is the great check to endless
variability; but I am not sure that I understand your view. I do not
believe that the structure of Primula has any necessary relation to
a tendency to a dioecious structure, but seeing the difference in the
fertility of the two forms, I felt bound unwillingly to admit that they
might be a step towards dioeciousness; I allude to this subject in
my Linum paper. (638/3. "Linn. Soc. Journal," 1863.) Thanks for your
answers to my other queries. I forgot to say that I was at Kew the other
day, and I find that they can give me capsules of several Vandeae.
LETTER 639. TO J. SCOTT. Down, March 24th [1863].
Your letter, as every one you have written, has greatly interested me.
If you can show that certain individual Passifloras, under certain known
or unknown conditions of life, have stigmas capable of fertilisation
by pollen from another species, or from another individual of its own
species, yet not by its own individual pollen (its own individual pollen
being proved to be good by its action on some other species), you will
add a case of great interest to me; and which in my opinion would be
quite worth your publication. (639/1. Cases nearly similar to those
observed by Scott were recorded by Gartner and Kolreuter, but in these
instances only certain individuals were self-impotent. In "Animals and
Plants," Edition II., Volume II., page 114, where the phenomenon is
fully discussed, Scott's observations ("Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin." 1863)
are given as the earliest, except for one case recorded by Lecoq
("Fecondation," 1862). Interesting work was afterwards done by
Hildebrand and Fritz Muller, as illustrated in many of the letters
addressed to the latter.) I always imagined that such recorded cases
must be due to unnatural conditions of life; and think I said so in the
"Origin." (639/2. See "Origin of Species," Edition I., page 251, for
Herbert's observations on self-impotence in Hippeastrum. In spite of
the uniformness of the results obtained in many successive years, Darwin
inferred that the plants must have been in an "unnatural state.") I am
not sure that I understand your result, [nor] whether it means what I
have above obscurely expressed. If you can prove the above, do publish;
but if you will not publish I earnestly beg you to let me have the facts
in detail; but you ought to publish, for I may not use the facts for
years. I have been much interested by what you say on the rostellum
exciting pollen to protrude tubes; but are you sure that the rostellum
does excite them? Would not tubes protrude if placed on parts of column
or base of petals, etc., near to the stigma? Please look at the
"Cottage Gardener" (or "Journal of Horticulture") (639/3. "Journal of
Horticulture" and "Cottage Gardener," March 31st, 1863. A short note
describing Cruger's discovery of self-fertilisation in Cattleya,
Epidendrum, etc., and referring to the work of "an excellent observer,
Mr. J. Scott." Darwin adds that he is convinced that he has underrated
the power of tropical orchids occasionally to produce seeds without the
aid of insects.) to be published to-morrow week for letter of mine, in
which I venture to quote you, and in which you will see a curious fact
about unopened orchid flowers setting seed in West Indies. Dr. Cruger
attributes protrusion of tubes to ants carrying stigmatic secretion to
pollen (639/4. In Cruger's paper ("Linn. Soc. Journ." VIII., 1865; read
March 3rd 1864) he speaks of the pollen-masses in situ being acted on by
the stigmatic secretion, but no mention is made of the agency of ants.
He describes the pollen-tubes descending "from the [pollen] masses still
in situ down into the ovarian canal."); but this is mere hypothesis.
Remember, pollen-tubes protrude within anther in Neottia nidus-avis. I
did think it possible or probable that perfect fertilisation might have
been effected through rostellum. What a curious case your Gongora must
be: could you spare me one of the largest capsules? I want to estimate
the number of seed, and try my hand if I can make them grow. This,
however, is a foolish attempt, for Dr. Hooker, who was here a day or two
ago, says they cannot at Calcutta, and yet imported species have seeded
and have naturally spread on to the adjoining trees! Dr. Cruger thinks I
am wrong about Catasetum: but I cannot understand his letter. He admits
there are three forms in two species; and he speaks as if the sexes
were separate in some and that others were hermaphrodites (639/5.
Cruger ("Linn. Soc. Journal," VIII., page 127) says that the apparently
hermaphrodite form is always sterile in Trinidad. Darwin modified
his account in the second edition of the orchid book.); but I cannot
understand what he means. He has seen lots of great humble-bees buzzing
about the flowers with the pollinia sticking to their backs! Happy man!!
I have the promise, but not yet surety, of some curious results with
my homomorphic seedling cowslips: these have not followed the rule of
Chinese Primula; homomorphic seedlings from short-styled parent have
presented both forms, which disgusts me.
You will see that I am better; but still I greatly fear that I must have
a compulsory holiday. With sincere thanks and hearty admiration at your
powers of observation...
My poor P. scotica looks very sick which you so kindly sent me. (639/6.
Sent by Scott, January 6th, 1863.)
LETTER 640. TO J. SCOTT. April 12th [1863].
I really hardly know how to thank you enough for your very interesting
letter. I shall certainly use all the facts which you have given me (in
a condensed form) on the sterility of orchids in the work which I am now
slowly preparing for publication. But why do you not publish these facts
in a separate little paper? (640/1. See Letter 642, note, for reference
to Scott's paper.) They seem to me well worth it, and you really ought
to get your name known. I could equally well use them in my book. I
earnestly hope that you will experiment on Passiflora, and let me give
your results. Dr. A. Gray's observations were made loosely; he said in
a letter he would attend this summer further to the case, which clearly
surprised him much. I will say nothing about the rostellum, stigmatic
utriculi, fertility of Acropera and Catasetum, for I am completely
bewildered: it will rest with you to settle these points by your
excellent observations and experiments. I must own I never could help
doubting Dr. Hooker's case of the poppy. You may like to hear what I
have seen this morning: I found (640/2. See Letter 658.) a primrose
plant with flowers having three pistils, which when pulled asunder,
without any tearing, allowed pollen to be placed on ovules. This I did
with three flowers--pollen-tubes did not protrude after several days.
But this day, the sixteenth (N.B.--primulas seem naturally slowly
fertilised), I found many tubes protruded, and, what is very odd, they
certainly seemed to have penetrated the coats of the ovules, but in
no one instance the foramen of the ovule!! I mention this because
it directly bears on your explanation of Dr. Cruger's case. (640/3.
Cruger's case here referred to is doubtless the cleistogamic
fertilisation of Epidendrum, etc. Scott discusses the question of
self-fertilisation at great length in a letter to Darwin dated April,
and obviously written in 1863. In Epidendrum he observed a viscid matter
extending from the stigmatic chamber to the anther: pollen-tubes had
protruded from the anther not only where it was in contact with the
viscid matter, but also from the central part, and these spread "over
the anterior surface of the rostellum downward into the stigma." Cruger
believed the viscid matter reaching the anther was a necessary condition
for the germination of the pollen-grains. Scott points out that the
viscid matter is produced in large quantity only after the pollen-grains
have penetrated the stigma, and that it is, in fact, a consequence, not
a preliminary to fertilisation. He finally explains Cruger's case thus:
"The greater humidity and equability of temperature consequent on
such conditions [i.e. on the flowers being closed] is, I believe, the
probable cause of these abnormally conditioned flowers so frequently
fertilising themselves." Scott also calls attention to the danger
of being deceived by fungal hyphae in observations on germination of
pollen.) I believe that your explanation is right; I should never have
thought of it; yet this was stupid of me, for I remember thinking that
the almost closed imperfect flowers of Viola and Oxalis were related
to the protrusion of the pollen-tubes. My case of the Aceras with the
aborted labellum squeezed against stigma supports your view. (640/4. See
"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 258: the pollen germinated
within the anther of a monstrous flower.) Dr. Cruger's notion about the
ants was a simple conjecture. About cryptogamic filaments, remember Dr.
C. says that the unopened flowers habitually set fruit. I think that you
will change your views on the imperfect flowers of Viola and Oxalis...
LETTER 641. (?)
LETTER 642. TO J. SCOTT. May 2nd [1863].
I have left home for a fortnight to see if I can, with little hope,
improve my health. The parcel of orchid pods, which you have so kindly
sent me, has followed me. I am sure you will forgive the liberty which I
take in returning you the postage stamps. I never heard of such a scheme
as that you were compelled to practise to fertilise the Gongora! (642/1.
See "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition, II., page 169. "Mr. Scott tried
repeatedly, but in vain, to force the pollen-masses into the stigma of
Gongora atro-purpurea and truncata; but he readily fertilised them by
cutting off the clinandrum and placing pollen-masses on the now exposed
stigma.") It is a most curious problem what plan Nature follows in this
genus and Acropera. (642/2. In the "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition
II., page 169, Darwin speculates as to the possible fertilisation of
Acropera by an insect with pollen-masses adhering to the extremity of
its abdomen. It would appear that this guess (which does not occur in
the first edition) was made before he heard of Cruger's observation on
the allied genus Gongora, which is visited by a bee with a long tongue,
which projects, when not in use, beyond and above the tip of the
abdomen. Cruger believes that this tongue is the pollinating agent.
Cruger's account is in the "Journal of the Linn. Soc." VIII., 1865,
page 130.) Some day I will try and estimate how many seeds there are in
Gongora. I suppose and hope you have kept notes on all your observations
on orchids, for, with my broken health and many other subjects, I do not
know whether I shall ever have time to publish again; though I have a
large collection of notes and facts ready. I think you show your wisdom
in not wishing to publish too soon; a young author who publishes every
trifle gets, sometimes unjustly, to be disregarded. I do not pretend
to be much of a judge; but I can conscientiously say that I have never
written one word to you on the merit of your letters that I do not fully
believe in. Please remember that I should very much wish for a copy of
your paper on sterility of individual orchids (642/3. "On the Individual
Sterility and Cross-Impregnation of Certain Species of Oncidium." [Read
June 2nd, 1864.] "Linn. Soc. Journal," VIII., 1865. This paper gives a
full account of the self-sterility of Oncidium in cases where the pollen
was efficient in fertilising other individuals of the same species and
of distinct species. Some of the facts were given in Scott's paper,
"Experiments on the Fertilisation of Orchids in the Royal Botanic Garden
of Edinburgh," published in the "Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinb." 1863. It
is probably to the latter paper that Darwin refers.) and on Drosera.
(642/4. "Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh," Volume VII.) Thanks for [note]
about Campanula perfoliata. I have asked Asa Gray for seeds, to whom
I have mentioned your observations on rostellum, and asked him to
look closer to the case of Gymnadenia. (642/5. See "Fertilisation
of Orchids," Edition II., page 68.) Let me hear about the sporting
Imatophyllum if it flowers. Perhaps I have blundered about Primula; but
certainly not about mere protrusion of pollen-tubes. I have been idly
watching bees of several genera and diptera fertilising O. morio at this
place, and it is a very pretty sight. I have confirmed in several ways
the entire truth of my statement that there is no vestige of nectar in
the spur; but the insects perforate the inner coat. This seems to me a
curious little fact, which none of my reviewers have noticed.
LETTER 643. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, May 23rd [1863].
You can confer a real service on a good man, John Scott, the writer of
the enclosed letter, by reading it and giving me your opinion. I assure
[you] John Scott is a truly remarkable man. The part struck out is
merely that he is not comfortable under Mr. McNab, and this part must be
considered as private. Now the question is, what think you of the offer?
Is expense of living high at Darjeeling? May I say it is healthy? Will
he find the opportunity for experimental observations, which are a
passion with him? It seems to me rather low pay. Will you advise me for
him? I shall say that as far as experiments in hand at the Botanical
Garden in Edinburgh are concerned, it would be a pity to hesitate to
accept the offer.
J. Scott is head of the propagating department. I know you will not
grudge aiding by your advice a good man. I shall tell him that I have
not the slightest power to aid him in any way for the appointment. I
should think voyage out and home ought to be paid for?
LETTER 644. TO JOHN SCOTT. Down, May 25th, 1863.
Now for a few words on science. I do not think I could be mistaken about
the stigma of Bolbophyllum (644/1. Bolbophyllum is remarkable for the
closure of the stigmatic cavity which comes on after the flower has been
open a little while, instead of after fertilisation, as in other genera.
Darwin connects the fact with the "exposed condition of the whole
flower."--"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 137.); I had
the plant alive from Kew, and watched many flowers. That is a most
remarkable observation on foreign pollen emitting tubes, but not causing
orifice to close (644/2. See Scott, "Bot. Soc. Edin." 1863, page 546,
note. He applied pollinia from Cypripedium and Asclepias to flowers of
Tricopilia tortilis; and though the pollen germinated, the stigmatic
chamber remained open, yet it invariably closes eighteen hours after the
application of its own pollen.); it would have been interesting to have
observed how close an alliance of form would have acted on the orifice
of the stigma. It will probably be so many years, if ever, [before] I
work up my observations on Drosera, that I will not trouble you to send
your paper, for I could not now find time to read it. If you have spare
copy of your Orchid paper, please send it, but do not get a copy of the
journal, for I can get one, and you must often want to buy books. Let me
know when it is published. I have been glad to hear about Mercurialis,
but I will not accept your offer of seed on account of time, time, time,
and weak health. For the same reason I must give up Primula mollis.
What a wonderful, indefatigable worker you are! You seem to have made a
famous lot of interesting experiments. D. Beaton once wrote that no
man could cross any species of Primula. You have apparently proved the
contrary with a vengeance. Your numerous experiments seem very well
selected, and you will exhaust the subject. Now when you have completed
your work you should draw up a paper, well worth publishing, and give
a list of all the dimorphic and non-dimorphic forms. I can give you,
on the authority of Prof. Treviranus in "Bot. Zeitung," case of P.
longiflora non-dimorphic. I am surprised at your cowslips in this state.
Is it a common yellow cowslip? I have seen oxlips (which from some
experiments I now look at as certainly natural hybrids) in same state.
If you think the Botanical Society of Edinburgh would not do justice
and publish your paper, send it to me to be communicated to the Linnean
Society. I will delay my paper on successive dimorphic generations in
Primula (644/3. Published in the "Journ. Linn. Soc." X., 1869 [1868].)
till yours appears, so as in no way to interfere with your paper.
Possibly my results may be hardly worth publishing, but I think they
will; the seedlings from two successive homomorphic generations seem
excessively sterile. I will keep this letter till I hear from Dr.
Hooker. I shall be very glad if you try Passiflora. Your experiments on
Primula seem so well chosen that whatever the result is they will be of
value. But always remember that not one naturalist out of a dozen cares
for really philosophical experiments.
LETTER 645. TO J. SCOTT. Down, May 31st [1863].
I am unwell, and must write briefly. I am very much obliged for the
"Courant." (645/1. The Edinburgh "Evening Courant" used to publish
notices of the papers read at the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. The
paper referred to here was Scott's on Oncidium.) The facts will be of
highest use to me. I feel convinced that your paper will have permanent
value. Your case seems excellently and carefully worked out. I agree
that the alteration of title was unfortunate, but, after all, title does
not signify very much. So few have attended to such points that I do
not expect any criticism; but if so, I should think you had much better
reply, but I could if you wished it much. I quite understand about the
cases being individual sterility; so Gartner states it was with him.
Would it be worth while to send a corrected copy of the "Courant" to the
"Gardeners' Chronicle?" (645/2. An account of Scott's work appeared in
the "Gardeners' Chronicle," June 13th, 1863, which is, at least partly,
a reprint of the "Courant," since it contains the awkward sentence
criticised by Darwin and referred to below. The title is "On the
Fertilisation of Orchids," which was no doubt considered unfortunate as
not suggesting the subject of the paper, and as being the same as that
of Darwin's book.) I did not know that you had tried Lobelia fulgens:
can you give me any particulars on the number of plants and kinds used,
etc., that I may quote, as in a few days I shall be writing on this
whole subject? No one will ever convince me that it is not a very
important subject to philosophical naturalists. The Hibiscus seems a
very curious case, and I agree with your remarks. You say that you are
glad of criticisms (by the way avoid "former and latter," the reader is
always forced to go back to look). I think you would have made the
case more striking if you had first showed that the pollen of
Oncidium sphacelatum was good; secondly, that the ovule was capable of
fertilisation; and lastly, shown that the plant was impotent with its
own pollen. "Impotence of organs capable of elimination"--capable here
strictly refers to organs; you mean to impotence. To eliminate impotence
is a curious expression; it is removing a non-existent quality. But
style is a trifle compared with facts, and you are capable of writing
well. I find it a good rule to imagine that I want to explain the case
in as few and simple words as possible to one who knows nothing of the
subject. (645/3. See Letter 151, Volume I.) I am tired. In my opinion
you are an excellent observer.
LETTER 646. TO J. SCOTT. Down, June 6th, 1863.
I fear that you think that I have done more than I have with respect to
Dr. Hooker. I did not feel that I had any right to ask him to remember
you for a colonial appointment: all that I have done is to speak most
highly of your scientific merits. Of course this may hereafter fructify.
I really think you cannot go on better, for educational purposes, than
you are now doing,--observing, thinking, and some reading beat, in my
opinion, all systematic education. Do not despair about your style; your
letters are excellently written, your scientific style is a little
too ambitious. I never study style; all that I do is to try to get
the subject as clear as I can in my own head, and express it in the
commonest language which occurs to me. But I generally have to think a
good deal before the simplest arrangement and words occur to me. Even
with most of our best English writers, writing is slow work; it is a
great evil, but there is no help for it. I am sure you have no cause to
despair. I hope and suppose your sending a paper to the Linnean Society
will not offend your Edinburgh friends; you might truly say that you
sent the paper to me, and that (if it turns out so) I thought it worth
communicating to the Linnean Society. I shall feel great interest in
studying all your facts on Primula, when they are worked out and the
seed counted. Size of capsules is often very deceptive. I am astonished
how you can find time to make so many experiments. If you like to send
me your paper tolerably well written, I would look it over and suggest
any criticisms; but then this would cause you extra copying. Remember,
however, that Lord Brougham habitually wrote everything important three
times over. The cases of the Primulae which lose by variation their
dimorphic characters seem to me very interesting. I find that the
mid-styled (by variation) P. sinensis is more fertile with own pollen,
even, than a heteromorphic union! If you have time it will be very good
to experiment on Linum Lewisii. I wrote formerly to Asa Gray begging for
seed. If you have time, I think experiments on any peloric flowers would
be useful. I shall be sorry (and I am certain it is a mistake on the
part of the Society) if your orchid paper is not printed in extenso.
I am now at work compiling all such cases, and shall give a very full
abstract of all your observations. I hope to add in autumn some from
you on Passiflora. I would suggest to you the advantage, at present,
of being very sparing in introducing theory in your papers (I formerly
erred much in Geology in that way): LET THEORY GUIDE YOUR OBSERVATIONS,
but till your reputation is well established be sparing in publishing
theory. It makes persons doubt your observations. How rarely R. Brown
ever indulged in theory: too seldom perhaps! Do not work too hard,
and do not be discouraged because your work is not appreciated by the
majority.
LETTER 647. TO J. SCOTT. July 2nd [1863?]
Many thanks for capsules. I would give table of the Auricula (647/1.
In Scott's paper ("Linn. Soc. Journ." VIII.) many experiments on the
Auricula are recorded.), especially owing to enclosed extract, which you
can quote. Your facts about varying fertility of the primulas will be
appreciated by but very few botanists; but I feel sure that the day will
come when they will be valued. By no means modify even in the slightest
degree any result. Accuracy is the soul of Natural History. It is hard
to become accurate; he who modifies a hair's breadth will never be
accurate. It is a golden rule, which I try to follow, to put every fact
which is opposed to one's preconceived opinion in the strongest light.
Absolute accuracy is the hardest merit to attain, and the highest merit.
Any deviation is ruin. Sincere thanks for all your laborious trials on
Passiflora. I am very busy, and have got two of my sons ill--I very much
fear with scarlet fever; if so, no more work for me for some days or
weeks. I feel greatly interested about your Primula cases. I think it
much better to count seed than to weigh. I wish I had never weighed;
counting is more accurate, though so troublesome.
LETTER 648. TO J. SCOTT. Down, 25th [1863?]
From what you say I looked again at "Bot. Zeitung." (648/1. "Ueber
Dichogamie," "Bot. Zeit." January 1863.) Treviranus speaks of P.
longiflora as short-styled, but this is evidently a slip of the pen, for
further on, I see, he says the stigma always projects beyond anthers.
Your experiments on coloured primroses will be most valuable if proved
true. (648/2. The reference seems to be to Scott's observation that the
variety rubra of the primrose was sterile when crossed with pollen
from the common primrose. Darwin's caution to Scott was in some
measure justified, for in his experiments on seedlings raised by
self-fertilisation of the Edinburgh plants, he failed to confirm Scott's
result. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 225. Scott's facts are
in the "Journal Linn. Soc." VIII., page 97 (read February 4th, 1864).) I
will advise to best of my power when I see MS. If evidence is not good
I would recommend you, for your reputation's sake, to try them again. It
is not likely that you will be anticipated, and it is a great thing
to fully establish what in future time will be considered an important
discovery (or rediscovery, for no one has noticed Gartner's facts). I
will procure coloured primroses for next spring, but you may rely I will
not publish before you. Do not work too hard to injure your health. I
made some crosses between primrose and cowslip, and I send the results,
which you may use if you like. But remember that I am not quite
certain that I well castrated the short-styled primrose; I believe any
castration would be superfluous, as I find all [these] plants sterile
when insects are excluded. Be sure and save seed of the crossed
differently coloured primroses or cowslips which produced least seed,
to test the fertility of the quasi-hybrid seedlings. Gartner found the
common primrose and cowslip very difficult to cross, but he knew nothing
on dimorphism. I am sorry about delay [of] your orchid paper; I should
be glad of abstract of your new observations of self-sterility in
orchids, as I should probably use the new facts. There will be an
important paper in September in "Annals and Magazine of Natural
History," on ovules of orchids being formed after application of pollen,
by Dr. F. Hildebrand of Bonn. (648/3. "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." XII., 1863,
page 169. The paper was afterwards published in the "Bot. Zeitung,"
1863.)
LETTER 649. TO J. SCOTT. Down, November 7th [1863].
Every day that I could do anything, I have read a few pages of your
paper, and have now finished it, and return it registered. (649/1.
This refers to the MS. of Scott's paper on the Primulaceae, "Linn. Soc.
Journ." VIII. [February 4th, 1864] 1865.) It has interested me deeply,
and is, I am sure, an excellent memoir. It is well arranged, and in most
parts well written. In the proof sheets you can correct a little
with advantage. I have suggested a few alterations in pencil for your
consideration, and have put in here and there a slip of paper. There
will be no occasion to rewrite the paper--only, if you agree with me, to
alter a few pages. When finished, return it to me, and I will with the
highest satisfaction communicate it to the Linnean Society. I should be
proud to be the author of the paper. I shall not have caused much delay,
as the first meeting of the Society was on November 5th. When your
Primula paper is finished, if you are so inclined, I should like to
hear briefly about your Verbascum and Passiflora experiments. I tried
Verbascum, and have got the pods, but do not know when I shall be able
to see to the results. This subject might make another paper for you. I
may add that Acropera luteola was fertilised by me, and had produced two
fine pods. I congratulate you on your excellent paper.
P.S.--In the summary to Primula paper can you conjecture what is the
typical or parental form, i.e. equal, long or short styled?
LETTER 650. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, [January 24th, 1864].
(650/1. Darwin's interest in Scott's Primula work is shown by the
following extracts from a letter to Hooker of January 24th, 1864,
written, therefore, before the paper was read, and also by the
subsequent correspondence with Hooker and Asa Gray. The first part of
this letter illustrates Darwin's condition during a period of especially
bad health.)
As I do nothing all day I often get fidgety, and I now fancy that
Charlie or some of your family [are] ill. When you have time let me have
a short note to say how you all are. I have had some fearful sickness;
but what a strange mechanism one's body is; yesterday, suddenly, I had
a slight attack of rheumatism in my back, and I instantly became almost
well, and so wonderfully strong that I walked to the hot-houses, which
must be more than a hundred yards. I have sent Scott's paper to the
Linnean Society; I feel sure it is really valuable, but I fear few
will care about it. Remember my URGENT wish to be able to send the poor
fellow a word of praise from any one. I have had work to get him to
allow me to send the paper to the Linnean Society, even after it was
written out.
LETTER 651. TO J. SCOTT. Down, February 9th, 1864.
(651/1. Scott's paper on Primulaceae was read at the Linnean Society on
February 4th, 1864.)
The President, Mr. Bentham, I presume, was so much struck by your paper
that he sent me a message to know whether you would like to be elected
an associate. As only one is elected annually, this is a decided honour.
The enclosed list shows what respectable men are associates. I
enclose the rules of admission. I feel sure that the rule that if no
communication is received within three years the associate is considered
to have voluntarily withdrawn, is by no means rigorously adhered to.
Therefore, I advise you to accept; but of course the choice is quite
free. You will see there is no payment. You had better write to me on
this subject, as Dr. Hooker or I will propose you.
LETTER 652. TO J.D. HOOKER. September 13th, 1864.
I have been greatly interested by Scott's paper. I probably overrate
it from caring for the subject, but it certainly seems to me one of the
very most remarkable memoirs on such subjects which I have ever read.
From the subject being complex, and the style in parts obscure, I
suppose very few will read it. I think it ought to be noticed in the
"Natural History Review," otherwise the more remarkable facts will never
be known. Try and persuade Oliver to do it; with the summary it would
not be troublesome. I would offer, but I have sworn to myself I will do
nothing till my volume on "Variation under Domestication" is complete.
I know you will not have time to read Scott, and therefore I will just
point out the new and, as they seem to me, important points.
Firstly, the red cowslip, losing its dimorphic structure and changing
so extraordinarily in its great production of seed with its own pollen,
especially being nearly sterile when fertilised by, or fertilising,
the common cowslip. The analogous facts with red and white primrose.
Secondly, the utter dissimilarity of action of the pollen of long- and
short-styled form of one species in crossing with a distinct species.
And many other points. Will you suggest to Oliver to review this paper?
if he does so, and if it would be of any service to him, I would (as
I have attended so much to these subjects) just indicate, with pages,
leading and new points. I could send him, if he wishes, a separate and
spare copy marked with pencil.
LETTER 653. TO ASA GRAY. September 13th [1864].
(653/1. In September, 1864, Darwin wrote to Asa Gray describing Scott's
work on the Primulaceae as:--)
A paper which has interested me greatly by a gardener, John Scott;
it seems to me a most remarkable production, though written rather
obscurely in parts, but worth the labour of studying. I have just
bethought me that for the chance of your noticing it in the "Journal,"
I will point out the new and very remarkable facts. I have paid the poor
fellow's passage out to India, where I hope he will succeed, as he is a
most laborious and able man, with the manners almost of a gentleman.
(653/2. The following is an abstract of the paper which was enclosed in
the letter to Asa Gray.)
Pages 106-8. Red cowslip by variation has become non-dimorphic, and with
this change of structure has become much more productive of seed than
even the heteromorphic union of the common cowslip. Pages 91-2, similar
case with Auricula; on the other hand a non-dimorphic variety of P.
farinosa (page 115) is less fertile. These changes, or variations,
in the generative system seem to me very remarkable. But far more
remarkable is the fact that the red cowslip (pages 106-8) is very
sterile when fertilising, or fertilised by the common cowslip. Here we
have a new "physiological species." Analogous facts given (page 98) on
the crossing of red and white primroses with common primroses. It is
very curious that the two forms of the same species (pages 93, 94, 95,
and 117) hybridise with extremely different degrees of facility with
distinct species.
He shows (page 94) that sometimes a cross with a quite distinct species
yields more seed than a homomorphic union with own pollen. He shows
(page 111) that of the two homomorphic unions possible with each
dimorphic species the short-styled (as I stated) is the most sterile,
and that my explanation is probably true. There is a good summary to the
paper.
LETTER 654. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(654/1. The following letters to Hooker, April 1st, April 5th and May
22nd, refer to Darwin's scheme of employing Scott as an assistant at
Down, and to Scott's appointment to the Botanic Garden at Calcutta.)
Down, April 1st, 1864.
I shall not at present allude to your very interesting letter (which as
yet has been read to me only twice!), for I am full of a project which I
much want you to consider.
You will have seen Scott's note. He tells me he has no plans for
the future. Thinking over all his letters, I believe he is a truly
remarkable man. He is willing to follow suggestions, but has much
originality in varying his experiments. I believe years may pass before
another man appears fitted to investigate certain difficult and tedious
points--viz. relative fertility of varieties of plants, including
peloric and other monsters (already Scott has done excellent work
on this head); and, secondly, whether a plant's own pollen is less
effective than that of another individual. Now, if Scott is moderate
in his wishes, I would pay him for a year or two to work and publish on
these or other such subjects which might arise. But I dare not have
him here, for it would quite overwork me. There would not be plants
sufficient for his work, and it would probably be an injury to himself,
as it would put him out of the way of getting a good situation. Now, I
believe you have gardeners at Kew who work and learn there without pay.
What do you think of having Scott there for a year or two to work and
experiment? I can see enormous difficulties. In the first place you
will not perhaps think the points indicated so highly important as I do.
Secondly, he would require ground in some out-of-the-way place where the
plants could be covered by a net, which would be unsightly. On the other
hand, I presume you would like a series of memoirs published on work
done at Kew, which I am fully convinced would have permanent value. It
would, of course I conceive, be absolutely necessary that Scott should
be under the regular orders of the superintendent. The only way I can
fancy that it could be done would be to explain to the superintendent
that I temporarily supported Scott solely for the sake of science, and
appeal to his kindness to assist him. If you approved of having
him (which I can see is improbable), and you simply ordered the
superintendent to assist him, I believe everything would go to
loggerheads. As for Scott himself, it would be of course an advantage to
him to study the cultivation at Kew. You would get to know him, and if
he really is a good man you could perhaps be able to recommend him to
some situation at home or abroad. Pray turn this [over] in your mind. I
have no idea whether Scott would like the place, but I can see that
he has a burning zeal for science. He told me that his parents were in
better circumstances, and that he chose a gardener's life solely as the
best way of following science. I may just add that in his last letter he
gives me the results of many experiments on different individuals of the
same species of orchid, showing the most remarkable diversity in their
sexual condition. It seems to me a grievous loss that such a man should
have all his work cut short. Please remember that I know nothing of him
excepting from his letters: these show remarkable talent, astonishing
perseverance, much modesty, and what I admire, determined difference
from me on many points.
What will Sir William say?
LETTER 655. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, April 5th [1864].
I see my scheme for Scott has invincible difficulties, and I am very
much obliged to you for explaining them at such length. If ever I get
decently well, and Scott is free and willing, I will have him here for
a couple of years to work out several problems, which otherwise would
never be done. I cannot see what will become of the poor fellow. I
enclose a little pamphlet from him, which I suppose is not of much
scientific value, but is surprising as the work of a gardener. If
you have time do just glance over it. I never heard anything so
extraordinary as what you say about poisoning plants, etc.
...The post has just come in. Your interest about Scott is
extraordinarily kind, and I thank you cordially. It seems absurd to
say so, but I suspect that X is prejudiced against Scott because he
partially supports my views. (655/1. In a letter to Scott (dated June
11th) Darwin warns him to keep his views "pretty quiet," and quotes
Hooker's opinion that "if it is known that you agree at all with my
views on species it is enough to make you unpopular in Edinburgh.")
You must not trust my former letter about Clematis. I worked on too
old a plant, and blundered. I have now gone over the work again. It
is really curious that the stiff peduncles are acted upon by a bit of
thread weighing .062 of a grain.
Clematis glandulosa was a valuable present to me. My gardener showed
it to me and said, "This is what they call a Clematis," evidently
disbelieving it. So I put a little twig to the peduncle, and the next
day my gardener said, "You see it is a Clematis, for it feels." That's
the way we make out plants at Down.
My dear old friend, God bless you!
LETTER 656. TO J.D. HOOKER. [May 22nd, 1864].
What a good kind heart you have got. You cannot tell how your letter has
pleased me. I will write to Scott and ask him if he chooses to go out
and risk engagement. If he will not he must want all energy. He says
himself he wants stoicism, and is too sensitive. I hope he may not want
courage. I feel sure he is a remarkable man, with much good in him, but
no doubt many errors and blemishes. I can vouch for his high intellect
(in my judgment he is the best observer I ever came across); for his
modesty, at least in correspondence; and there is something high-minded
in his determination not to receive money from me. I shall ask him
whether he can get a good character for probity and sobriety, and
whether he can get aid from his relations for his voyage out. I will
help, and, if necessary, pay the whole voyage, and give him enough to
support him for some weeks at Calcutta. I will write when I hear from
him. God bless you; you, who are so overworked, are most generous to
take so much trouble about a man you have had nothing to do with.
(656/1. Scott had left the Botanic Gardens at Edinburgh in March 1864,
chagrined at what, justly or unjustly, he considered discouragement and
slight. The Indian offer was most gladly and gratefully accepted.)
LETTER 657. TO J. SCOTT. Down, November 1st, 1871.
Dr. Hooker has forwarded to me your letter as the best and simplest plan
of explaining affairs. I am sincerely grieved to hear of the pecuniary
problem which you have undergone, but now fortunately passed. I assure
you that I have never entertained any feelings in regard to you which
you suppose. Please to remember that I distinctly stated that I did not
consider the sum which I advanced as a loan, but as a gift; and surely
there is nothing discreditable to you, under the circumstances, in
receiving a gift from a rich man, as I am. Therefore I earnestly beg
you to banish the whole subject from your mind, and begin laying up
something for yourself in the future. I really cannot break my word and
accept payment. Pray do not rob me of my small share in the credit of
aiding to put the right man in the right place. You have done good work,
and I am sure will do more; so let us never mention the subject again.
I am, after many interruptions, at work again on my essay on Expression,
which was written out once many months ago. I have found your remarks
the best of all which have been sent me, and so I state.
CHAPTER 2.XI.--BOTANY, 1863-1881.
2.XI.I. Miscellaneous, 1863-1866.--2.XI.II. Correspondence with Fritz
Muller, 1865-1881.--2.XI.III. Miscellaneous, 1868-1881.
2.XI.I. MISCELLANEOUS, 1863-1866.
LETTER 658. TO D. OLIVER. Down [April, 1863].
(658/1. The following letter illustrates the truth of Sir W.
Thiselton-Dyer's remark that Darwin was never "afraid of his facts."
(658/2. "Charles Darwin" (Nature Series), 1882, page 43.) The entrance
of pollen-tubes into the nucellus by the chalaza, instead of through the
micropyle, was first fully demonstrated by Treub in his paper "Sur les
Casuarinees et leur place dans le Systeme naturel," published in the
"Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg," X., 1891. Two years later Miss Benson gave
an account of a similar phenomenon in certain Amentiferae ("Trans. Linn.
Soc." 1888-94, page 409). This chalazogamic method of fertilisation has
since been recognised in other flowering plants, but not, so far as we
are aware, in the genus Primula.)
It is a shame to trouble [you], but will you tell me whether the ovule
of Primula is "anatropal," nearly as figured by Gray, page 123, "Lessons
in Botany," or rather more tending to "amphitropal"? I never looked at
such a point before. Why I am curious to know is because I put pollen
into the ovarium of monstrous primroses, and now, after sixteen days,
and not before (the length of time agrees with slowness of natural
impregnation), I find abundance of pollen-tubes emitted, which cling
firmly to the ovules, and, I think I may confidently state, penetrate
the ovule. But here is an odd thing: they never once enter at (what I
suppose to be) the "orifice," but generally at the chalaza...Do you
know how pollen-tubes go naturally in Primula? Do they run down walls
of ovarium, and then turn up the placenta, and so debouch near the
"orifices" of the ovules?
If you thought it worth while to examine ovules, I would see if there
are more monstrous flowers, and put pollen into the ovarium, and send
you the flowers in fourteen or fifteen days afterwards. But it is rather
troublesome. I would not do it unless you cared to examine the ovules.
Like a foolish and idle man, I have wasted a whole morning over them...
In two ovules there was an odd appearance, as if the outer coat of ovule
at the chalaza end (if I understand the ovule) had naturally opened or
withered where most of the pollen-tubes seemed to penetrate, which made
me at first think this was a widely open foramen. I wonder whether the
ovules could be thus fertilised?
LETTER 659. TO D. OLIVER. Down [April, 1863].
Many thanks about the Primula. I see that I was pretty right about the
ovules. I have been thinking that the apparent opening at the chalaza
end must have been withering or perhaps gnawing by some very minute
insects, as the ovarium is open at the upper end. If I have time I will
have another look at pollen-tubes, as, from what you say, they ought
to find their way to the micropyle. But ovules to me are far more
troublesome to dissect than animal tissue; they are so soft, and muddy
the water.
LETTER 660. TO MAXWELL MASTERS. Down, April 6th [1863].
I have been very glad to read your paper on Peloria. (660/1. "On the
Existence of Two Forms of Peloria." "Natural History Review," April,
1863, page 258.) For the mere chance of the following case being new
I send it. A plant which I purchased as Corydalis tuberosa has, as you
know, one nectary--short, white, and without nectar; the pistil is bowed
towards the true nectary; and the hood formed by the inner petals slips
off towards the opposite side (all adaptations to insect agency, like
many other pretty ones in this family). Now on my plants there are
several flowers (the fertility of which I will observe) with both
nectaries equal and purple and secreting nectar; the pistil is straight,
and the hood slips off either way. In short, these flowers have the
exact structure of Dielytra and Adlumia. Seeing this, I must look at
the case as one of reversion; though it is one of the spreading of
irregularity to two sides.
As columbine [Aquilegia] has all petals, etc., irregular, and as
monkshood [Aconitum] has two petals irregular, may not the case given by
Seringe, and referred to [by] you (660/2. "Seringe describes and figures
a flower [of Aconitum] wherein all the sepals were helmet-shaped," and
the petals similarly affected. Maxwell Masters, op. cit., page 260.),
by you be looked at as reversion to the columbine state? Would it be
too bold to suppose that some ancient Linaria, or allied form, and
some ancient Viola, had all petals spur-shaped, and that all cases of
"irregular peloria" in these genera are reversions to such imaginary
ancient form? (660/3. "'Regular or Congenital Peloria' would include
those flowers which, contrary to their usual habit, retain throughout
the whole of their growth their primordial regularity of form and
equality of proportion. 'Irregular or Acquired Peloria,' on the other
hand, would include those flowers in which the irregularity of growth
that ordinarily characterises some portions of the corolla is manifested
in all of them." Maxwell Masters, loc. cit.)
It seems to me, in my ignorance, that it would be advantageous to
consider the two forms of Peloria WHEN OCCURRING IN THE VERY SAME
SPECIES as probably due to the same general law--viz., one as reversion
to very early state, and the other as reversion to a later state when
all the petals were irregularly formed. This seems at least to me a
priori a more probable view than to look at one form of Peloria as due
to reversion and the other as something distinct. (660/4. See Maxwell
Masters, "Vegetable Teratology," 1869, page 235; "Variation of Animals
and Plants," Edition II., Volume II., page 33.)
What do you think of this notion?
LETTER 661. TO P.H. GOSSE.
(661/1. The following was written in reply to Mr. Gosse's letter of May
30th asking for a solution of his difficulties in fertilising Stanhopea.
It is reprinted by the kind permission of Mr. Edmund Gosse from his
delightful book, the "Life of Philip Henry Gosse," London, 1890, page
299.)
Down, June 2nd, 1863.
It would give me real pleasure to resolve your doubts, but I cannot.
I can give only suspicions and my grounds for them. I should think the
non-viscidity of the stigmatic hollow was due to the plant not living
under its natural conditions. Please see what I have said on Acropera.
An excellent observer, Mr. J. Scott, of the Botanical Gardens,
Edinburgh, finds all that I say accurate, but, nothing daunted, he with
the knife enlarged the orifice and forced in pollen-masses; or he simply
stuck them into the contracted orifice without coming into contact
with the stigmatic surface, which is hardly at all viscid, when, lo and
behold, pollen-tubes were emitted and fine seed capsules obtained. This
was effected with Acropera Loddigesii; but I have no doubt that I have
blundered badly about A. luteola. I mention all this because, as Mr.
Scott remarks, as the plant is in our hot-houses, it is quite incredible
it ever could be fertilised in its native land. The whole case is an
utter enigma to me. Probably you are aware that there are cases (and
it is one of the oddest facts in Physiology) of plants which, under
culture, have their sexual functions in so strange a condition, that
though their pollen and ovules are in a sound state and can fertilise
and be fertilised by distinct but allied species, they cannot fertilise
themselves. Now, Mr. Scott has found this the case with certain orchids,
which again shows sexual disturbance. He had read a paper at the
Botanical Society of Edinburgh, and I daresay an abstract which I have
seen will appear in the "Gardeners' Chronicle"; but blunders have crept
in in copying, and parts are barely intelligible. How insects act with
your Stanhopea I will not pretend to conjecture. In many cases I believe
the acutest man could not conjecture without seeing the insect at
work. I could name common English plants in this predicament. But the
musk-orchis [Herminium monorchis] is a case in point. Since publishing,
my son and myself have watched the plant and seen the pollinia
removed, and where do you think they invariably adhere in dozens of
specimens?--always to the joint of the femur with the trochanter of the
first pair of legs, and nowhere else. When one sees such adaptation as
this, it would be hopeless to conjecture on the Stanhopea till we know
what insect visits it. I have fully proved that my strong suspicion was
correct that with many of our English orchids no nectar is excreted, but
that insects penetrate the tissues for it. So I expect it must be with
many foreign species. I forgot to say that if you find that you cannot
fertilise any of your exotics, take pollen from some allied form, and it
is quite probable that will succeed. Will you have the kindness to look
occasionally at your bee-Ophrys near Torquay, and see whether pollinia
are ever removed? It is my greatest puzzle. Please read what I have said
on it, and on O. arachnites. I have since proved that the account of the
latter is correct. I wish I could have given you better information.
P.S.--If the Flowers of the Stanhopea are not too old, remove
pollen-masses from their pedicels, and stick them with a little liquid
pure gum to the stigmatic cavity. After the case of the Acropera, no one
can dare positively say that they would not act.
LETTER 662. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, Saturday, 5th [December 1863].
I am very glad that this will reach you at Kew. You will then get rest,
and I do hope some lull in anxiety and fear. Nothing is so dreadful in
this life as fear; it still sickens me when I cannot help remembering
some of the many illnesses our children have endured. My father, who
was a sceptical man, was convinced that he had distinctly traced several
cases of scarlet fever to handling letters from convalescents.
The vases (662/1. Probably Wedgwood ware.) did come from my sister
Susan. She is recovering, and was much pleased to hear that you liked
them; I have now sent one of your notes to her, in which you speak of
them as "enchanting," etc. I have had a bad spell--vomiting, every
day for eleven days, and some days many times after every meal. It is
astonishing the degree to which I keep up some strength. Dr. Brinton was
here two days ago, and says he sees no reason [why] I may not recover my
former degree of health. I should like to live to do a little more work,
and often I feel sure I shall, and then again I feel that my tether is
run out.
Your Hastings note, my dear old fellow, was a Copley Medal to me and
more than a Copley Medal: not but what I know well that you overrate
what I have been able to do. (662/2. The proposal to give the medal
to Darwin failed in 1863, but his friends were successful in 1864: see
"Life and Letters," III., page 28.) Now that I am disabled, I feel more
than ever what a pleasure observing and making out little difficulties
is. By the way, here is a very little fact which may interest you. A
partridge foot is described in "Proc. Zoolog. Soc." with a huge ball of
earth attached to it as hard as rock. (662/3. "Proc. Zool. Soc." 1863,
page 127, by Prof. Newton, who sent the foot to Darwin: see "Origin,"
Edition VI., page 328.) Bird killed in 1860. Leg has been sent me, and I
find it diseased, and no doubt the exudation caused earth to accumulate;
now already thirty-two plants have come up from this ball of earth.
By Jove! I must write no more. Good-bye, my best of friends.
There is an Italian edition of the "Origin" preparing. This makes the
fifth foreign edition--i.e. in five foreign countries. Owen will not be
right in telling Longmans that the book would be utterly forgotten in
ten years. Hurrah!
LETTER 663. TO D. OLIVER. Down, February 17th [1864].
Many thanks for the Epacrids, which I have kept, as they will interest
me when able to look through the microscope.
Dr. Cruger has sent me the enclosed paper, with power to do what I think
fit with it. He would evidently prefer it to appear in the "Nat. Hist.
Review." Please read it, and let me have your decision pretty soon. Some
germanisms must be corrected; whether woodcuts are necessary I have not
been able to pay attention enough to decide. If you refuse, please send
it to the Linnean Society as communicated by me. (663/1. H. Cruger's
"A Few Notes on the Fecundation of Orchids, etc." [Read March, 1864.]
"Linn. Soc. Journ." VIII., 1864-5, page 127.) The paper has interested
me extremely, and I shall have no peace till I have a good boast. The
sexes are separate in Catasetum, which is a wonderful relief to me, as I
have had two or three letters saying that the male C. tridentatum seeds.
(663/2. See footnote Letter 608 on the sexual relation between the three
forms known as Catasetum tridentatum, Monacanthus viridis, and Myanthus
barbatus. For further details see Darwin, "Linn. Soc. Journ." VI., 1862,
page 151, and "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 196.) It
is pretty clear to me that two or three forms are confounded under this
name. Observe how curiously nearly perfect the pollen of the female is,
according to Cruger,--certainly more perfect than the pollen from the
Guyana species described by me. I was right in the manner in which the
pollen adheres to the hairy back of the humble-bee, and hence the
force of the ejection of the pollina. (663/3. This view was given in
"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition I., 1862, page 230.) I am still more
pleased that I was right about insects gnawing the fleshy labellum.
This is important, as it explains all the astounding projections on the
labellum of Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, etc.
Excuse all my boasting. It is the best medicine for my stomach. Tell me
whether you mean to take up orchids, as Hooker said you were thinking of
doing. Do you know Coryanthes, with its wonderful basket of water? See
what Cruger says about it. It beats everything in orchids. (663/4. For
Coryanthes see "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 173.)
LETTER 664. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down [September 13th, 1864].
Thanks for your note of the 5th. You think much and greatly too much
of me and my doings; but this is pleasant, for you have represented for
many years the whole great public to me.
I have read with interest Bentham's address on hybridism. I am glad
that he is cautious about Naudin's view, for I cannot think that it will
hold. (664/1. C. Naudin's "Nouvelles Recherches sur l'Hydridite dans les
Vegetaux." The complete paper, with coloured plates, was presented to
the Academy in 1861, and published in full in the "Nouvelles Archives
de Museum d'Hist. Nat." Volume I., 1865, page 25. The second part only
appeared in the "Ann. Sci. Nat." XIX., 1863. Mr. Bentham's address
dealing with hybridism is in "Proc. Linn. Soc." VIII., 1864, page ix.
A review of Naudin is given in the "Natural History Review," 1864,
page 50. Naudin's paper is of much interest, as containing a mechanical
theory of reproduction of the same general character as that of
pangenesis. In the "Variation of Animals and Plants," Edition II.,
Volume II., page 395, Darwin states that in his treatment of hybridism
in terms of gemmules he is practically following Naudin's treatment of
the same theme in terms of "essences." Naudin, however, does not clearly
distinguish between hybrid and pure gemmules, and makes the assumption
that the hybrid or mixed essences tend constantly to dissociate into
pure parental essences, and thus lead to reversion. It is to this view
that Darwin refers when he says that Naudin's view throws no light on
the reversion to long-lost characters. His own attempt at explaining
this fact occurs in "Variation under Domestication," II., Edition II.,
page 395. Mr. Bateson ("Mendel's Principle of Heredity," Cambridge,
1902, page 38) says: "Naudin clearly enuntiated what we shall henceforth
know as the Mendelian conception of the dissociation of characters of
cross-breds in the formation of the germ-cells, though apparently he
never developed this conception." It is remarkable that, as far as we
know, Darwin never in any way came across Mendel's work. One of Darwin's
correspondents, however, the late Mr. T. Laxton, of Stamford, was close
on the trail of Mendelian principle. Mr. Bateson writes (op. cit., page
181): "Had he [Laxton] with his other gifts combined this penetration
which detects a great principle hidden in the thin mist of 'exceptions,'
we should have been able to claim for him that honour which must ever
be Mendel's in the history of discovery.") The tendency of hybrids
to revert to either parent is part of a wider law (which I am fully
convinced that I can show experimentally), namely, that crossing races
as well as species tends to bring back characters which existed in
progenitors hundreds and thousands of generations ago. Why this should
be so, God knows. But Naudin's view throws no light, that I can see,
on this reversion of long-lost characters. I wish the Ray Society would
translate Gartner's "Bastarderzeugung"; it contains more valuable matter
than all other writers put together, and would do great service
if better known. (664/2. "Versuche uber die Bastarderzeugung im
Pflanzenreich": Stuttgart, 1849.)
LETTER 665. TO T.H. HUXLEY.
(665/1. Mr. Huxley had doubted the accuracy of observations on Catasetum
published in the "Fertilisation of Orchids." In what formed the
postscript to the following letter, Darwin wrote: "I have had more
Catasetums,--all right, you audacious 'caviller.'")
Down, October 31st [1862].
In a little book, just published, called the "Three Barriers" (a
theological hash of old abuse of me), Owen gives to the author a new
resume of his brain doctrine; and I thought you would like to hear of
this. He ends with a delightful sentence. "No science affords more scope
or easier ground for the caviller and controversialist; and these do
good by preventing scholars from giving more force to generalisations
than the master propounding them does, or meant his readers or hearers
to give."
You will blush with pleasure to hear that you are of some use to the
master.
LETTER 666. TO J.D. HOOKER. [February, 1864?]
I shall write again. I write now merely to ask, if you have Naravelia
(666/1. Ranunculaceae.) (the Clematis-like plant told me by Oliver),
to try and propagate me a plant at once. Have you Clematis cirrhosa? It
will amuse me to tell you why Clematis interests me, and why I should
so very much like to have Naravelia. The leaves of Clematis have no
spontaneous movement, nor have the internodes; but when by growth the
peduncles of leaves are brought into contact with any object, they bend
and catch hold. The slightest stimulus suffices, even a bit of cotton
thread a few inches long; but the stimulus must be applied during six
or twelve hours, and when the peduncles once bend, though the touching
object be removed, they never get straight again. Now mark the
difference in another leaf-climber--viz., Tropaeolum: here the young
internodes revolve day and night, and the peduncles of the leaves are
thus brought into contact with an object, and the slightest momentary
touch causes them to bend in any direction and catch the object, but as
the axis revolves they must be often dragged away without catching, and
then the peduncles straighten themselves again, and are again ready to
catch. So that the nervous system of Clematis feels only a prolonged
touch--that of Tropaeolum a momentary touch: the peduncles of the latter
recover their original position, but Clematis, as it comes into contact
by growth with fixed objects, has no occasion to recover its position,
and cannot do so. You did send me Flagellaria, but most unfortunately
young plants do not have tendrils, and I fear my plant will not get them
for another year, and this I much regret, as these leaf-tendrils seem
very curious, and in Gloriosa I could not make out the action, but
I have now a young plant of Gloriosa growing up (as yet with simple
leaves) which I hope to make out. Thank Oliver for decisive answer about
tendrils of vines. It is very strange that tendrils formed of modified
leaves and branches should agree in all their four highly remarkable
properties. I can show a beautiful gradation by which LEAVES produce
tendrils, but how the axis passes into a tendril utterly puzzles me. I
would give a guinea if vine-tednrils could be found to be leaves.
(666/2. It is an interesting fact that Darwin's work on climbing plants
was well advanced before he discovered the existence of the works of
Palm, Mohl, and Dutrochet on this subject. On March 22nd, 1864, he
wrote to Hooker:--"You quite overrate my tendril work, and there is no
occasion to plague myself about priority." In June he speaks of having
read "two German books, and all, I believe, that has been written on
climbers, and it has stirred me up to find that I have a good deal of
new matter.")
LETTER 667. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, June 2nd [1864].
You once offered me a Combretum. (667/1. The two forms of shoot in C.
argenteum are described in "Climbing Plants," page 41.) I having C.
purpureum, out of modesty like an ass refused. Can you now send me
a plant? I have a sudden access of furor about climbers. Do you grow
Adlumia cirrhosa? Your seed did not germinate with me. Could you have
a seedling dug up and potted? I want it fearfully, for it is a
leaf-climber, and therefore sacred.
I have some hopes of getting Adlumia, for I used to grow the plant,
and seedlings have often come up, and we are now potting all minute
reddish-coloured weeds. (667/2. We believe that the Adlumia which came
up year by year in flower boxes in the Down verandah grew from seed
supplied by Asa Gray.) I have just got a plant with sensitive axis,
quite a new case; and tell Oliver I now do not care at all how many
tendrils he makes axial, which at one time was a cruel torture to me.
LETTER 668. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, November 3rd [1864].
Many thanks for your splendid long letter. But first for business.
Please look carefully at the enclosed specimen of Dicentra
thalictriformis, and throw away. (668/1. Dicentra thalictrifolia, a
Himalayan species of Fumariaceae, with leaf-tendrils.) When the plant
was young I concluded certainly that the tendrils were axial, or
modified branches, which Mohl says is the case with some Fumariaceae.
(668/2. "Ueber den Bau und das Winden der Ranken und Schlingpflanzen.
Eine gekronte Preisschrift," 4to, Tubingen, 1827. At page 43 Mohl
describes the tips of the branches of Fumaria [Corydalis] clavicualta
as being developed into tendrils, as well as the leaves. For this reason
Darwin placed the plant among the tendril-bearers rather than among the
true leaf-climbers: see "Climbing Plants," Edition II., 1875, page 121.)
You looked at them here and agreed. But now the plant is old, what I
thought was a branch with two leaves and ending in a tendril looks
like a gigantic leaf with two compound leaflets, and the terminal part
converted into a tendril. For I see buds in the fork between supposed
branch and main stem. Pray look carefully--you know I am profoundly
ignorant--and save me from a horrid mistake.
LETTER 669. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(669/1. The following is interesting, as containing a foreshadowing of
the chemotaxis of antherozoids which was shown to exist by Pfeffer in
1881: see "Untersuchungen aus dem botanischen Institut zu Tubingen,"
Volume I., page 363. There are several papers by H.J. Carter on the
reproduction of the lower organisms in the "Annals and Magazine of
Natural History" between 1855 and 1865.)
Down, Sunday, 22nd, and Saturday, 28th [October, 1865].
I have been wading through the "Annals and Mag. of N. History." for last
ten years, and have been interested by several papers, chiefly, however,
translations; but none have interested me more than Carter's on lower
vegetables, infusoria, and protozoa. Is he as good a workman as he
appears? for if so he would deserve a Royal medal. I know it is not new;
but how wonderful his account of the spermatozoa of some dioecious alga
or conferva, swimming and finding the minute micropyle in a distinct
plant, and forcing its way in! Why, these zoospores must possess some
sort of organ of sense to guide their locomotive powers to the small
micropyle; and does not this necessarily imply something like a nervous
system, in the same way as complemental male cirripedes have organs of
sense and locomotion, and nothing else but a sack of spermatozoa?
LETTER 670. TO F. HILDEBRAND. May 16th, 1866.
Since writing to you before, I have read your admirable memoir on
Salvia (670/1. "Pringsheim's Jahrbucher," Volume IV., 1866.), and it has
interested me almost as much as when I first investigated the structure
of orchids. Your paper illustrates several points in my "Origin of
Species," especially the transition of organs. Knowing only two or three
species in the genus, I had often marvelled how one cell of the anther
could have been transformed into the moveable plate or spoon; and how
well you show the gradations. But I am surprised that you did not more
strongly insist on this point.
I shall be still more surprised if you do not ultimately come to the
same belief with me, as shown by so many beautiful contrivances,--that
all plants require, from some unknown cause, to be occasionally
fertilised by pollen from a distinct individual.
(PLATE: FRITZ MULLER.)
2.XI.II. CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRITZ MULLER, 1865-1881.
(671/1. The letters from Darwin to Muller are given as a separate group,
instead of in chronological sequence with the other botanical letters,
as better illustrating the uninterrupted friendship and scientific
comradeship of the two naturalists.)
LETTER 671. TO F. MULLER. Down, October 17th [1865].
I received about a fortnight ago your second letter on climbing plants,
dated August 31st. It has greatly interested me, and it corrects and
fills up a great hiatus in my paper. As I thought you could not object,
I am having your letter copied, and will send the paper to the Linnean
Society. (671/2. "Notes on some of the Climbing Plants near Desterro"
[1865], "Linn. Soc. Journ." IX., 1867.) I have slightly modified the
arrangement of some parts and altered only a few words, as you write as
good English as an Englishman. I do not quite understand your account of
the arrangement of the leaves of Strychnos, and I think you use the word
"bracteae" differently to what English authors do; therefore I will get
Dr. Hooker to look over your paper.
I cannot, of course, say whether the Linnean Society will publish your
paper; but I am sure it ought to do so. As the Society is rather poor,
I fear that it will give only a few woodcuts from your truly admirable
sketches.
LETTER 672. TO F. MULLER.
(672/1. In Darwin's book on Climbing Plants, 1875 (672/2. First given
as a paper before the Linnean Society, and published in the "Linn. Soc.
Journ." Volume IX.,), he wrote (page 205): "The conclusion is forced on
our minds that the capacity of revolving, on which most climbing plants
depend, is inherent, though undeveloped, in almost every plant in the
vegetable Kingdom"--a conclusion which was verified in the "Power of
Movement in Plants." The present letter is interesting in referring
to Fritz Muller's observations on the "revolving nutation," or
circumnutation of Alisma macrophylla and Linum usitatissimum, the latter
fact having been discovered by F. Muller's daughter Rosa. This
was probably the earliest observation on the circumnutation of a
non-climbing plant, and Muller, in a paper dated 1868, and published in
Volume V. of the "Jenaische Zeitschrift," page 133, calls attention to
its importance in relation to the evolution of the habit of climbing.
The present letter was probably written in 1865, since it refers to
Muller's paper read before the Linnean Soc. on December 7th, 1865. If
so, the facts on circumnutation must have been communicated to Darwin
some years before their publication in the "Jenaische Zeitschrift.")
Down, December 9th [1865].
I have received your interesting letter of October 10th, with its new
facts on branch-tendrils. If the Linnean Society publishes your paper
(672/3. Ibid., 1867, page 344.), as I am sure it ought to do, I will
append a note with some of these new facts.
I forwarded immediately your MS. to Professor Max Schultze, but I did
not read it, for German handwriting utterly puzzles me, and I am so
weak, I am capable of no exertion. I took the liberty, however, of
asking him to send me a copy, if separate ones are printed, and I
reminded him about the Sponge paper.
You will have received before this my book on orchids, and I wish I
had known that you would have preferred the English edition. Should the
German edition fail to reach you, I will send an English one. That is a
curious observation of your daughter about the movement of the apex of
the stem of Linum, and would, I think, be worth following out. (672/4.
F. Muller, "Jenaische Zeitschrift," Bd. V., page 137. Here, also, are
described the movements of Alisma.) I suspect many plants move a little,
following the sun; but all do not, for I have watched some pretty
carefully.
I can give you no zoological news, for I live the life of the most
secluded hermit.
I occasionally hear from Ernest Hackel, who seems as determined as you
are to work out the subject of the change of species. You will have seen
his curious paper on certain medusae reproducing themselves by seminal
generation at two periods of growth.
(672/5. On April 3rd, 1868, Darwin wrote to F. Muller: "Your diagram of
the movements of the flower-peduncle of the Alisma is extremely curious.
I suppose the movement is of no service to the plant, but shows how
easily the species might be converted into a climber. Does it bend
through irritability when rubbed?"
LETTER 673. TO F. MULLER. Down, September 25th [1866].
I have just received your letter of August 2nd, and am, as usual,
astonished at the number of interesting points which you observe. It
is quite curious how, by coincidence, you have been observing the same
subjects that have lately interested me.
Your case of the Notylia is quite new to me (673/1. See F. Muller, "Bot.
Zeitung," 1868, page 630; "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page
171.); but it seems analogous with that of Acropera, about the sexes
of which I blundered greatly in my book. I have got an Acropera now in
flower, and have no doubt that some insect, with a tuft of hairs on its
tail, removes by the tuft, the pollinia, and inserts the little viscid
cap and the long pedicel into the narrow stigmatic cavity, and leaves
it there with the pollen-masses in close contact with, but not inserted
into, the stigmatic cavity. I find I can thus fertilise the flowers, and
so I can with Stanhopea, and I suspect that this is the case with your
Notylia. But I have lately had an orchis in flower--viz. Acineta,
which I could not anyhow fertilise. Dr. Hildebrand lately wrote a paper
(673/2. "Bot. Zeitung," 1863, 1865.) showing that with some orchids
the ovules are not mature and are not fertilised until months after
the pollen-tubes have penetrated the column, and you have independently
observed the same fact, which I never suspected in the case of Acropera.
The column of such orchids must act almost like the spermatheca of
insects. Your orchis with two leaf-like stigmas is new to me; but I
feel guilty at your wasting your valuable time in making such beautiful
drawings for my amusement.
Your observations on those plants being sterile which grow separately,
or flower earlier than others, are very interesting to me: they would be
worth experimenting on with other individuals. I shall give in my next
book several cases of individual plants being sterile with their
own pollen. I have actually got on my list Eschscholtzia (673/3. See
"Animals and Plants," II., Edition II., page 118.) for fertilising with
its own pollen, though I did not suspect it would prove sterile, and
I will try next summer. My object is to compare the rate of growth of
plants raised from seed fertilised by pollen from the same flower and by
pollen from a distinct plant, and I think from what I have seen I shall
arrive at interesting results. Dr. Hildebrand has lately described
a curious case of Corydalis cava which is quite sterile with its own
pollen, but fertile with pollen of any other individual plant of the
species. (673/4. "International Horticultural Congress," London, 1866,
quoted in "Variation of Animals and Plants," Edition II., Volume
II., page 113.) What I meant in my paper on Linum about plants being
dimorphic in function alone, was that they should be divided into two
equal bodies functionally but not structurally different. I have been
much interested by what you say on seeds which adhere to the valves
being rendered conspicuous. You will see in the new edition of the
"Origin" (673/5. "Origin of Species," Edition IV., 1866, page 238. A
discussion on the origin of beauty, including the bright colours of
flowers and fruits.) why I have alluded to the beauty and bright colours
of fruit; after writing this it troubled me that I remembered to have
seen brilliantly coloured seed, and your view occurred to me. There is a
species of peony in which the inside of the pod is crimson and the seeds
dark purple. I had asked a friend to send me some of these seeds, to
see if they were covered with anything which could prove attractive to
birds. I received some seeds the day after receiving your letter, and I
must own that the fleshy covering is so thin that I can hardly believe
it would lead birds to devour them; and so it was in an analogous case
with Passiflora gracilis. How is this in the cases mentioned by you? The
whole case seems to me rather a striking one.
I wish I had heard of Mikania being a leaf-climber before your paper
was printed (673/6. See "Climbing Plants (3rd thousand, 1882), page 116.
Mikania and Mutisia both belong to the Compositae. Mikania scandens is a
twining plant: it is another species which, by its leaf-climbing habit,
supplies a transition to the tendril-climber Mutisia. F. Muller's
paper is in "Linn. Soc. Journ." IX., page 344.), for we thus get a
good gradation from M. scandens to Mutisia, with its little modified,
leaf-like tendrils.
I am glad to hear that you can confirm (but render still more wonderful)
Hackel's most interesting case of Linope. Huxley told me that he thought
the case would somehow be explained away.
LETTER 674. TO F. MULLER. Down [Received January 24th, 1867].
I have so much to thank you for that I hardly know how to begin. I have
received the bulbils of Oxalis, and your most interesting letter of
October 1st. I planted half the bulbs, and will plant the other half
in the spring. The case seems to me very curious, and until trying some
experiments in crossing I can form no conjecture what the abortion of
the stamens in so irregular a manner can signify. But I fear from what
you say the plant will prove sterile, like so many others which increase
largely by buds of various kinds. Since I asked you about Oxalis, Dr.
Hildebrand has published a paper showing that a great number of species
are trimorphic, like Lythrum, but he has tried hardly any experiments.
(674/1. Hildebrand's work, published in the "Monatsb. d. Akad. d. Wiss.
Berlin," 1866, was chiefly on herbarium specimens. His experimental work
was published in the "Bot. Zeitung," 1871.)
I am particularly obliged for the information and specimens of Cordia
(674/2. Cordiaceae: probably dimorphic.), and shall be most grateful for
seed. I have not heard of any dimorphic species in this family. Hardly
anything in your letter interested me so much as your account and
drawing of the valves of the pod of one of the Mimoseae with the really
beautiful seeds. I will send some of these seeds to Kew to be planted.
But these seeds seem to me to offer a very great difficulty. They do
not seem hard enough to resist the triturating power of the gizzard of a
gallinaceous bird, though they must resist that of some other birds;
for the skin is as hard as ivory. I presume that these seeds cannot
be covered with any attractive pulp? I soaked one of the seeds for ten
hours in warm water, which became only very slightly mucilaginous.
I think I will try whether they will pass through a fowl uninjured.
(674/3. The seeds proved to be those of Adenanthera pavonina. The
solution of the difficulty is given in the following extract from a
letter to Muller, March 2nd, 1867: "I wrote to India on the subject,
and I hear from Mr. J. Scott that parrots are eager for the seeds, and,
wonderful as the fact is, can split them open with their beaks; they
first collect a large number in their beaks, and then settle themselves
to split them, and in doing so drop many; thus I have no doubt they are
disseminated, on the same principle that the acorns of our oaks are most
widely disseminated." Possibly a similar explanation may hold good
for the brightly coloured seeds of Abrus precatorius.) I hope you will
observe whether any bird devours them; and could you get any young man
to shoot some and observe whether the seeds are found low down in
the intestines? It would be well worth while to plant such seeds with
undigested seeds for comparison. An opponent of ours might make a
capital case against us by saying that here beautiful pods and seeds
have been formed not for the good of the plant, but for the good of
birds alone. These seeds would make a beautiful bracelet for one of my
daughters, if I had enough. I may just mention that Euonymus europoeus
is a case in point: the seeds are coated by a thin orange layer, which I
find is sufficient to cause them to be devoured by birds.
I have received your paper on Martha [Posoqueria (674/4. "Bot. Zeitung,"
1866.)]; it is as wonderful as the most wonderful orchis; Ernst Hackel
brought me the paper and stayed a day with me. I have seldom seen a
more pleasant, cordial, and frank man. He is now in Madeira, where he is
going to work chiefly on the Medusae. His great work is now published,
and I have a copy; but the german is so difficult I can make out but
little of it, and I fear it is too large a work to be translated. Your
fact about the number of seeds in the capsule of the Maxillaria (674/5.
See "Animals and Plants," Edition II., Volume II., page 115.) came just
at the right time, as I wished to give one or two such facts. Does this
orchid produce many capsules? I cannot answer your question about the
aerial roots of Catasetum. I hope you have received the new edition
of the "Origin." Your paper on climbing plants (674/6. "Linn. Soc.
Journal," IX., 1867, page 344.) is printed, and I expect in a day or two
to receive the spare copies, and I will send off three copies as before
stated, and will retain some in case you should wish me to send them to
any one in Europe, and will transmit the remainder to yourself.
LETTER 675. TO F. MULLER. Down [received February 24th, 1867].
Your letter of November 2nd contained an extraordinary amount of
interesting matter. What a number of dimorphic plants South Brazil
produces: you observed in one day as many or more dimorphic genera than
all the botanists in Europe have ever observed. When my present book
is finished I shall write a final paper upon these plants, so that I
am extremely glad to hear of your observations and to see the dried
flowers; nevertheless, I should regret MUCH if I prevented you from
publishing on the subject. Plumbago (675/1. Plumbago has not been shown
to be dimorphic.) is quite new to me, though I had suspected it. It is
curious how dimorphism prevails by groups throughout the world,
showing, as I suppose, that it is an ancient character; thus Hedyotis is
dimorphic in India (675/2. Hedyotis was sent to Darwin by F. Muller; it
seems possible, therefore, that Hedyotis was written by mistake for some
other Rubiaceous plant, perhaps Oldenlandia, which John Scott sent him
from India.); the two other genera in the same sub-family with Villarsia
are dimorphic in Europe and Ceylon; a sub-genus of Erythroxylon (675/3.
No doubt Sethia.) is dimorphic in Ceylon, and Oxalis with you and at the
Cape of Good Hope. If you can find a dimorphic Oxalis it will be a new
point, for all known species are trimorphic or monomorphic. The case of
Convolvulus will be new, if proved. I am doubtful about Gesneria (675/4.
Neither Convolvulus nor Gesneria have been shown to be dimorphic.),
and have been often myself deceived by varying length of pistil.
A difference in the size of the pollen-grains would be conclusive
evidence; but in some cases experiments by fertilisation can alone
decide the point. As yet I know of no case of dimorphism in flowers
which are very irregular; such flowers being apparently always
sufficiently visited and crossed by insects.
LETTER 676. TO F. MULLER. Down, April 22nd [1867].
I am very sorry your papers on climbing plants never reached you. They
must be lost, but I put the stamps on myself and I am sure they were
right. I despatched on the 20th all the remaining copies, except one for
myself. Your letter of March 4th contained much interesting matter, but
I have to say this of all your letters. I am particularly glad to hear
that Oncidium flexuosum (676/1. See "Animals and Plants," Edition II.,
Volume II., page 114. Observations on Oncidium were made by John Scott,
and in Brazil by F. Muller, who "fertilised above one hundred flowers of
the above-mentioned Oncidium flexuosum, which is there endemic, with
its own pollen, and with that taken from distinct plants: all the former
were sterile, whilst those fertilised by pollen from any OTHER PLANT of
the same species were fertile.') is endemic, for I always thought that
the cases of self-sterility with orchids in hot-houses might have been
caused by their unnatural conditions. I am glad, also, to hear of the
other analogous cases, all of which I will give briefly in my book
that is now printing. The lessened number of good seeds in the
self-fertilising Epidendrums is to a certain extent a new case.
You suggest the comparison of the growth of plants produced from
self-fertilised and crossed seeds. I began this work last autumn, and
the result, in some cases, has been very striking; but only, as far as
I can yet judge, with exotic plants which do not get freely crossed by
insects in this country. In some of these cases it is really a wonderful
physiological fact to see the difference of growth in the plants
produced from self-fertilised and crossed seeds, both produced by the
same parent-plant; the pollen which has been used for the cross having
been taken from a distinct plant that grew in the same flower-pot. Many
thanks for the dimorphic Rubiaceous plant. Three of your Plumbagos have
germinated, but not as yet any of the Lobelias. Have you ever thought of
publishing a work which might contain miscellaneous observations on all
branches of Natural History, with a short description of the country and
of any excursions which you might take? I feel certain that you might
make a very valuable and interesting book, for every one of your
letters is so full of good observations. Such books, for instance Bates'
"Travels on the Amazons," are very popular in England. I will give your
obliging offer about Brazilian plants to Dr. Hooker, who was to have
come here to-day, but has failed. He is an excellent good fellow, as
well as naturalist. He has lately published a pamphlet, which I think
you would like to read; and I will try and get a copy and send you.
(676/2. Sir J.D. Hooker's lecture on Insular Floras, given before
the British Association in August, 1866, is doubtless referred to. It
appeared in the "Gardeners' Chronicle," and was published as a pamphlet
in January, 1867. This fact helps to fix the date of the present
letter.)
LETTER 677. TO F. MULLER.
(677/1. The following refers to the curious case of Eschscholtzia
described in "Cross and Self-Fertilisation," pages 343-4. The offspring
of English plants after growing for two generations in Brazil became
self-sterile, while the offspring of Brazilian plants became partly
self-fertile in England.)
January 30th [1868].
...The flowers of Eschscholtzia when crossed with pollen from a distinct
plant produced 91 per cent. of capsules; when self-fertilised the
flowers produced only 66 per cent. of capsules. An equal number of
crossed and self-fertilised capsules contained seed by weight in the
proportion of 100 to 71. Nevertheless, the self-fertilised flowers
produced an abundance of seed. I enclose a few crossed seeds in hopes
that you will raise a plant, cover it with a net, and observe whether it
is self-fertile; at the same time allowing several uncovered plants to
produce capsules, for the sterility formerly observed by you seems to me
very curious.
LETTER 678. TO F. MULLER. Down, November 28th [1868].
You end your letter of September 9th by saying that it is a very
dull one; indeed, you make a very great mistake, for it abounds with
interesting facts and thoughts. Your account of the tameness of the
birds which apparently have wandered from the interior, is very curious.
But I must begin on another subject: there has been a great and very
vexatious, but unavoidable delay in the publication of your book.
(678/1. "Facts and Arguments for Darwin," 1869, a translation by the
late Mr. Dallas of F. Muller's "Fur Darwin," 1864: see Volume I., Letter
227.) Prof. Huxley agrees with me that Mr. Dallas is by far the best
translator, but he is much overworked and had not quite finished the
translation about a fortnight ago. He has charge of the Museum at York,
and is now trying to get the situation of Assistant Secretary at the
Geological Society; and all the canvassing, etc., and his removal, if
he gets the place, will, I fear, cause more than a month's delay in the
completion of the translation; and this I very much regret.
I am particularly glad to hear that you intend to repeat my experiments
on illegitimate offspring, for no one's observations can be trusted
until repeated. You will find the work very troublesome, owing to the
death of plants and accidents of all kinds. Some dimorphic plant will
probably prove too sterile for you to raise offspring; and others too
fertile for much sterility to be expected in their offspring. Primula
is bad on account of the difficulty of deciding which seeds may be
considered as good. I have earnestly wished that some one would repeat
these experiments, but I feared that years would elapse before any
one would take the trouble. I received your paper on Bignonia in "Bot.
Zeit." and it interested me much. (678/2. See "Variation of Animals
and Plants," Edition II., Volume II., page 117. Fritz Muller's paper,
"Befruchtungsversuche an Cipo alho (Bignonia)," "Botanische Zeitung,"
September 25th, 1868, page 625, contains an interesting foreshadowing of
the generalisation arrived at in "Cross and Self-Fertilisation." Muller
wrote: "Are the three which grow near each other seedlings from the same
mother-plant or perhaps from seeds of the same capsule? Or have they,
from growing in the same place and under the same conditions, become so
like each other that the pollen of one has hardly any more effect on
the others than their own pollen? Or, on the contrary, were the plants
originally one--i.e., are they suckers from a single stock, which
have gained a slight degree of mutual fertility in the course of an
independent life? Or, lastly, is the result 'ein neckische Zufall,'"
(The above is a free translation of Muller's words.)) I am convinced
that if you can prove that a plant growing in a distant place under
different conditions is more effective in fertilisation than one
growing close by, you will make a great step in the essence of sexual
reproduction.
Prof. Asa Gray and Dr. Hooker have been staying here, and, oddly
enough, they knew nothing of your paper on Martha (678/3. F. Muller has
described ("Bot. Zeitung," 1866, page 129) the explosive mechanism by
which the pollen is distributed in Martha (Posoqueria) fragrans. He
also gives an account of the remarkable arrangement for ensuring
cross-fertilisation. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 131.),
though the former was aware of the curious movements of the stamens, but
so little understood the structure of the plant that he thought it was
probably a dimorphic species. Accordingly, I showed them your drawings
and gave them a little lecture, and they were perfectly charmed with
your account. Hildebrand (678/4. See Letter 206, Volume I.) has repeated
his experiments on potatoes, and so have I, but this summer with no
result.
LETTER 679. TO F. MULLER. Down, March 14th [1869].
I received some time ago a very interesting letter from you with many
facts about Oxalis, and about the non-seeding and spreading of one
species. I may mention that our common O. acetosella varies much
in length of pistils and stamens, so that I at first thought it was
certainly dimorphic, but proved it by experiment not to be so. Boiseria
(679/1. This perhaps refers to Boissiera (Ladizabala).) has after all
seeded well with me when crossed by opposite form, but very sparingly
when self-fertilised. Your case of Faramea astonishes me. (679/2. See
"Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 129. Faramea is placed among the
dimorphic species.) Are you sure there is no mistake? The difference
in size of flower and wonderful difference in size and structure of
pollen-grains naturally make me rather sceptical. I never fail to admire
and to be surprised at the number of points to which you attend. I go
on slowly at my next book, and though I never am idle, I make but slow
progress; for I am often interrupted by being unwell, and my subject
of sexual selection has grown into a very large one. I have also had
to correct a new edition of my "Origin," (679/3. The 5th edition.), and
this has taken me six weeks, for science progresses at railroad speed.
I cannot tell you how rejoiced I am that your book is at last out; for
whether it sells largely or not, I am certain it will produce a great
effect on all capable judges, though these are few in number.
P.S.--I have just received your letter of January 12th. I am greatly
interested by what you say on Eschscholtzia; I wish your plants had
succeeded better. It seems pretty clear that the species is much more
self-sterile under the climate of Brazil than here, and this seems to me
an important result. (679/4. See Letter 677.) I have no spare seeds at
present, but will send for some from the nurseryman, which, though not
so good for our purpose, will be worth trying. I can send some of my own
in the autumn. You could simply cover up separately two or three single
plants, and see if they will seed without aid,--mine did abundantly.
Very many thanks for seeds of Oxalis: how I wish I had more strength and
time to carry on these experiments, but when I write in the morning, I
have hardly heart to do anything in the afternoon. Your grass is most
wonderful. You ought to send account to the "Bot. Zeitung." Could you
not ascertain whether the barbs are sensitive, and how soon they
become spiral in the bud? Your bird is, I have no doubt, the Molothrus
mentioned in my "Journal of Travels," page 52, as representing a North
American species, both with cuckoo-like habits. I know that seeds from
same spike transmitted to a certain extent their proper qualities; but
as far as I know, no one has hitherto shown how far this holds good, and
the fact is very interesting. The experiment would be well worth trying
with flowers bearing different numbers of petals. Your explanation
agrees beautifully with the hypothesis of pangenesis, and delights me.
If you try other cases, do draw up a paper on the subject of inheritance
of separate flowers for the "Bot. Zeitung" or some journal. Most men,
as far as my experience goes, are too ready to publish, but you seem
to enjoy making most interesting observations and discoveries, and are
sadly too slow in publishing.
LETTER 680. TO F. MULLER. Barmouth, July 18th, 1869.
I received your last letter shortly before leaving home for this place.
Owing to this cause and to having been more unwell than usual I have
been very dilatory in writing to you. When I last heard, about six or
eight weeks ago, from Mr. Murray, one hundred copies of your book had
been sold, and I daresay five hundred may now be sold. (680/1. "Facts
and Arguments for Darwin," 1869: see Volume I., Letter 227.) This will
quite repay me, if not all the money; for I am sure that your book will
have got into the hands of a good many men capable of understanding it:
indeed, I know that it has. But it is too deep for the general public.
I sent you two or three reviews--one of which, in the "Athenaeum," was
unfavourable; but this journal has abused me, and all who think with me,
for many years. (680/2. "Athenaeum," 1869, page 431.) I enclose two more
notices, not that they are worth sending: some other brief notices have
appeared. The case of the Abitulon sterile with some individuals is
remarkable (680/3. "Bestaubungsversuche an Abutilon-Arten." "Jenaische
Zeitschr." VII., 1873, page 22.): I believe that I had one plant of
Reseda odorata which was fertile with own pollen, but all that I have
tried since were sterile except with pollen from some other individual.
I planted the seeds of the Abitulon, but I fear that they were crushed
in the letter. Your Eschscholtzia plants were growing well when I left
home, to which place we shall return by the end of this month, and I
will observe whether they are self-sterile. I sent your curious account
of the monstrous Begonia to the Linnean Society, and I suppose it will
be published in the "Journal." (680/4. "On the Modification of the
Stamens in a Species of Begonia." "Journ. Linn. Soc." XI., 1871, page
472.) I sent the extract about grafted orange trees to the "Gardeners'
Chronicle," where it appeared. I have lately drawn up some notes for a
French translation of my Orchis book: I took out your letters to make an
abstract of your numerous discussions, but I found I had not strength
or time to do so, and this caused me great regret. I have [in the French
edition] alluded to your work, which will also be published in English,
as you will see in my paper, and which I will send you. (680/5. "Notes
on the Fertilisation of Orchids." "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." 1869, Volume
IV., page 141. The paper gives an English version of the notes prepared
for the French edition of the Orchid book.)
P.S.--By an odd chance, since I wrote the beginning of this letter, I
have received one from Dr. Hooker, who has been reading "Fur Darwin": he
finds that he has not knowledge enough for the first part; but says
that Chapters X. and XI. "strike me as remarkably good." He is also
particularly struck with one of your highly suggestive remarks in the
note to page 119. Assuredly all who read your book will greatly profit
by it, and I rejoice that it has appeared in English.
LETTER 681. TO F. MULLER. Down, December 1st [1869].
I am much obliged for your letter of October 18th, with the curious
account of Abutilon, and for the seeds. A friend of mine, Mr. Farrer,
has lately been studying the fertilisation of Passiflora (681/1. See
Letters 701 and 704.), and concluded from the curiously crooked passage
into the nectary that it could not be fertilised by humming-birds; but
that Tacsonia was thus fertilised. Therefore I sent him the passage from
your letter, and I enclose a copy of his answer. If you are inclined to
gratify him by making a few observations on this subject I shall be
much obliged, and will send them on to him. I enclose a copy of my rough
notes on your Eschscholtzia, as you might like to see them. Somebody has
sent me from Germany two papers by you, one with a most curious account
of Alisma (681/2. See Letter 672.), and the other on crustaceans. Your
observations on the branchiae and heart have interested me extremely.
Alex. Agassiz has just paid me a visit with his wife. He has been in
England two or three months, and is now going to tour over the Continent
to see all the zoologists. We liked him very much. He is a great admirer
of yours, and he tells me that your correspondence and book first
made him believe in evolution. This must have been a great blow to his
father, who, as he tells me, is very well, and so vigorous that he can
work twice as long as he (the son) can.
Dr. Meyer has sent me his translation of Wallace's "Malay Archipelago,"
which is a valuable work; and as I have no use for the translation,
I will this day forward it to you by post, but, to save postage, via
England.
LETTER 682. TO F. MULLER. Down, May 12th [1870].
I thank you for your two letters of December 15th and March 29th, both
abounding with curious facts. I have been particularly glad to hear in
your last about the Eschscholtzia (682/1. See Letter 677.); for I am now
rearing crossed and self-fertilised plants, in antagonism to each other,
from your semi-sterile plants so that I may compare this comparative
growth with that of the offspring of English fertile plants. I have
forwarded your postscript about Passiflora, with the seeds, to Mr.
Farrer, who I am sure will be greatly obliged to you; the turning up of
the pendant flower plainly indicates some adaptation. When I next go to
London I will take up the specimens of butterflies, and show them to
Mr. Butler, of the British Museum, who is a learned lepidopterist
and interested on the subject. This reminds me to ask you whether you
received my letter [asking] about the ticking butterfly, described at
page 33 of my "Journal of Researches"; viz., whether the sound is in
anyway sexual? Perhaps the species does not inhabit your island. (682/2.
Papilio feronia, a Brazilian species capable of making "a clicking
noise, similar to that produced by a toothed wheel passing under a
spring catch."--"Journal," 1879, page 34.)
The case described in your last letter of the trimorphic monocotyledon
Pontederia is grand. (682/3. This case interested Darwin as the only
instance of heterostylism in Monocotyledons. See "Forms of Flowers,"
Edition II., page 183. F. Muller's paper is in the "Jenaische
Zeitschrift," 1871.) I wonder whether I shall ever have time to recur
to this subject; I hope I may, for I have a good deal of unpublished
material.
Thank you for telling me about the first-formed flower having additional
petals, stamens, carpels, etc., for it is a possible means of transition
of form; it seems also connected with the fact on which I have insisted
of peloric flowers being so often terminal. As pelorism is strongly
inherited (and [I] have just got a curious case of this in a leguminous
plant from India), would it not be worth while to fertilise some of
your early flowers having additional organs with pollen from a similar
flower, and see whether you could not make a race thus characterised?
(682/4. See Letters 588, 589. Also "Variation under Domestication,"
Edition II., Volume I., pages 388-9.) Some of your Abutilons have
germinated, but I have been very unfortunate with most of your seed.
You will remember having given me in a former letter an account of
a very curious popular belief in regard to the subsequent progeny
of asses, which have borne mules; and now I have another case almost
exactly like that of Lord Morton's mare, in which it is said the shape
of the hoofs in the subsequent progeny are affected. (Pangenesis will
turn out true some day!) (682/5. See "Animals and Plants," Edition
II., Volume I., page 435. For recent work on telegony see Ewart's
"Experimental Investigations on Telegony," "Phil. Trans. R. Soc." 1899.
A good account of the subject is given in the "Quarterly Review," 1899,
page 404. See also Letter 275, Volume I.)
A few months ago I received an interesting letter and paper from your
brother, who has taken up a new and good line of investigation, viz.,
the adaptation in insects for the fertilisation of flowers.
The only scientific man I have seen for several months is Kolliker, who
came here with Gunther, and whom I liked extremely.
I am working away very hard at my book on man and on sexual selection,
but I do not suppose I shall go to press till late in the autumn.
LETTER 683. TO F. MULLER. Down, January 1st, 1874.
No doubt I owe to your kindness two pamphlets received a few days ago,
which have interested me in an extraordinary degree. (683/1. This refers
to F. Muller's "Bestaubungsversuche an Abutilon-Arten" in the "Jenaische
Zeitschr." Volume VII., which are thus referred to by Darwin ("Cross
and Self Fert." pages 305-6): "Fritz Muller has shown by his valuable
experiments on hybrid Abutilons, that the union of brothers and sisters,
parents and children, and of other near relations is highly injurious to
the fertility of the offspring." The Termite paper is in the same volume
(viz., VII.) of the "Jenaische Zeitschr.") It is quite new to me what
you show about the effects of relationship in hybrids--that is to say,
as far as direct proof is concerned. I felt hardly any doubt on the
subject, from the fact of hybrids becoming more fertile when grown in
number in nursery gardens, exactly the reverse of what occurred with
Gartner. (683/2. When many hybrids are grown together the pollination by
near relatives is minimised.) The paper on Termites is even still more
interesting, and the analogy with cleistogene flowers is wonderful.
(683/3. On the back of his copy of Muller's paper Darwin wrote: "There
exist imperfectly developed male and female Termites, with wings much
shorter than those of queen and king, which serve to continue the
species if a fully developed king and queen do not after swarming (which
no doubt is for an occasional cross) enter [the] nest. Curiously like
cleistogamic flowers.") The manner in which you refer to to my chapter
on crossing is one of the most elegant compliments which I have ever
received.
I have directed to be sent to you Belt's "Nicaragua," which seems to me
the best Natural History book of travels ever published. Pray look to
what he says about the leaf-carrying ant storing the leaves up in a
minced state to generate mycelium, on which he supposes that the larvae
feed. Now, could you open the stomachs of these ants and examine the
contents, so as to prove or disprove this remarkable hypothesis? (683/4.
The hypothesis has been completely confirmed by the researches of
Moller, a nephew of F. Muller's: see his "Brasilische Pilzblumen"
("Botan. Mittheilgn. aus den Tropen," hrsg. von A.F.W. Schimper, Heft
7).)
LETTER 684. TO F. MULLER. Down, May 9th, 1877.
I have been particularly glad to receive your letter of March 25th on
Pontederia, for I am now printing a small book on heterostyled plants,
and on some allied subjects. I feel sure you will not object to my
giving a short account of the flowers of the new species which you have
sent me. I am the more anxious to do so as a writer in the United States
has described a species, and seems to doubt whether it is heterostyled,
for he thinks the difference in the length of the pistil depends merely
on its growth! In my new book I shall use all the information and
specimens which you have sent me with respect to the heterostyled
plants, and your published notices.
One chapter will be devoted to cleistogamic species, and I will just
notice your new grass case. My son Francis desires me to thank you much
for your kindness with respect to the plants which bury their seeds.
I never fail to feel astonished, when I receive one of your letters, at
the number of new facts you are continually observing. With respect to
the great supposed subterranean animal, may not the belief have arisen
from the natives having seen large skeletons embedded in cliffs? I
remember finding on the banks of the Parana a skeleton of a Mastodon,
and the Gauchos concluded that it was a borrowing animal like the
Bizcacha. (684/1. On the supposed existence in Patagonia of a gigantic
land-sloth, see "Natural Science," XIII., 1898, page 288, where
Ameghino's discovery of the skin of Neomylodon listai was practically
first made known, since his privately published pamphlet was
not generally seen. The animal was afterwards identified with a
Glossotherium, closely allied to Owen's G. Darwini, which has been named
Glossotherium listai or Grypotherium domesticum. For a good account of
the discoveries see Smith Woodward in "Natural Science," XV., 1899, page
351, where the literature is given.)
LETTER 685. TO F. MULLER. Down, May 14th [1877].
I wrote to you a few days ago to thank you about Pontederia, and now
I am going to ask you to add one more to the many kindnesses which you
have done for me. I have made many observations on the waxy secretion on
leaves which throw off water (e.g., cabbage, Tropoeolum), and I am now
going to continue my observations. Does any sensitive species of Mimosa
grow in your neighbourhood? If so, will you observe whether the leaflets
keep shut during long-continued warm rain. I find that the leaflets open
if they are continuously syringed with water at a temperature of about
19 deg C., but if the water is at a temperature of 33-35 deg C., they
keep shut for more than two hours, and probably longer. If the plant is
continuously shaken so as to imitate wind the leaflets soon open. How is
this with the native plants during a windy day? I find that some other
plants--for instance, Desmodium and Cassia--when syringed with water,
place their leaves so that the drops fall quickly off; the position
assumed differing somewhat from that in the so-called sleep. Would you
be so kind as to observe whether any [other] plants place their leaves
during rain so as to shoot off the water; and if there are any such
I should be very glad of a leaf or two to ascertain whether they are
coated with a waxy secretion. (685/1. See Letters 737-41.)
There is another and very different subject, about which I intend to
write, and should be very glad of a little information. Are earthworms
(Lumbricus) common in S. Brazil (685/2. F. Muller's reply is given in
"Vegetable Mould," page 122.), and do they throw up on the surface of
the ground numerous castings or vermicular masses such as we so commonly
see in Europe? Are such castings found in the forests beneath the dead
withered leaves? I am sure I can trust to your kindness to forgive me
for asking you so many questions.
LETTER 686. TO F. MULLER. Down, July 24th, 1878.
Many thanks for the five kinds of seeds; all have germinated, and the
Cassia seedlings have interested me much, and I daresay that I shall
find something curious in the other plants. Nor have I alone profited,
for Sir J. Hooker, who was here on Sunday, was very glad of some of the
seeds for Kew. I am particularly obliged for the information about the
earthworms. I suppose the soil in your forests is very loose, for in
ground which has lately been dug in England the worms do not come to the
surface, but deposit their castings in the midst of the loose soil.
I have some grand plants (and I formerly sent seeds to Kew) of the
cleistogamic grass, but they show no signs of producing flowers of any
kind as yet. Your case of the panicle with open flowers being sterile
is parallel to that of Leersia oryzoides. I have always fancied that
cross-fertilisation would perhaps make such panicles fertile. (686/1.
The meaning of this sentence is somewhat obscure. Darwin apparently
implies that the perfect flowers, borne on the panicles which
occasionally emerge from the sheath, might be fertile if pollinated from
another individual. See "Forms of Flowers," page 334.)
I am working away as hard as I can at all the multifarious kinds of
movements of plants, and am trying to reduce them to some simple rules,
but whether I shall succeed I do not know.
I have sent the curious lepidopteron case to Mr. Meldola.
LETTER 687. F. MULLER TO CHARLES DARWIN.
(687/1. In November, 1880, on receipt of an account of a flood in Brazil
from which Fritz Muller had barely escaped with his life ("Life and
Letters," III., 242); Darwin immediately wrote to Hermann Muller begging
to be allowed to help in making good any loss in books or scientific
instruments that his brother had sustained. It is this offer of help
that is referred to in the first paragraph of the following letter:
Darwin repeats the offer in Letter 690.)
Blumenau, Sa Catharina, Brazil, January 9th, 1881.
I do not know how to express [to] you my deep heartfelt gratitude for
the generous offer which you made to my brother on hearing of the
late dreadful flood of the Itajahy. From you, dear sir, I should have
accepted assistance without hesitation if I had been in need of it; but
fortunately, though we had to leave our house for more than a week, and
on returning found it badly damaged, my losses have not been very great.
I must thank you also for your wonderful book on the movements of
plants, which arrived here on New Year's Day. I think nobody else will
have been delighted more than I was with the results which you have
arrived at by so many admirably conducted experiments and observations;
since I observed the spontaneous revolving movement of Alisma I had seen
similar movements in so many and so different plants that I felt much
inclined to consider spontaneous revolving movement or circumnutation as
common to all plants and the movements of climbing plants as a
special modification of that general phenomenon. And this you have now
convincingly, nay, superabundantly, proved to be the case.
I was much struck with the fact that with you Maranta did not sleep for
two nights after having its leaves violently shaken by wind, for here we
have very cold nights only after storms from the west or south-west,
and it would be very strange if the leaves of our numerous species of
Marantaceae should be prevented by these storms to assume their usual
nocturnal position, just when nocturnal radiation was most to be feared.
It is rather strange, also, that Phaseolus vulgaris should not sleep
during the early part of the summer, when the leaves are most likely to
be injured during cold nights. On the contrary, it would not do any harm
to many sub-tropical plants, that their leaves must be well illuminated
during the day in order that they may assume at night a vertical
position; for, in our climate at least, cold nights are always preceded
by sunny days.
Of nearly allied plants sleeping very differently I can give you
some more instances. In the genus Olyra (at least, in the one species
observed by me) the leaves bend down vertically at night; now,
in Endlicher's "Genera plantarum" this genus immediately precedes
Strephium, the leaves of which you saw rising vertically.
In one of two species of Phyllanthus, growing as weeds near my house,
the leaves of the erect branches bend upwards at night, while in the
second species, with horizontal branches, they sleep like those of
Phyllanthus Niruri or of Cassia. In this second species the tips of
the branches also are curled downwards at night, by which movement
the youngest leaves are yet better protected. From their vertical
nyctitropic position the leaves of this Phyllanthus might return to
horizontality, traversing 90 deg, in two ways, either to their own or to
the opposite side of the branch; on the latter way no rotation would be
required, while on the former each leaf must rotate on its own axis in
order that its upper surface may be turned upwards. Thus the way to the
wrong side appears to be even less troublesome. And indeed, in some rare
cases I have seen three, four or even almost all the leaves of one side
of a branch horizontally expanded on the opposite side, with their upper
surfaces closely appressed to the lower surfaces of the leaves of that
side.
This Phyllanthus agrees with Cassia not only in its manner of sleeping,
but also by its leaves being paraheliotropic. (687/2. Paraheliotropism
is the movement by which some leaves temporarily direct their edges to
the source of light. See "Movements of Plants," page 445.) Like those of
some Cassiae its leaves take an almost perfectly vertical position, when
at noon, on a summer day, the sun is nearly in the zenith; but I doubt
whether this paraheliotropism will be observable in England. To-day,
though continuing to be fully exposed to the sun, at 3 p.m. the leaves
had already returned to a nearly horizontal position. As soon as there
are ripe seeds I will send you some; of our other species of Phyllanthus
I enclose a few seeds in this letter.
In several species of Hedychium the lateral halves of the leaves when
exposed to bright sunshine, bend downwards so that the lateral margins
meet. It is curious that a hybrid Hedychium in my garden shows scarcely
any trace of this paraheliotropism, while both the parent species are
very paraheliotropic.
Might not the inequality of the cotyledons of Citrus and of Pachira be
attributed to the pressure, which the several embryos enclosed in the
same seed exert upon each other? I do not know Pachira aquatica, but
[in] a species, of which I have a tree in my garden, all the seeds
are polyembryonic, and so were almost all the seeds of Citrus which I
examined. With Coffea arabica also seeds including two embryos are
not very rare; but I have not yet observed whether in this case the
cotyledons be inequal.
I repeated to-day Duval-Jouve's measurements on Bryophyllum calycinum
(687/3. "Power of Movement in Plants," page 237. F. Muller's
measurements show, however, that there is a tendency in the leaves to be
more highly inclined at night than in the middle of the day, and so far
they agree with Duval-Jouve's results.); but mine did not agree with
his; they are as follows:--
Distances in mm. between the tips of the upper pair of leaves.
January 9th, 1881 3 A.M. 1 P.M. 6 P.M.
1st plant 54 43 36
2nd plant 28 25 23
3rd plant 28 27 27
4th plant 51 46 39
5th plant 61 52 45
_______________________________________________
222 193 170
LETTER 688. TO F. MULLER. Down, February 23rd, 1881.
Your letter has interested me greatly, as have so many during many past
years. I thought that you would not object to my publishing in "Nature"
(688/1. "Nature," March 3rd, 1881, page 409.) some of the more striking
facts about the movements of plants, with a few remarks added to show
the bearing of the facts. The case of the Phyllanthus (688/2. See
Letter 687.), which turns up its leaves on the wrong side, is most
extraordinary and ought to be further investigated. Do the leaflets
sleep on the following night in the usual manner? Do the same leaflets
on successive nights move in the same strange manner? I was particularly
glad to hear of the strongly marked cases of paraheliotropism. I shall
look out with much interest for the publication about the figs. (688/3.
F. Muller published on Caprification in "Kosmos," 1882.) The creatures
which you sketch are marvellous, and I should not have guessed that they
were hymenoptera. Thirty or forty years ago I read all that I could find
about caprification, and was utterly puzzled. I suggested to Dr.
Cruger in Trinidad to investigate the wild figs, in relation to their
cross-fertilisation, and just before he died he wrote that he had
arrived at some very curious results, but he never published, as I
believe, on the subject.
I am extremely glad that the inundation did not so greatly injure your
scientific property, though it would have been a real pleasure to me to
have been allowed to have replaced your scientific apparatus. (688/4.
See Letter 687.) I do not believe that there is any one in the world who
admires your zeal in science and wonderful powers of observation more
than I do. I venture to say this, as I feel myself a very old man, who
probably will not last much longer.
P.S.--With respect to Phyllanthus, I think that it would be a good
experiment to cut off most of the leaflets on one side of the petiole,
as soon as they are asleep and vertically dependent; when the pressure
is thus removed, the opposite leaflets will perhaps bend beyond their
vertically dependent position; if not, the main petiole might be a
little twisted so that the upper surfaces of the dependent and now
unprotected leaflets should face obliquely the sky when the morning
comes. In this case diaheliotropism would perhaps conquer the ordinary
movements of the leaves when they awake, and [assume] their diurnal
horizontal position. As the leaflets are alternate, and as the upper
surface will be somewhat exposed to the dawning light, it is perhaps
diaheliotropism which explains your extraordinary case.
LETTER 689. TO F. MULLER. Down, April 12th, 1881.
I have delayed answering your last letter of February 25th, as I was
just sending to the printers the MS. of a very little book on the habits
of earthworms, of which I will of course send you a copy when published.
I have been very much interested by your new facts on paraheliotropism,
as I think that they justify my giving a name to this kind of movement,
about which I long doubted. I have this morning drawn up an account of
your observations, which I will send in a few days to "Nature." (689/1.
"Nature," 1881, page 603. Curious facts are given on the movements
of Cassia, Phyllanthus, sp., Desmodium sp. Cassia takes up a sunlight
position unlike its own characteristic night-position, but resembling
rather that of Haematoxylon (see "Power of Movement," figure 153, page
369). One species of Phyllanthus takes up in sunshine the nyctitropic
attitude of another species. And the same sort of relation occurs in the
genus Bauhinia.) I have thought that you would not object to my giving
precedence to paraheliotropism, which has been so little noticed. I will
send you a copy of "Nature" when published. I am glad that I was not
in too great a hurry in publishing about Lagerstroemia. (689/2.
Lagerstraemia was doubtfully placed among the heterostyled plants
("Forms of Flowers," page 167). F. Muller's observations showed that a
totally different interpretation of the two sizes of stamen is possible.
Namely, that one set serves merely to attract pollen-collecting bees,
who in the act of visiting the flowers transfer the pollen of the longer
stamens to other flowers. A case of this sort in Heeria, a Melastomad,
was described by Muller ("Nature," August 4th, 1881, page 308), and the
view was applied to the cases of Lagerstroemia and Heteranthera at
a later date ("Nature," 1883, page 364). See Letters 620-30.) I have
procured some plants of Melastomaceae, but I fear that they will not
flower for two years, and I may be in my grave before I can repeat my
trials. As far as I can imperfectly judge from my observations, the
difference in colour of the anthers in this family depends on one set
of anthers being partially aborted. I wrote to Kew to get plants with
differently coloured anthers, but I learnt very little, as describers of
dried plants do not attend to such points. I have, however, sowed seeds
of two kinds, suggested to me as probable. I have, therefore, been
extremely glad to receive the seeds of Heteranthera reniformis. As far
as I can make out it is an aquatic plant; and whether I shall succeed
in getting it to flower is doubtful. Will you be so kind as to send me
a postcard telling me in what kind of station it grows. In the course
of next autumn or winter, I think that I shall put together my notes (if
they seem worth publishing) on the use or meaning of "bloom" (689/3.
See Letters 736-40.), or the waxy secretion which makes some leaves
glaucous. I think that I told you that my experiments had led me to
suspect that the movement of the leaves of Mimosa, Desmodium and Cassia,
when shaken and syringed, was to shoot off the drops of water. If you
are caught in heavy rain, I should be very much obliged if you would
keep this notion in your mind, and look to the position of such leaves.
You have such wonderful powers of observation that your opinion would be
more valued by me than that of any other man. I have among my notes one
letter from you on the subject, but I forget its purport. I hope, also,
that you may be led to follow up your very ingenious and novel view
on the two-coloured anthers or pollen, and observe which kind is most
gathered by bees.
LETTER 690. TO F. MULLER. [Patterdale], June 21st, 1881.
I should be much obliged if you could without much trouble send me seeds
of any heterostyled herbaceous plants (i.e. a species which would
flower soon), as it would be easy work for me to raise some illegitimate
seedlings to test their degree of infertility. The plant ought not
to have very small flowers. I hope that you received the copies of
"Nature," with extracts from your interesting letters (690/1. "Nature,"
March 3rd, 1881, Volume XXIII., page 409, contains a letter from C.
Darwin on "Movements of Plants," with extracts from Fritz Muller's
letter. Another letter, "On the Movements of Leaves," was published in
"Nature," April 28th, 1881, page 603, with notes on leaf-movements sent
to Darwin by Muller.), and I was glad to see a notice in "Kosmos" on
Phyllanthus. (690/2. "Verirrte Blatter," by Fritz Muller ("Kosmos,"
Volume V., page 141, 1881). In this article an account is given of a
species of Phyllanthus, a weed in Muller's garden. See Letter 687.) I
am writing this note away from my home, but before I left I had the
satisfaction of seeing Phyllanthus sleeping. Some of the seeds which
you so kindly sent me would not germinate, or had not then germinated.
I received a letter yesterday from Dr. Breitenbach, and he tells me
that you lost many of your books in the desolating flood from which you
suffered. Forgive me, but why should you not order, through your brother
Hermann, books, etc., to the amount of 100 pounds, and I would send
a cheque to him as soon as I heard the exact amount? This would be no
inconvenience to me; on the contrary, it would be an honour and lasting
pleasure to me to have aided you in your invaluable scientific work to
this small and trifling extent. (690/3. See Letter 687, also "Life and
Letters," III., page 242.)
LETTER 691. TO F. MULLER.
(691/1. The following extract from a letter to F. Muller shows what was
the nature of Darwin's interest in the effect of carbonate of ammonia on
roots, etc. He was, we think, wrong in adhering to the belief that the
movements of aggregated masses are of an amoeboid nature. The masses
change shape, just as clouds do under the moulding action of the wind.
In the plant cell the moulding agent is the flowing protoplasm, but the
masses themselves are passive.)
September 10th, 1881.
Perhaps you may remember that I described in "Insectivorous Plants"
a really curious phenomenon, which I called the aggregation of the
protoplasm in the cells of the tentacles. None of the great German
botanists will admit that the moving masses are composed of protoplasm,
though it is astonishing to me that any one could watch the movement
and doubt its nature. But these doubts have led me to observe analogous
facts, and I hope to succeed in proving my case.
LETTER 692. TO F. MULLER. Down, November 13th, 1881.
I received a few days ago a small box (registered) containing dried
flower-heads with brown seeds somewhat sculptured on the sides. There
was no name, and I should be much obliged if some time you would tell me
what these seeds are. I have planted them.
I sent you some time ago my little book on earthworms, which, though
of no importance, has been largely read in England. I have little or
nothing to tell you about myself. I have for a couple of months been
observing the effects of carbonate of ammonia on chlorophyll and on the
roots of certain plants (692/1. Published under the title "The Action of
Carbonate of Ammonia on the Roots of Certain Plants and on Chlorophyll
Bodies," "Linn. Soc. Journ." XIX., 1882, pages 239-61, 262-84.), but the
subject is too difficult for me, and I cannot understand the meaning of
some strange facts which I have observed. The mere recording new facts
is but dull work.
Professor Wiesner has published a book (692/2. See Letter 763.), giving
a different explanation to almost every fact which I have given in my
"Power of Movement in Plants." I am glad to say that he admits that
almost all my statements are true. I am convinced that many of his
interpretations of the facts are wrong, and I am glad to hear that
Professor Pfeffer is of the same opinion; but I believe that he is
right and I wrong on some points. I have not the courage to retry all my
experiments, but I hope to get my son Francis to try some fresh ones to
test Wiesner's explanations. But I do not know why I have troubled you
with all this.
LETTER 693. TO F. MULLER. [4, Bryanston Street], December 19th, 1881.
I hope that you may find time to go on with your experiments on such
plants as Lagerstroemia, mentioned in your letter of October 29th, for
I believe you will arrive at new and curious results, more especially if
you can raise two sets of seedlings from the two kinds of pollen.
Many thanks for the facts about the effect of rain and mud in relation
to the waxy secretion. I have observed many instances of the lower side
being protected better than the upper side, in the case, as I believe,
of bushes and trees, so that the advantage in low-growing plants is
probably only an incidental one. (693/1. The meaning is here obscure: it
appears to us that the significance of bloom on the lower surface of the
leaves of both trees and herbs depends on the frequency with which all
or a majority of the stomata are on the lower surface--where they are
better protected from wet (even without the help of bloom) than on the
exposed upper surface. On the correlation between bloom and stomata, see
Francis Darwin "Linn. Soc. Journ." XXII., page 99.) As I am writing away
from my home, I have been unwilling to try more than one leaf of the
Passiflora, and this came out of the water quite dry on the lower
surface and quite wet on the upper. I have not yet begun to put my notes
together on this subject, and do not at all know whether I shall be able
to make much of it. The oddest little fact which I have observed is that
with Trifolium resupinatum, one half of the leaf (I think the right-hand
side, when the leaf is viewed from the apex) is protected by waxy
secretion, and not the other half (693/2. In the above passage "leaf"
should be "leaflet": for a figure of Trifolium resupinatum see Letter
740.); so that when the leaf is dipped into water, exactly half the leaf
comes out dry and half wet. What the meaning of this can be I cannot
even conjecture. I read last night your very interesting article in
"Kosmos" on Crotalaria, and so was very glad to see the dried leaves
sent by you: it seems to me a very curious case. I rather doubt whether
it will apply to Lupinus, for, unless my memory deceives me, all the
leaves of the same plant sometimes behaved in the same manner; but I
will try and get some of the same seeds of the Lupinus, and sow them in
the spring. Old age, however, is telling on me, and it troubles me to
have more than one subject at a time on hand.
(693/3. In a letter to F. Muller (September 10, 1881) occurs a sentence
which may appropriately close this series: "I often feel rather ashamed
of myself for asking for so many things from you, and for taking up so
much of your valuable time, but I can assure you that I feel grateful.")
2.XI.III. MISCELLANEOUS, 1868-1881.
LETTER 694. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, April 22nd, 1868.
I have been extremely much pleased by your letter, and I take it as
a very great compliment that you should have written to me at such
length...I am not at all surprised that you cannot digest pangenesis:
it is enough to give any one an indigestion; but to my mind the idea
has been an immense relief, as I could not endure to keep so many large
classes of facts all floating loose in my mind without some thread of
connection to tie them together in a tangible method.
With respect to the men who have recently written on the crossing
of plants, I can at present remember only Hildebrand, Fritz Muller,
Delpino, and G. Henslow; but I think there are others. I feel sure that
Hildebrand is a very good observer, for I have read all his papers, and
during the last twenty years I have made unpublished observations on
many of the plants which he describes. [Most of the criticisms which I
sometimes meet with in French works against the frequency of crossing I
am certain are the result of mere ignorance. I have never hitherto found
the rule to fail that when an author describes the structure of a flower
as specially adapted for self-fertilisation, it is really adapted for
crossing. The Fumariaceae offer a good instance of this, and Treviranus
threw this order in my teeth; but in Corydalis Hildebrand shows how
utterly false the idea of self-fertilisation is. This author's paper
on Salvia (694/1. Hildebrand, "Pringsheim's Jahrbucher," IV.) is really
worth reading, and I have observed some species, and know that he is
accurate]. (694/2. The passage within [] was published in the "Life
and Letters," III., page 279.) Judging from a long review in the "Bot.
Zeitung", and from what I know of some the plants, I believe Delpino's
article especially on the Apocynaea, is excellent; but I cannot read
Italian. (694/3. Hildebrand's paper in the "Bot. Zeitung," 1867, refers
to Delpino's work on the Asclepiads, Apocyneae and other Orders.)
Perhaps you would like just to glance at such pamphlets as I can lay my
hands on, and therefore I will send them, as if you do not care to see
them you can return them at once; and this will cause you less trouble
than writing to say you do not care to see them. With respect to
Primula, and one point about which I feel positive is that the Bardfield
and common oxlips are fundamentally distinct plants, and that the
common oxlip is a sterile hybrid. (694/4. For a general account of
the Bardfield oxlip (Primula elatior) see Miller Christy, "Linn. Soc.
Journ." Volume XXXIII., page 172, 1897.) I have never heard of the
common oxlip being found in great abundance anywhere, and some amount
of difference in number might depend on so small a circumstance as the
presence of some moth which habitually sucked the primrose and cowslip.
To return to the subject of crossing: I am experimenting on a very large
scale on the difference in power and growth between plants raised from
self-fertilised and crossed seeds, and it is no exaggeration to say that
the difference in growth and vigour is sometimes truly wonderful. Lyell,
Huxley, and Hooker have seen some of my plants, and been astonished; and
I should much like to show them to you. I always supposed until lately
that no evil effects would be visible until after several generations
of self-fertilisation, but now I see that one generation sometimes
suffices, and the existence of dimorphic plants and all the wonderful
contrivances of orchids are quite intelligible to me.
LETTER 695. TO T.H. FARRER (Lord Farrer). Down, June 5th, 1868.
I must write a line to cry peccavi. I have seen the action in Ophrys
exactly as you describe, and am thoroughly ashamed of my inaccuracy.
(695/1. See "Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 46, where
Lord Farrer's observations on the movement of the pollinia in Ophrys
muscifera are given.) I find that the pollinia do not move if kept in a
very damp atmosphere under a glass; so that it is just possible, though
very improbable, that I may have observed them during a very damp day.
I am not much surprised that I overlooked the movement in Habenaria, as
it takes so long. (695/2. This refers to Peristylus viridis, sometimes
known as Habenaria viridis. Lord Farrer's observations are given in
"Fertilisation of Orchids," Edition II., page 63.)
I am glad you have seen Listera; it requires to be seen to believe in
the co-ordination in the position of the parts, the irritability,
and the chemical nature of the viscid fluid. This reminds me that
I carefully described to Huxley the shooting out of the pollinia in
Catasetum, and received for an answer, "Do you really think that I can
believe all that!" (695/3. See Letter 665.)
LETTER 696. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, December 2nd, 1868.
It is a splendid scheme, and if you make only a beginning on a "Flora,"
which shall serve as an index to all papers on curious points in the
life-history of plants, you will do an inestimable good service. Quite
recently I was asked by a man how he could find out what was known on
various biological points in our plants, and I answered that I knew of
no such book, and that he might ask half a dozen botanists before one
would chance to remember what had been published on this or that point.
Not long ago another man, who had been experimenting on the quasi-bulbs
on the leaves of Cardamine, wrote to me to complain that he could not
find out what was known on the subject. It is almost certain that some
early or even advanced students, if they found in their "Flora" a
line or two on various curious points, with references for further
investigation, would be led to make further observations. For instance,
a reference to the viscid threads emitted by the seeds of Compositae, to
the apparatus (if it has been described) by which Oxalis spurts out its
seeds, to the sensitiveness of the young leaves of Oxalis acetosella
with reference to O. sensitiva. Under Lathyrus nissolia it would [be]
better to refer to my hypothetical explanation of the grass-like leaves
than to nothing. (696/1. No doubt the view given in "Climbing Plants,"
page 201, that L. nissolia has been evolved from a form like L. aphaca.)
Under a twining plant you might say that the upper part of the shoot
steadily revolves with or against the sun, and so, when it strikes
against any object it turns to the right or left, as the case may be.
If, again, references were given to the parasitism of Euphrasia,
etc., how likely it would be that some young man would go on with the
investigation; and so with endless other facts. I am quite enthusiastic
about your idea; it is a grand idea to make a "Flora" a guide for
knowledge already acquired and to be acquired. I have amused myself by
speculating what an enormous number of subjects ought to be introduced
into a Eutopian (696/2. A mis-spelling of Utopian.) Flora, on the
quickness of the germination of the seeds, on their means of dispersal;
on the fertilisation of the flower, and on a score of other points,
about almost all of which we are profoundly ignorant. I am glad to read
what you say about Bentham, for my inner consciousness tells me that
he has run too many forms together. Should you care to see an elaborate
German pamphlet by Hermann Muller on the gradation and distinction of
the forms of Epipactis and of Platanthera? (696/3. "Verhand. d. Nat.
Ver. f. Pr. Rh. u. Wesfal." Jahrg. XXV.: see "Fertilisation of Orchids,"
Edition II., pages 74, 102.) It may be absurd in me to suggest, but I
think you would find curious facts and references in Lecoq's enormous
book (696/4. "Geographie Botanique," 9 volumes, 1854-58.), in Vaucher's
four volumes (696/5. "Plantes d'Europe," 4 volumes, 1841.), in
Hildebrand's "Geschlechter Vertheilung" (696/6 "Geschlechter Vertheilung
bei den Pflanzen," 1 volume, Leipzig, 1867.), and perhaps in Fournier's
"De la Fecondation." (696/7. "De la Fecondation dans les Phanerogames,"
par Eugene Fournier: thesis published in Paris in 1863. The facts noted
in Darwin's copy are the explosive stamens of Parietaria, the submerged
flowers of Alisma containing air, the manner of fertilisation of
Lopezia, etc.) I wish you all success in your gigantic undertaking;
but what a pity you did not think of it ten years ago, so as to have
accumulated references on all sorts of subjects. Depend upon it, you
will have started a new era in the floras of various countries. I can
well believe that Mrs. Hooker will be of the greatest possible use to
you in lightening your labours and arranging your materials.
LETTER 697. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, December 5th, 1868.
...Now I want to beg for assistance for the new edition of "Origin."
Nageli himself urges that plants offer many morphological differences,
which from being of no service cannot have been selected, and which he
accounts for by an innate principle of progressive development. (697/1.
Nageli's "Enstehung und Begriff der Naturhistorischen Art." An address
delivered at the public session of the Royal Academy of Sciences of
Munich, March 28th, 1865; published by the Academy. Darwin's copy is the
2nd edition; it bears signs, in the pencilled notes on the margins, of
having been read with interest. Much of it was translated for him by a
German lady, whose version lies with the original among his pamphlets.
At page 27 Nageli writes: "It is remarkable that the useful adaptations
which Darwin brings forward in the case of animals, and which may be
discovered in numbers among plants, are exclusively of a physiological
kind, that they always show the formation or transformation of an
organ to a special function. I do not know among plants a morphological
modification which can be explained on utilitarian principles." Opposite
this passage Darwin has written "a very good objection": but Nageli's
sentence seems to us to be of the nature of a truism, for it is clear
that any structure whose evolution can be believed to have come about
by Natural Selection must have a function, and the case falls into
the physiological category. The various meanings given to the term
morphological makes another difficulty. Nageli cannot use it in the
sense of "structural"--in which sense it is often applied, since that
would mean that no plant structures have a utilitarian origin. The
essence of morphology (in the better and more precise sense) is descent;
thus we say that a pollen-grain is morphologically a microspore. And
this very example serves to show the falseness of Nageli's view, since
a pollen-grain is an adaptation to aerial as opposed to aquatic
fertilisation. In the 5th edition of the "Origin," 1869, page 151,
Darwin discusses Nageli's essay, confining himself to the simpler
statement that there are many structural characters in plants to which
we cannot assign uses. See Volume I., Letter 207.) I find old notes
about this difficulty; but I have hitherto slurred it over. Nageli gives
as instances the alternate and spiral arrangement of leaves, and the
arrangement of the cells in the tissues. Would you not consider as a
morphological difference the trimerous, tetramerous, etc., divisions
of flowers, the ovules being erect or suspended, their attachment being
parietal or placental, and even the shape of the seed when of no service
to the plant.
Now, I have thought, and want to show, that such differences follow in
some unexplained manner from the growth or development of plants which
have passed through a long series of adaptive changes. Anyhow, I want
to show that these differences do not support the idea of progressive
development. Cassini states that the ovaria on the circumference and
centre of Compos. flowers differ in essential characters, and so do
the seeds in sculpture. The seeds of Umbelliferae in the same relative
positions are coelospermous and orthospermous. There is a case given by
Augt. St. Hilaire of an erect and suspended ovule in the same ovarium,
but perhaps this hardly bears on the point. The summit flower, in Adoxa
and rue differ from the lower flowers. What is the difference in flowers
of the rue? how is the ovarium, especially in the rue? As Augt. St.
Hilaire insists on the locularity of the ovarium varying on the same
plant in some of the Rutaceae, such differences do not speak, as it
seems to me, in favour of progressive development. Will you turn
the subject in your mind, and tell me any more facts. Difference in
structure in flowers in different parts of the same plant seems best
to show that they are the result of growth or position or amount of
nutriment.
I have got your photograph (697/2. A photograph by Mrs. Cameron.) over
my chimneypiece, and like it much; but you look down so sharp on me that
I shall never be bold enough to wriggle myself out of any contradiction.
Owen pitches into me and Lyell in grand style in the last chapter of
volume 3 of "Anat. of Vertebrates." He is a cool hand. He puts words
from me in inverted commas and alters them. (697/3. The passage referred
to seems to be in Owen's "Anatomy of Vertebrata," III., pages 798, 799,
note. "I deeply regretted, therefore, to see in a 'Historical Sketch'
of the Progress of Enquiry into the origin of species, prefixed to the
fourth edition of that work (1866), that Mr. Darwin, after affirming
inaccurately and without evidence, that I admitted Natural Selection to
have done something toward that end, to wit, the 'origin of species,'
proceeds to remark: 'It is surprising that this admission should not
have been made earlier, as Prof. Owen now believes that he promulgated
the theory of Natural Selection in a passage read before the Zoological
Society in February, 1850, ("Trans." Volume IV., page 15).'" The first
of the two passages quoted by Owen from the fourth edition of the
"Origin" runs: "Yet he [Prof. Owen] at the same time admits that Natural
Selection MAY [our italics] have done something towards this end." In
the sixth edition of the "Origin," page xviii., Darwin, after referring
to a correspondence in the "London Review" between the Editor of that
Journal and Owen, goes on: "It appeared manifest to the editor, as well
as to myself, that Prof. Owen claimed to have promulgated the theory of
Natural Selection before I had done so;...but as far as it is possible
to understand certain recently published passages (Ibid. ["Anat. of
Vert."], Volume III., page 798), I have either partly or wholly again
fallen into error. It is consolatory to me that others find Prof. Owen's
controversial writings as difficult to understand and to reconcile with
each other, as I do. As far as the mere enunciation of the principle
of Natural Selection is concerned, it is quite immaterial whether or
no Prof. Owen preceded me, for both of us, as shown in this historical
sketch, were long ago preceded by Dr. Wells and Mr. Matthews.")
LETTER 698. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, December 29th, 1868.
Your letter is quite invaluable, for Nageli's essay (698/1. See
preceding Letter.) is so clever that it will, and indeed I know it has
produced a great effect; so that I shall devote three or four pages
to an answer. I have been particularly struck by your statements about
erect and suspended ovules. You have given me heart, and I will fight my
battle better than I should otherwise have done. I think I cannot resist
throwing the contrivances in orchids into his teeth. You say nothing
about the flowers of the rue. (698/2. For Ruta see "Origin," Edition
V., page 154.) Ask your colleagues whether they know anything about the
structure of the flower and ovarium in the uppermost flower. But don't
answer on purpose.
I have gone through my long Index of "Gardeners' Chronicle," which was
made solely for my own use, and am greatly disappointed to find, as I
fear, hardly anything which will be of use to you. (698/3. For Hooker's
projected biological book, see Letter 696.) I send such as I have for
the chance of their being of use.
LETTER 699. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, January 16th [1869].
Your two notes and remarks are of the utmost value, and I am greatly
obliged to you for your criticism on the term. "Morphological" seems
quite just, but I do not see how I can avoid using it. I found, after
writing to you, in Vaucher about the Rue (699/1. "Plantes d'Europe,"
Volume I., page 559, 1841.), but from what you say I will speak more
cautiously. It is the Spanish Chesnut that varies in divergence. Seeds
named Viola nana were sent me from Calcutta by Scott. I must refer
to the plants as an "Indian species," for though they have produced
hundreds of closed flowers, they have not borne one perfect flower.
(699/2. The cleistogamic flowers of Viola are used in the discussion on
Nageli's views. See "Origin," Edition V., page 153.) You ask whether I
want illustrations "of ovules differing in position in different flowers
on the same plant." If you know of such cases, I should certainly much
like to hear them. Again you speak of the angle of leaf-divergence
varying and the variations being transmitted. Was the latter point put
in in a hurry to round the sentence, or do you really know of cases?
Whilst looking for notes on the variability of the divisions of the
ovarium, position of the ovules, aestivation, etc., I found remarks
written fifteen or twenty years ago, showing that I then supposed that
characters which were nearly uniform throughout whole groups must be
of high vital importance to the plants themselves; consequently I was
greatly puzzled how, with organisms having very different habits
of life, this uniformity could have been acquired through Natural
Selection. Now, I am much inclined to believe, in accordance with
the view given towards the close of my MS., that the near approach
to uniformity in such structures depends on their not being of vital
importance, and therefore not being acted on by Natural Selection.
(699/3. This view is given in the "Origin," Edition VI., page 372.) If
you have reflected on this point, what do you think of it? I hope that
you approved of the argument deduced from the modifications in the small
closed flowers.
It is only about two years since last edition of "Origin," and I am
fairly disgusted to find how much I have to modify, and how much I ought
to add; but I have determined not to add much. Fleeming Jenkin has given
me much trouble, but has been of more real use to me than any other
essay or review. (699/4. On Fleeming Jenkin's review, "N. British
Review," June, 1867, see "Life and Letters," III., page 107.)
LETTER 700. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down [January 22nd, 1869].
Your letter is quite splenditious. I am greatly tempted, but shall,
I hope, refrain from using some of your remarks in my chapter on
Classification. It is very true what you say about unimportant
characters being so important systematically; yet it is hardly
paradoxical bearing in mind that the natural system is genetic, and that
we have to discover the genealogies anyhow. Hence such parts as organs
of generation are so useful for classification though not concerned with
the manner of life. Hence use for same purpose of rudimentary organs,
etc. You cannot think what a relief it is that you do not object to this
view, for it removes PARTLY a heavy burden from my shoulders. If I lived
twenty more years and was able to work, how I should have to modify the
"Origin," and how much the views on all points will have to be modified!
Well, it is a beginning, and that is something...
LETTER 701. TO T.H. FARRER (Lord Farrer). Down, August 10th, 1869.
Your view seems most ingenious and probable; but ascertain in a good
many cases that the nectar is actually within the staminal tube.
(701/1. It seems that Darwin did not know that the staminal tube in
the diadelphous Leguminosae serves as a nectar-holder, and this is
surprising, as Sprengel was aware of the fact.) One can see that if
there is to be a split in the tube, the law of symmetry would lead it
to be double, and so free one stamen. Your view, if confirmed, would be
extremely well worth publication before the Linnean Society. It is to me
delightful to see what appears a mere morphological character found
to be of use. It pleases me the more as Carl Nageli has lately been
pitching into me on this head. Hooker, with whom I discussed the
subject, maintained that uses would be found for lots more structures,
and cheered me by throwing my own orchids into my teeth. (701/2. See
Letters 697-700.)
All that you say about changed position of the peduncle in bud, in
flower, and in seed, is quite new to me, and reminds me of analogous
cases with tendrils. (701/3. See Vochting, "Bewegung der Bluthen und
Fruchte," 1882; also Kerner, "Pflanzenleben," Volume I., page 494,
Volume II., page 121.) This is well worth working out, and I dare say
the brush of the stigma.
With respect to the hairs or filaments (about which I once spoke) within
different parts of flowers, I have a splendid Tacsonia with perfectly
pendent flowers, and there is only a microscopical vestige of the corona
of coloured filaments; whilst in most common passion-flowers the flowers
stand upright, and there is the splendid corona which apparently would
catch pollen. (701/4. Sprengel ("Entdeckte Geheimniss," page 164)
imagined that the crown of the Passion-flower served as a nectar-guide
and as a platform for insects, while other rings of filaments served
to keep rain from the nectar. F. Muller, quoted in H. Muller
("Fertilisation," page 268), looks at the crowns of hairs, ridges in
some species, etc., as gratings serving to imprison flies which attract
the fertilising humming-birds. There is, we believe, no evidence that
the corona catches pollen. See Letter 704, note.)
On the lower side of corolla of foxglove there are some fine hairs, but
these seem of not the least use (701/5. It has been suggested that the
hairs serve as a ladder for humble bees; also that they serve to keep
out "unbidden guests.")--a mere purposeless exaggeration of down on
outside--as I conclude after watching the bees at work, and afterwards
covering up some plants; for the protected flowers rarely set any seed,
so that the hairy lower part of corolla does not come into contact with
stigma, as some Frenchman says occurs with some other plants, as Viola
odorata and I think Iris.
I heartily wish I could accept your kind invitation, for I am not by
nature a savage, but it is impossible. Forgive my dreadful handwriting,
none of my womenkind are about to act as amanuensis.
LETTER 702. TO WILLIAM C. TAIT.
(702/1. Mr. Tait, to whom the following letter is addressed, was
resident in Portugal. His kindness in sending plants of Drosophyllum
lusitanicum is acknowledged in "Insectivorous Plants.")
Down, March 12th, 1869.
I have received your two letters of March 2nd and 5th, and I really do
not know how to thank you enough for your extraordinary kindness and
energy. I am glad to hear that the inhabitants notice the power of the
Drosophyllum to catch flies, for this is the subject of my studies.
(702/2. The natives are said to hang up plants of Drosophyllum in their
cottages to act as fly-papers ("Insectivorous Plants," page 332).) I
have observed during several years the manner in which this is effected,
and the results produced in several species of Drosera, and in the
wonderful American Dionoea, the leaves of which catch insects just like
a steel rat-trap. Hence I was most anxious to learn how the Drosophyllum
would act, so that the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew wrote some
years ago to Portugal to obtain specimens for me, but quite failed.
So you see what a favour you have conferred on me. With Drosera it is
nothing less than marvellous how minute a fraction of a grain of any
nitrogenised matter the plant can detect; and how differently it behaves
when matter, not containing nitrogen, of the same consistence, whether
fluid or solid, is applied to the glands. It is also exquisitely
sensitive to a weight of even the 1/70000 of a grain. From what I can
see of the glands on Drosophyllum I suspect that I shall find only
the commencement, or nascent state of the wonderful capacities of the
Drosera, and this will be eminently interesting to me. My MS. on this
subject has been nearly ready for publication during some years, but
when I shall have strength and time to publish I know not.
And now to turn to other points in your letter. I am quite ignorant of
ferns, and cannot name your specimen. The variability of ferns passes
all bounds. With respect to your Laugher Pigeons, if the same with
the two sub-breeds which I kept, I feel sure from the structure of
the skeleton, etc., that it is a descendant of C. livia. In regard
to beauty, I do not feel the difficulty which you and some others
experience. In the last edition of my "Origin" I have discussed the
question, but necessarily very briefly. (702/3. Fourth Edition, page
238.) A new and I hope amended edition of the "Origin" is now passing
through the press, and will be published in a month or two, and it will
give me great pleasure to send you a copy. Is there any place in London
where parcels are received for you, or shall I send it by post? With
reference to dogs' tails, no doubt you are aware that a rudimentary
stump is regularly inherited by certain breeds of sheep-dogs, and by
Manx cats. You speak of a change in the position of the axis of the
earth: this is a subject quite beyond me, but I believe the astronomers
reject the idea. Nevertheless, I have long suspected that some
periodical astronomical or cosmical cause must be the agent of the
incessant oscillations of level in the earth's crust. About a month
ago I suggested this to a man well capable of judging, but he could not
conceive any such agency; he promised, however, to keep it in mind. I
wish I had time and strength to write to you more fully. I had intended
to send this letter off at once, but on reflection will keep it till I
receive the plants.
LETTER 703. TO H. MULLER. Down, March 14th, 1870.
I think you have set yourself a new, very interesting, and difficult
line of research. As far as I know, no one has carefully observed the
structure of insects in relation to flowers, although so many have
now attended to the converse relation. (703/1. See Letter 462, also H.
Muller, "Fertilisation of Flowers," English Translation, page 30, on
"The insects which visit flowers." In Muller's book references are
given to several of his papers on this subject.) As I imagine few or
no insects are adapted to suck the nectar or gather the pollen of
any single family of plants, such striking adaptations can hardly, I
presume, be expected in insects as in flowers.
LETTER 704. TO T.H. FARRER (Lord Farrer).
Down, May 28th, 1870.
I suppose I must have known that the stamens recovered their former
position in Berberis (704/1. See Farrer, "Nature," II., 1870, page 164.
Lord Farrer was before H. Muller in making out the mechanism of the
barberry.), for I formerly tried experiments with anaesthetics, but I
had forgotten the facts, and I quite agree with you that it is a
sound argument that the movement is not for self-fertilisation. The
N. American barberries (Mahonia) offer a good proof to what an extent
natural crossing goes on in this genus; for it is now almost impossible
in this country to procure a true specimen of the two or three forms
originally introduced.
I hope the seeds of Passiflora will germinate, for the turning up of the
pendent flower must be full of meaning. (704/2. Darwin had (May 12th,
1870) sent to Farrer an extract from a letter from F. Muller, containing
a description of a Passiflora visited by humming-birds, in which the
long flower-stalk curls up so that "the flower itself is upright."
Another species visited by bees is described as having "dependent
flowers." In a letter, June 29th, 1870, Mr. Farrer had suggested that P.
princeps, which he described as having sub-erect flowers, is fitted for
humming-birds' visits. In another letter, October 13th, 1869, he
says that Tacsonia, which has pendent flowers and no corona, is not
fertilised by insects in English glass-houses, and may be adapted for
humming-birds. See "Life and Letters," III., page 279, for Farrer's
remarks on Tacsonia and Passiflora; also H. Muller's "Fertilisation of
Flowers," page 268, for what little is known on the subject; also Letter
701 in the present volume.) I am so glad that you are able to occupy
yourself a little with flowers: I am sure it is most wise in you, for
your own sake and children's sakes.
Some little time ago Delpino wrote to me praising the Swedish book on
the fertilisation of plants; as my son George can read a little Swedish,
I should like to have it back for a time, just to hear a little what it
is about, if you would be so kind as to return it by book-post.
(704/3. Severin Axell, "Om anordningarna for de Fanerogama Vaxternas
Befruktning," Stockholm, 1869.)
I am going steadily on with my experiments on the comparative growth
of crossed and self-fertilised plants, and am now coming to some very
curious anomalies and some interesting results. I forget whether I
showed you any of them when you were here for a few hours. You ought
to see them, as they explain at a glance why Nature has taken such
extraordinary pains to ensure frequent crosses between distinct
individuals.
If in the course of the summer you should feel any inclination to come
here for a day or two, I hope that you will propose to do so, for we
should be delighted to see you...
LETTER 705. TO ASA GRAY. Down, December 7th, 1870.
I have been very glad to receive your letter this morning. I have for
some time been wishing to write to you, but have been half worked to
death in correcting my uncouth English for my new book. (705/1.
"Descent of Man.") I have been glad to hear of your cases appearing like
incipient dimorphism. I believe that they are due to mere variability,
and have no significance. I found a good instance in Nolana prostrata,
and experimented on it, but the forms did not differ in fertility. So it
was with Amsinckia, of which you told me. I have long thought that such
variations afforded the basis for the development of dimorphism. I was
not aware of such cases in Phlox, but have often admired the arrangement
of the anthers, causing them to be all raked by an inserted proboscis. I
am glad also to hear of your curious case of variability in ovules, etc.
I said that I had been wishing to write to you, and this was about your
Drosera, which after many fluctuations between life and death, at last
made a shoot which I could observe. The case is rather interesting; but
I must first remind you that the filament of Dionoea is not sensitive
to very light prolonged pressure, or to nitrogenous matter, but is
exquisitely sensitive to the slightest touch. (705/2. In another
connection the following reference to Dionoea is of some interest: "I am
sure I never heard of Curtis's observations on Dionoea, nor have I met
with anything more than general statements about this plant or about
Nepenthes catching insects." (From a letter to Sir J.D. Hooker, July
12th, 1860.)) In our Drosera the filaments are not sensitive to a slight
touch, but are sensitive to prolonged pressure from the smallest object
of any nature; they are also sensitive to solid or fluid nitrogenous
matter. Now in your Drosera the filaments are not sensitive to a rough
touch or to any pressure from non-nitrogenous matter, but are sensitive
to solid or fluid nitrogenous matter. (705/3. Drosera filiformis: see
"Insectivorous Plants," page 281. The above account does not entirely
agree with Darwin's published statement. The filaments moved when bits
of cork or cinder were placed on them; they did not, however, respond
to repeated touches with a needle, thus behaving differently from D.
rotundifolia. It should be remembered that the last-named species is
somewhat variable in reacting to repeated touches.) Is it not curious
that there should be such diversified sensitiveness in allied plants?
I received a very obliging letter from Mr. Morgan, but did not see him,
as I think he said he was going to start at once for the Continent. I am
sorry to hear rather a poor account of Mrs. Gray, to whom my wife and I
both beg to be very kindly remembered.
LETTER 706. TO C.V. RILEY.
(706/1. In Riley's opinion his most important work was the series
entitled "Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and other Insects
of the State of Missouri" (Jefferson City), beginning in 1869. These
reports were greatly admired by Mr. Darwin, and his copies of them,
especially of Nos. 3 and 4, show signs of careful reading.)
Down, June 1st [1871].
I received some little time ago your report on noxious insects, and have
now read the whole with the greatest interest. (706/2. "Third Annual
Report on the Noxious, Beneficial, and other Insects of the State of
Missouri" (Jefferson City, Mo.). The mimetic case occurs at page 67; the
1875 pupae of Pterophorus periscelidactylus, the "Grapevine Plume," have
pupae either green or reddish brown, the former variety being found on
the leaves, the latter on the brown stems of the vine.) There are a vast
number of facts and generalisations of value to me, and I am struck with
admiration at your powers of observation.
The discussion on mimetic insects seems to me particularly good and
original. Pray accept my cordial thanks for the instruction and interest
which I have received.
What a loss to Natural Science our poor mutual friend Walsh has been; it
is a loss ever to be deplored...
Your country is far ahead of ours in some respects; our Parliament would
think any man mad who should propose to appoint a State Entomologist.
LETTER 707A. TO C.V. RILEY.
(706A/1. We have found it convenient to place the two letters to Riley
together, rather than separate them chronologically.)
Down, September 28th, 1881.
I must write half a dozen lines to say how much interested I have been
by your "Further Notes" on Pronuba which you were so kind as to send me.
(706A/2. "Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci." 1880.) I had read the various
criticisms, and though I did not know what answer could be made, yet I
felt full confidence in your result, and now I see that I was right...If
you make any further observation on Pronuba it would, I think, be well
worth while for you to observe whether the moth can or does occasionally
bring pollen from one plant to the stigma of a distinct one (706A/3.
Riley discovered the remarkable fact that the Yucca moth (Pronuba
yuccasella) lays its eggs in the ovary of Yucca flowers, which it has
previously pollinated, thus making sure of a supply of ovules for the
larvae.), for I have shown that the cross-fertilisation of the flowers
on the same plant does very little good; and, if I am not mistaken,
you believe that Pronuba gathers pollen from the same flower which she
fertilises.
What interesting and beautiful observations you have made on the
metamorphoses of the grasshopper-destroying insects.
LETTER 707. TO F. HILDEBRAND. Down, February 9th [1872].
Owing to other occupations I was able to read only yesterday your
paper on the dispersal of the seeds of Compositae. (707/1. "Ueber die
Verbreitungsmittel der Compositenfruchte." "Bot. Zeitung," 1872, page
1.) Some of the facts which you mention are extremely interesting.
I write now to suggest as worthy of your examination the curious
adhesive filaments of mucus emitted by the achenia of many Compositae,
of which no doubt you are aware. My attention was first called to the
subject by the achenia of an Australian Pumilio (P. argyrolepis), which
I briefly described in the "Gardeners' Chronicle," 1861, page 5. As the
threads of mucus dry and contract they draw the seeds up into a vertical
position on the ground. It subsequently occurred to me that if these
seeds were to fall on the wet hairs of any quadruped they would adhere
firmly, and might be carried to any distance. I was informed that
Decaisne has written a paper on these adhesive threads. What is the
meaning of the mucus so copiously emitted from the moistened seeds of
Iberis, and of at least some species of Linum? Does the mucus serve as
a protection against their being devoured, or as a means of attachment.
(707/2. Various theories have been suggested, e.g., that the slime by
anchoring the seed to the soil facilitates the entrance of the radicle
into the soil: the slime has also been supposed to act as a temporary
water-store. See Klebs in Pfeffer's "Untersuchungen aus dem Bot. Inst.
zu Tubingen," I., page 581.) I have been prevented reading your paper
sooner by attempting to read Dr. Askenasy's pamphlet, but the German is
too difficult for me to make it all out. (707/3. E. Askenasy, "Beitrage
zur Kritik der Darwin'schen Lehre." Leipzig, 1872.) He seems to follow
Nageli completely. I cannot but think that both much underrate the
utility of various parts of plants; and that they greatly underrate
the unknown laws of correlated growth, which leads to all sorts of
modifications, when some one structure or the whole plant is modified
for some particular object.
LETTER 708. TO T.H. FARRER. (Lord Farrer).
(708/1. The following letter refers to a series of excellent
observations on the fertilisation of Leguminosae, made by Lord Farrer in
the autumn of 1869, in ignorance of Delpino's work on the subject. The
result was published in "Nature," October 10th and 17th, 1872, and
is full of interesting suggestions. The discovery of the mechanism in
Coronilla mentioned in a note was one of the cases in which Lord Farrer
was forestalled.)
Down [1872].
I declare I am almost as sorry as if I had been myself
forestalled--indeed, more so, for I am used to it. It is, however, a
paramount, though bothersome duty in every naturalist to try and make
out all that has been done by others on the subject. By all means
publish next summer your confirmation and a summary of Delpino's
observations, with any new ones of your own. Especially attend about the
nectary exterior to the staminal tube. (708/2. This refers to a species
of Coronilla in which Lord Farrer made the remarkable discovery that the
nectar is secreted on the outside of the calyx. See "Nature," July 2nd,
1874, page 169; also Letter 715.) This will in every way be far better
than writing to Delpino. It would not be at all presumptuous in you to
criticise Delpino. I am glad you think him so clever; for so it struck
me.
Look at hind legs yourself of some humble and hive-bees; in former take
a very big individual (if any can be found) for these are the females,
the males being smaller, and they have no pollen-collecting apparatus.
I do not remember where it is figured--probably in Kirby & Spence--but
actual inspection better...
Please do not return any of my books until all are finished, and do not
hurry.
I feel certain you will make fine discoveries.
LETTER 709. TO T.H. FARRER. (Lord Farrer). Sevenoaks, October 13th,
1872.
I must send you a line to say how extremely good your article appears to
me to be. It is even better than I thought, and I remember thinking it
very good. I am particularly glad of the excellent summary of evidence
about the common pea, as it will do for me hereafter to quote; nocturnal
insects will not do. I suspect that the aboriginal parent had bluish
flowers. I have seen several times bees visiting common and sweet
peas, and yet varieties, purposely grown close together, hardly ever
intercross. This is a point which for years has half driven me mad,
and I have discussed it in my "Var. of Animals and Plants under Dom."
(709/1. In the second edition (1875) of the "Variation of Animals and
Plants," Volume I., page 348, Darwin added, with respect to the rarity
of spontaneous crosses in Pisum: "I have reason to believe that this
is due to their stignas being prematurely fertilised in this country
by pollen from the same flower." This explanation is, we think, almost
certainly applicable to Lathyrus odoratus, though in Darwin's latest
publication on the subject he gives reasons to the contrary. See "Cross
and Self-Fertilisation," page 156, where the problem is left unsolved.
Compare Letter 714 to Delpino. In "Life and Letters," III., page 261,
the absence of cross-fertilisation is explained as due to want of
perfect adaptation between the pea and our native insects. This is
Hermann Muller's view: see his "Fertilisation of Flowers," page 214.
See Letter 583, note.) I now suspect (and I wish I had strength to
experimentise next spring) that from changed climate both species
are prematurely fertilised, and therefore hardly ever cross. When
artificially crossed by removal of own pollen in bud, the offspring are
very vigorous.
Farewell.--I wish I could compel you to go on working at fertilisation
instead of so insignificant a subject as the commerce of the country!
You pay me a very pretty compliment at the beginning of your paper.
LETTER 710. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(710/1. The following letters to Sir J.D. Hooker and the late Mr.
Moggridge refer to Moggridge's observation that seeds stored in the nest
of the ant Atta at Mentone do not germinate, though they are certainly
not dead. Moggridge's observations are given in his book, "Harvesting
Ants and Trap-Door Spiders," 1873, which is full of interesting details.
The book is moreover remarkable in having resuscitated our knowledge of
the existence of the seed-storing habit. Mr. Moggridge points out that
the ancients were familiar with the facts, and quotes the well-known
fable of the ant and the grasshopper, which La Fontaine borrowed from
Aesop. Mr. Moggridge (page 5) goes on: "So long as Europe was taught
Natural History by southern writers the belief prevailed; but no sooner
did the tide begin to turn, and the current of information to flood from
north to south, than the story became discredited."
In Moggridge's "supplement" on the same subject, published in 1874, the
author gives an account of his experiments made at Darwin's suggestion,
and concludes (page 174) that "the vapour of formic acid is incapable
of rendering the seeds dormant after the manner of the ants," and
that indeed "its influence is always injurious to the seeds, even when
present only in excessively minute quantities." Though unable to explain
the method employed, he was convinced "that the non-germination of the
seeds is due to some direct influence voluntarily exercised by the ants,
and not merely to the conditions found in the nest" (page 172). See
Volume I., Letter 251.)
Down, February 21st [1873].
You have given me exactly the information which I wanted.
Geniuses jump. I have just procured formic acid to try whether its
vapour or minute drops will delay germination of fresh seeds; trying
others at same time for comparison. But I shall not be able to try them
till middle of April, as my despotic wife insists on taking a house in
London for a month from the middle of March.
I am glad to hear of the Primer (710/2. "Botany" (Macmillan's Science
Primers).); it is not at all, I think, a folly. Do you know Asa Gray's
child book on the functions of plants, or some such title? It is very
good in giving an interest to the subject.
By the way, can you lend me the January number of the "London Journal of
Botany" for an article on insect-agency in fertilisation?
LETTER 711. TO J. TRAHERNE MOGGRIDGE. Down, August 27th, 1873.
I thank you for your very interesting letter, and I honour you for your
laborious and careful experiments. No one knows till he tries how many
unexpected obstacles arise in subjecting plants to experiments.
I can think of no suggestions to make; but I may just mention that I
had intended to try the effects of touching the dampened seeds with the
minutest drop of formic acid at the end of a sharp glass rod, so as to
imitate the possible action of the sting of the ant. I heartily hope
that you may be rewarded by coming to some definite result; but I fail
five times out of six in my own experiments. I have lately been trying
some with poor success, and suppose that I have done too much, for I
have been completely knocked up for some days.
LETTER 712. TO J. TRAHERNE MOGGRIDGE. Down, March 10th, 1874.
I am very sorry to hear that the vapour experiments have failed; but
nothing could be better, as it seems to me, than your plan of enclosing
a number of the ants with the seeds. The incidental results on the power
of different vapours in killing seeds and stopping germination appear
very curious, and as far as I know are quite new.
P.S.--I never before heard of seeds not germinating except during a
certain season; it will be a very strange fact if you can prove this.
(712/1. Certain seeds pass through a resting period before germination.
See Pfeffer's "Pflanzenphysiologie," Edition I., Volume II., page III.)
LETTER 713. TO H. MULLER. Down, May 30th, 1873.
I am much obliged for your letter received this morning. I write now
chiefly to give myself the pleasure of telling you how cordially I
admire the last part of your book, which I have finished. (713/1.
"Die Befruchtung der Blumen durch Insekten": Leipzig, 1873. An English
translation was published in 1883 by Prof. D'Arcy Thompson. The
"Prefatory Notice" to this work (February 6th, 1882) is almost the last
of Mr. Darwin's writings. See "Life and Letters," page 281.) The whole
discussion seems to me quite excellent, and it has pleased me not a
little to find that in the rough MS. of my last chapter I have arrived
on many points at nearly the same conclusions that you have done, though
we have reached them by different routes. (713/2. "The Effects of Cross
and Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom": London, 1876.)
LETTER 714. TO F. DELPINO. Down, June 25th [1873].
I thank you sincerely for your letter. I am very glad to hear about
Lathyrus odoratus, for here in England the vars. never cross, and
yet are sometimes visited by bees. (714/1. In "Cross and
Self-Fertilisation," page 156, Darwin quotes the information received
from Delpino and referred to in the present letter--namely, that it
is the fixed opinion of the Italian gardeners that the varieties do
intercross. See Letter 709.) Pisum sativum I have also many times seen
visited by Bombus. I believe the cause of the many vars. not crossing
is that under our climate the flowers are self-fertilised at an early
period, before the corolla is fully expanded. I shall examine this point
with L. odoratus. I have read H. Muller's book, and it seems to me very
good. Your criticism had not occurred to me, but is, I think just--viz.
that it is much more important to know what insects habitually visit any
flower than the various kinds which occasionally visit it. Have you seen
A. Kerner's book "Schutzmittel des Pollens," 1873, Innsbruck. (714/2.
Afterwards translated by Dr. Ogle as "Flowers and their Unbidden
Guests," with a prefatory letter by Charles Darwin, 1878.) It is very
interesting, but he does not seem to know anything about the work of
other authors.
I have Bentham's paper in my house, but have not yet had time to read a
word of it. He is a man with very sound judgment, and fully admits the
principle of evolution.
I have lately had occasion to look over again your discussion on
anemophilous plants, and I have again felt much admiration at your work.
(714/3. "Atti della Soc. Italiana di Scienze Nat." Volume XIII.)
(714/4. In the beginning of August, 1873, Darwin paid the first of
several visits to Lord Farrer's house at Abinger. When sending copies of
Darwin's letters for the "Life and Letters," Lord Farrer was good enough
to add explanatory notes and recollections, from which we quote the
following sketch.)
"Above my house are some low hills, standing up in the valley, below the
chalk range on the one hand and the more distant range of Leith Hill
on the other, with pretty views of the valley towards Dorking in one
direction and Guildford in the other. They are composed of the less
fertile Greensand strata, and are covered with fern, broom, gorse, and
heath. Here it was a particular pleasure of his to wander, and his
tall figure, with his broad-brimmed Panama hat and long stick like an
alpenstock, sauntering solitary and slow over our favourite walks, is
one of the pleasantest of the many pleasant associations I have with the
place."
LETTER 715. TO T.H. FARRER (Lord Farrer).
(715/1. The following note by Lord Farrer explains the main point of
the letter, which, however, refers to the "bloom" problem as well as to
Coronilla:--
"I thought I had found out what puzzled us in Coronilla varia: in most
of the Papilionaceae, when the tenth stamen is free, there is nectar in
the staminal tube, and the opening caused by the free stamen enables the
bee to reach the nectar, and in so doing the bee fertilises the plant.
In Coronilla varia, and in several other species of Coronilla, there is
no nectar in the staminal tube or in the tube of the corolla. But
there are peculiar glands with nectar on the outside of the calyx, and
peculiar openings in the tube of the corolla through which the proboscis
of the bee, whilst entering the flower in the usual way and dusting
itself with pollen, can reach these glands, thus fertilising the plant
in getting the nectar. On writing this to Mr. Darwin, I received the
following characteristic note.
The first postscript relates to the rough ground behind my house, over
which he was fond of strolling. It had been ploughed up and then allowed
to go back, and the interest was to watch how the numerous species of
weeds of cultivation which followed the plough gradually gave way in the
struggle for existence to the well-known and much less varied flora of
an English common.")
Bassett, Southampton, August 14th, 1873.
You are the man to conquer a Coronilla. (715/2. In a former letter to
Lord Farrer, Darwin wrote: "Here is a maxim for you, 'It is disgraceful
to be beaten by a Coronilla.'") I have been looking at the half-dried
flowers, and am prepared to swear that you have solved the mystery.
The difference in the size of the cells on the calyx under the vexillum
right down to the common peduncle is conspicuous. The flour still
adhered to this side; I see little bracteae or stipules apparently with
glandular ends at the base of the calyces. Do these secrete? It seems
to me a beautiful case. When I saw the odd shape of the base of the
vexillum, I concluded that it must have some meaning, but little dreamt
what that was. Now there remains only the one serious point--viz.the
separation of the one stamen. I daresay that you are right in that
nectar was originally secreted within the staminal tube; but why has not
the one stamen long since cohered? The great difference in structure
for fertilisation within the same genus makes one believe that all such
points are vary variable. (715/3. Coronilla emerus is of the ordinary
papilionaceous type.) With respect to the non-coherence of the one
stamen, do examine some flower-buds at a very early age; for parts which
are largely developed are often developed to an unusual degree at a
very early age, and it seems to me quite possible that the base of the
vexillum (to which the single stamen adhered) might thus be developed,
and thus keep it separate for a time from the other stamens. The
cohering stamens to the right and left of the single one seem to me
to be pushed out a little laterally. When you have finished your
observations, you really ought to send an account with a diagram to
"Nature," recalling your generalisation about the diadelphous structure,
and now explaining the exception of Coronilla. (715/4. The observations
were published in "Nature," Volume X., 1874, page 169.)
Do add a remark how almost every detail of structure has a meaning where
a flower is well examined.
Your observations pleased me so much that I could not sit still for half
an hour.
Please to thank Mr. Payne (715/5. Lord Farrer's gardener.) for his
remarks, which are of value to me, with reference to Mimosa. I am
very much in doubt whether opening the sashes can act by favouring the
evaporation of the drops; may not the movement of the leaves shake off
the drops, or change their places? If Mr. Payne remembers any plant
which is easily injured by drops, I wish he would put a drop or two on
a leaf on a bright day, and cover the plant with a clean bell-glass,
and do the same for another plant, but without a bell-glass over it, and
observe the effects.
Thank you much for wishing to see us again at Abinger, and it is very
doubtful whether it will be Coronilla, Mr. Payne, the new garden, the
children, E. [Lady Farrer], or yourself which will give me the most
pleasure to see again.
P.S. 1.--It will be curious to note in how many years the rough ground
becomes quite uniform in its flora.
P.S. 2.--One may feel sure that periodically nectar was secreted within
the flower and then secreted by the calyx, as in some species of Iris
and orchids. This latter being taken advantage of in Coronilla would
allow of the secretion within the flower ceasing, and as this change was
going on in the two secretions, all the parts of the flower would become
modified and correlated.
LETTER 716. TO J. BURDON SANDERSON. Down, Tuesday, September 9th [1873].
(716/1. Sir J. Burdon Sanderson showed that in Dionoea movement
is accompanied by electric disturbances closely analogous to those
occurring in muscle (see "Nature," 1874, pages 105, 127; "Proc. R. Soc."
XXI., and "Phil. Trans." Volume CLXXIII., 1883, where the results are
finally discussed).)
I will send up early to-morrow two plants [of Dionoea] with five goodish
leaves, which you will know by their being tied to sticks. Please
remember that the slightest touch, even by a hair, of the three
filaments on each lobe makes the leaf close, and it will not open for
twenty-four hours. You had better put 1/4 in. of water into the saucers
of the pots. The plants have been kept too cool in order to retard
them. You had better keep them rather warm (i.e. temperature of warm
greenhouse) for a day, and in a good light.
I am extremely glad you have undertaken this subject. If you get a
positive result, I should think you ought to publish it separately, and
I could quote it; or I should be most glad to introduce any note by you
into my account.
I have no idea whether it is troublesome to try with the thermo-electric
pile any change of temperature when the leaf closes. I could detect none
with a common thermometer. But if there is any change of temperature I
should expect it would occur some eight to twelve or twenty-four
hours after the leaf has been given a big smashed fly, and when it is
copiously secreting its acid digestive fluid.
I forgot to say that, as far as I can make out, the inferior surface of
the leaf is always in a state of tension, and that the contraction is
confined to the upper surface; so that when this contraction ceases or
suddenly fails (as by immersion in boiling water) the leaf opens again,
or more widely than is natural to it.
Whenever you have quite finished, I will send for the plants in their
basket. My son Frank is staying at 6, Queen Anne Street, and comes home
on Saturday afternoon, but you will not have finished by that time.
P.S. I have repeated my experiment on digestion in Drosera with complete
success. By giving leaves a very little weak hydrochloric acid, I can
make them digest albumen--i.e. white of egg--quicker than they can do
naturally. I most heartily thank you for all your kindness. I have been
pretty bad lately, and must work very little.
LETTER 717. TO J. BURDON SANDERSON. September 13th [1873].
How very kind it was of you to telegraph to me. I am quite delighted
that you have got a decided result. Is it not a very remarkable fact? It
seems so to me, in my ignorance. I wish I could remember more distinctly
what I formerly read of Du Bois Raymond's results. My poor memory never
serves me for more than a vague guide. I really think you ought to try
Drosera. In a weak solution of phosphate of ammonia (viz. 1 gr. to 20
oz. of water) it will contract in about five minutes, and even more
quickly in pure warm water; but then water, I suppose, would prevent
your trial. I forget, but I think it contracts pretty quickly (i.e. in
an hour or two) with a large drop of a rather stronger solution of the
phosphate, or with an atom of raw meat on the disc of the leaf.
LETTER 718. TO J.D. HOOKER. October 31st, 1873.
Now I want to tell you, for my own pleasure, about the movements of
Desmodium.
1. When the plant goes to sleep, the terminal leaflets hang vertically
down, but the petioles move up towards the axis, so that the dependent
leaves are all crowded round it. The little leaflets never go to sleep,
and this seems to me very odd; they are at their games of play as late
as 11 o'clock at night and probably later. (718/1. Stahl ("Botanische
Zeitung," 1897, page 97) has suggested that the movements of the dwarf
leaflets in Desmodium serve to shake the large terminal leaflets, and
thus increase transpiration. According to Stahl's view their movement
would be more useful at night than by day, because stagnation of the
transpiration-current is more likely to occur at night.)
2. If the plant is shaken or syringed with tepid water, the terminal
leaflets move down through about an angle of 45 deg, and the petioles
likewise move about 11 deg downwards; so that they move in an opposite
direction to what they do when they go to sleep. Cold water or air
produces the same effect as does shaking. The little leaflets are not
in the least affected by the plant being shaken or syringed. I have no
doubt, from various facts, that the downward movement of the terminal
leaflets and petioles from shaking and syringing is to save them from
injury from warm rain.
3. The axis, the main petiole, and the terminal leaflets are all,
when the temperature is high, in constant movement, just like that of
climbing plants. This movement seems to be of no service, any more than
the incessant movement of amoeboid bodies. The movement of the terminal
leaflets, though insensible to the eye, is exactly the same as that of
the little lateral leaflets--viz. from side to side, up and down,
and half round their own axes. The only difference is that the little
leaflets move to a much greater extent, and perhaps more rapidly; and
they are excited into movement by warm water, which is not the case with
the terminal leaflet. Why the little leaflets, which are rudimentary in
size and have lost their sleep-movements and their movements from
being shaken, should not only have retained, but have their spontaneous
movements exaggerated, I cannot conceive. It is hardly credible that
it is a case of compensation. All this makes me very anxious to examine
some plant (if possible one of the Leguminosae) with either the terminal
or lateral leaflets greatly reduced in size, in comparison with the
other leaflets on the same leaf. Can you or any of your colleagues think
of any such plant? It is indirectly on this account that I so much want
the seeds of Lathyrus nissolia.
I hear from Frank that you think that the absence of both lateral
leaflets, or of one alone, is due to their having dropped off; I thought
so at first, and examined extremely young leaves from the tips of the
shoots, and some of them presented the same characters. Some appearances
make me think that they abort by becoming confluent with the main
petiole.
I hear also that you doubt about the little leaflets ever standing not
opposite to each other: pray look at the enclosed old leaf which
has been for a time in spirits, and can you call the little leaflets
opposite? I have seen many such cases on both my plants, though few so
well marked.
LETTER 719. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, October 23rd [1873].
How good you have been about the plants; but indeed I did not intend
you to write about Drosophyllum, though I shall be very glad to have
a specimen. Experiments on other plants lead to fresh experiments.
Neptunia is evidently a hopeless case. I shall be very glad of the other
plants whenever they are ready. I constantly fear that I shall become to
you a giant of bores.
I am delighted to hear that you are at work on Nepenthes, and I hope
that you will have good luck. It is good news that the fluid is acid;
you ought to collect a good lot and have the acid analysed. I hope
that the work will give you as much pleasure as analogous work has me.
(719/1. Hooker's work on Nepenthes is referred to in "Insectivorous
Plants," page 97: see also his address at the Belfast meeting of the
British Association, 1874.) I do not think any discovery gave me more
pleasure than proving a true act of digestion in Drosera.
LETTER 720. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, November 24th, 1873.
I have been greatly interested by Mimosa albida, on which I have been
working hard. Whilst your memory is pretty fresh, I want to ask a
question. When this plant was most sensitive, and you irritated it, did
the opposite leaflets shut up quite close, as occurs during sleep, when
even a lancet could not be inserted between the leaflets? I can never
cause the leaflets to come into contact, and some reasons make me doubt
whether they ever do so except during sleep; and this makes me wish much
to hear from you. I grieve to say that the plant looks more unhealthy,
even, than it was at Kew. I have nursed it like the tenderest infant;
but I was forced to cut off one leaf to try the bloom, and one was
broken by the manner of packing. I have never syringed (with tepid
water) more than one leaf per day; but if it dies, I shall feel like a
murderer. I am pretty well convinced that I shall make out my case of
movements as a protection against rain lodging on the leaves. As far as
I have as yet made out, M. albida is a splendid case.
I have had no time to examine more than one species of Eucalyptus. The
seedlings of Lathyrus nissolia are very interesting to me; and there is
something wonderful about them, unless seeds of two distinct leguminous
species have got somehow mingled together.
LETTER 721. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, December 4th, 1873.
As Hooker is so busy, I should be very much obliged if you could give
me the name of the enclosed poor specimen of Cassia. I want much to
know its name, as its power of movement, when it goes to sleep, is very
remarkable. Linnaeus, I find, was aware of this. It twists each separate
leaflet almost completely round (721/1. See "Power of Movement in
Plants," Figure 154, page 370.), so that the lower surface faces the
sky, at the same time depressing them all. The terminal leaflets are
pointed towards the base of the leaf. The whole leaf is also raised
up about 12 deg. When I saw that it possessed such complex powers of
movement, I thought it would utilise its power to protect the leaflets
from rain. Accordingly I syringed the plant for two minutes, and it was
really beautiful to see how each leaflet on the younger leaves twisted
its short sub-petiole, so that the blade was immediately directed at
an angle between 45 and 90 deg to the horizon. I could not resist the
pleasure of just telling you why I want to know the name of the Cassia.
I should add that it is a greenhouse plant. I suppose that there will
not be any better flowers till next summer or autumn.
LETTER 722. TO T. BELT.
(722/1. Belt's account, discussed in this letter, is probably that
published in his "Naturalist in Nicaragua" (1874), where he describes
"the relation between the presence of honey-secreting glands on plants,
and the protection to the latter secured by the attendance of ants
attracted by the honey." (Op. cit., pages 222 et seq.))
Thursday [1874?].
Your account of the ants and their relations seems to me to possess
extraordinary interest. I do not doubt that the excretion of sweet fluid
by the glands is in your cases of great advantage to the plants by means
of the ants, but I cannot avoid believing that primordially it is a
simple excretion, as occasionally occurs from the surface of the leaves
of lime trees. It is quite possible that the primordial excretion may
have been beneficially increased to serve the plant. In the common
laurel [Prunus laurocerasus] of our gardens the hive-bees visit
incessantly the glands of the young leaves, on their under sides; and I
should altogether doubt whether their visits or the occasional visits of
ants was of any service to the laurel. The stipules of the common vetch
secrete largely during sunshine, and hive-bees collect the sweet fluid.
So I think it is with the common bean.
I am writing this away from home, and I have come away to get some rest,
having been a good deal overworked. I shall read your book with great
interest when published, but will not trouble you to send the MS., as I
really have no spare strength or time. I believe that your book, judging
by the chapter sent, will be extremely valuable.
LETTER 723. TO J.D. HOOKER.
(723/1. The following letter refers to Darwin's prediction as to the
manner in which Hedychium (Zinziberaceae) is fertilised. Sir J.D. Hooker
seems to have made inquiries in India in consequence of which
Darwin received specimens of the moth which there visits the flower,
unfortunately so much broken as to be useless (see "Life and Letters,"
III., page 284).)
Down, March 25th [1874].
I am glad to hear about the Hedychium, and how soon you have got an
answer! I hope that the wings of the Sphinx will hereafter prove to
be bedaubed with pollen, for the case will then prove a fine bit of
prophecy from the structure of a flower to special and new means of
fertilisation.
By the way, I suppose you have noticed what a grand appearance the plant
makes when the green capsules open, and display the orange and crimson
seeds and interior, so as to attract birds, like the pale buff flowers
to attract dusk-flying lepidoptera. I presume you do not want seeds of
this plant, as I have plenty from artificial fertilisation.
(723/2. In "Nature," June 22nd, 1876, page 173, Hermann Muller
communicated F. Muller's observation on the fertilisation of a
bright-red-flowered species of Hedychium, which is visited by
Callidryas, chiefly the males of C. Philea. The pollen is carried by the
tips of the butterfly's wing, to which it is temporarily fixed by the
slimy layer produced by the degeneration of the anther-wall.
LETTER 724. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, June 4th [1874].
I am greatly obliged to you about the Opuntia, and shall be glad if you
can remember Catalpa. I wish some facts on the action of water, because
I have been so surprised at a stream not acting on Dionoea and Drosera.
(724/1. See Pfeffer, "Untersuchungen Bot. Inst. zu Tubingen," Bd.
I., 1885, page 518. Pfeffer shows that in some cases--Drosera, for
instance--water produces movement only when it contains fine particles
in suspension. According to Pfeffer the stamens of Berberis, and the
stigma of Mimulus, are both stimulated by gelatine, the action of which
is, generally speaking, equivalent to that of water.) Water does not
act on the stamens of Berberis, but it does on the stigma of Mimulus.
It causes the flowers of the bedding-out Mesembryanthemum and Drosera
to close, but it has not this effect on Gazania and the daisy, so I can
make out no rule.
I hope you are going on with Nepenthes; and if so, you will perhaps like
to hear that I have just found out that Pinguicula can digest albumen,
gelatine, etc. If a bit of glass or wood is placed on a leaf, the
secretion is not increased; but if an insect or animal-matter is thus
placed, the secretion is greatly increased and becomes feebly acid,
which was not the case before. I have been astonished and much disturbed
by finding that cabbage seeds excite a copious secretion, and am now
endeavouring to discover what this means. (724/2. Clearly it had not
occurred to Darwin that seeds may supply nitrogenous food as well as
insects: see "Insectivorous Plants," page 390.) Probably in a few days'
time I shall have to beg a little information from you, so I will write
no more now.
P.S. I heard from Asa Gray a week ago, and he tells me a beautiful fact:
not only does the lid of Sarracenia secrete a sweet fluid, but there
is a line or trail of sweet exudation down to the ground so as to tempt
insects up. (724/3. A dried specimen of Sarracenia, stuffed with cotton
wool, was sometimes brought from his study by Mr. Darwin, and made the
subject of a little lecture to visitors of natural history tastes.)
LETTER 725. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, June 23rd, 1874.
I wrote to you about a week ago, thanking you for information on cabbage
seeds, asking you the name of Luzula or Carex, and on some other points;
and I hope before very long to receive an answer. You must now, if you
can, forgive me for being very troublesome, for I am in that state in
which I would sacrifice friend or foe. I have ascertained that bits
of certain leaves, for instance spinach, excite much secretion in
Pinguicula, and that the glands absorb matter from the leaves. Now this
morning I have received a lot of leaves from my future daughter-in-law
in North Wales, having a surprising number of captured insects on them,
a good many leaves, and two seed-capsules. She informs me that the
little leaves had excited secretion; and my son and I have ascertained
this morning that the protoplasm in the glands beneath the little leaves
has undoubtedly undergone aggregation. Therefore, absurd as it
may sound, I am prepared to affirm that Pinguicula is not only
insectivorous, but graminivorous, and granivorous! Now I want to beg you
to look under the simple microscope at the enclosed leaves and seeds,
and, if you possibly can, tell me their genera. The little narrow leaves
are remarkable (725/1. Those of Erica tetralix.); they are fleshy, with
the edges much curled from the axis of the plant, and bear a few long
glandular hairs; these grow in little tufts. These are the commonest in
Pinguicula, and seem to afford most nutritious matter. A second leaf is
like a miniature sycamore. With respect to the seeds, I suppose that
one is a Carex; the other looks like that of Rumex, but is enclosed in a
globular capsule. The Pinguicula grew on marshy, low, mountainous land.
I hope you will think this subject sufficiently interesting to make you
willing to aid me as far as you can. Anyhow, forgive me for being so
very troublesome.
LETTER 726. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, August 30th [1874].
I am particularly obliged for your address. (726/1. Presidential address
(Biological Section) at the Belfast meeting of the British Association,
1874.) It strikes me as quite excellent, and has interested me in the
highest degree. Nor is this due to my having worked at the subject, for
I feel sure that I should have been just as much struck, perhaps more
so, if I had known nothing about it. You could not, in my opinion, have
put the case better. There are several lights (besides the facts) in
your essay new to me, and you have greatly honoured me. I heartily
congratulate you on so splendid a piece of work. There is a misprint at
page 7, Mitschke for Nitschke. There is a partial error at page 8, where
you say that Drosera is nearly indifferent to organic substances. This
is much too strong, though they do act less efficiently than organic
with soluble nitrogenous matter; but the chief difference is in the
widely different period of subsequent re-expansion. Thirdly, I did not
suggest to Sanderson his electrical experiments, though, no doubt, my
remarks led to his thinking of them.
Now for your letter: you are very generous about Dionoea, but some of
my experiments will require cutting off leaves, and therefore injuring
plants. I could not write to Lady Dorothy [Nevill]. Rollisson says that
they expect soon a lot from America. If Dionoea is not despatched, have
marked on address, "to be forwarded by foot-messenger."
Mrs. Barber's paper is very curious, and ought to be published (726/2.
Mrs. Barber's paper on the pupa of Papilio Nireus assuming different
tints corresponding to the objects to which it was attached, was
communicated by Mr. Darwin to the "Trans. Entomolog. Soc." 1874.); but
when you come here (and REMEMBER YOU OFFERED TO COME) we will consult
where to send it. Let me hear when you recommence on Cephalotus or
Sarracenia, as I think I am now on right track about Utricularia, after
wasting several weeks in fruitless trials and observations. The negative
work takes five times more time than the positive.
LETTER 727. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, September 18th [1874].
I have had a splendid day's work, and must tell you about it.
Lady Dorothy sent me a young plant of U[tricularia] montana (727/1. See
"Life and Letters," III., page 327, and "Insectivorous Plants," page
431.), which I fancy is the species you told me of. The roots or
rhizomes (for I know not which they are; I can see no scales or
internodes or absorbent hairs) bear scores of bladders from 1/20 to
1/100 of an inch in diameter; and I traced these roots to the depth of 1
1/2 in. in the peat and sand. The bladders are like glass, and have the
same essential structure as those of our species, with the exception
that many exterior parts are aborted. Internally the structure is
perfect, as is the minute valvular opening into the bladder, which is
filled with water. I then felt sure that they captured subterranean
insects, and after a time I found two with decayed remnants, with clear
proof that something had been absorbed, which had generated protoplasm.
When you are here I shall be very curious to know whether they are roots
or rhizomes.
Besides the bladders there are great tuber-like swellings on the
rhizomes; one was an inch in length and half in breadth. I suppose
these must have been described. I strongly suspect that they serve as
reservoirs for water. (727/2. The existence of water-stores is quite
in accordance with the epiphytic habit of the plant.) But I shall
experimentise on this head. A thin slice is a beautiful object, and
looks like coarsely reticulated glass.
If you have an old plant which could be turned out of its pot (and can
spare the time), it would be a great gain to me if you would tear off a
bit of the roots near the bottom, and shake them well in water, and see
whether they bear these minute glass-like bladders. I should also much
like to know whether old plants bear the solid bladder-like bodies near
the upper surface of the pot. These bodies are evidently enlargements
of the roots or rhizomes. You must forgive this long letter, and
make allowance for my delight at finding this new sub-group of
insect-catchers. Sir E. Tennent speaks of an aquatic species of
Utricularia in Ceylon, which has bladders on its roots, and rises
annually to the surface, as he says, by this means. (727/3. Utricularia
stellaris. Emerson Tennent's "Ceylon," Volume I., page 124, 1859.)
We shall be delighted to see you here on the 26th; if you will let us
know your train we will send to meet you. You will have to work like a
slave while you are here.
LETTER 728. TO J. JENNER WEIR.
(728/1. In 1870 Mr. Jenner Weir wrote to Darwin: "My brother has but
two kinds of laburnum, viz., Cytisus purpureus, very erect, and Cytisus
alpinus, very pendulous. He has several stocks of the latter grafted
with the purple one; and this year, the grafts being two years old,
I saw in one, fairly above the stock, about four inches, a raceme of
purely yellow flowers with the usual dark markings, and above them a
bunch of purely purple flowers; the branches of the graft in no way
showed an intermediate character, but had the usual rigid growth of
purpureus."
Early in July 1875, when Darwin was correcting a new edition of
"Variation under Domestication," he again corresponded with Mr. Weir on
the subject.)
Down, July 8th [1875].
I thank you cordially. The case interests me in a higher degree than
anything which I have heard for a very long time. Is it your brother
Harrison W., whom I know? I should like to hear where the garden is.
There is one other very important point which I am most anxious to
hear--viz., the nature of the leaves at the base of the yellow racemes,
for leaves are always there produced with the yellow laburnums, and I
suppose so in the case of C. purpureus. As the tree has produced yellow
racemes several times, do you think you could ask your brother to cut
off and send me by post in a box a small branch of the purple stock with
the pods or leaves of the yellow sport? (728/2. "The purple stock" here
means the supposed C. purpureus, on which a yellow-flowered branch was
borne.) This would be an immense favour, for then I would cut the point
of junction longitudinally and examine slice under the microscope, to be
able to state no trace of bud of yellow kind having been inserted. I do
not suspect anything of the kind, but it is sure to be said that your
brother's gardener, either by accident or fraud, inserted a bud. Under
this point of view it would be very good to gather from your brother how
many times the yellow sport has appeared. The case appears to me so
very important as to be worth any trouble. Very many thanks for all
assistance so kindly given.
I will of course send a copy of new edition of "Variation under
Domestication" when published in the autumn.
LETTER 729. TO J. JENNER WEIR.
(729/1. On July 9th Mr. Weir wrote to say that a branch of the Cytisus
had been despatched to Down. The present letter was doubtless
written after Darwin had examined the specimen. In "Variation under
Domestication," Edition II., Volume I., page 417, note, he gives for a
case recorded in the "Gardeners' Chronicle" in 1857 the explanation here
offered (viz. that the graft was not C. purpureus but C. Adami), and
adds, "I have ascertained that this occurred in another instance." This
second instance is doubtless Mr. Weir's.)
Down, July 10th, 1875.
I do not know how to thank you enough; pray give also my thanks and kind
remembrances to your brother. I am sure you will forgive my expressing
my doubts freely, as I well know that you desire the truth more than
anything else. I cannot avoid the belief that some nurseryman has sold
C[ytisus] Adami to your brother in place of the true C. purpureus. The
latter is a little bush only 3 feet high (Loudon), and when I read your
account, it seemed to me a physical impossibility that a sporting branch
of C. alpinus could grow to any size and be supported on the extremely
delicate branches of C. purpureus. If I understand rightly your letter,
you consider the tuft of small shoots on one side of the sporting C.
alpinus from Weirleigh as C. purpureus; but these shoots are certainly
those of C. Adami. I earnestly beg you to look at the specimens
enclosed. The branch of the true C. purpureus is the largest which
I could find. If C. Adami was sold to your brother as C. purpureus,
everything is explained; for then the gardener has grafted C. Adami on
C. alpinus, and the former has sported in the usual manner; but has not
sported into C. purpureus, only into C. alpinus. C. Adami does not sport
less frequently into C. purpureus than into C. alpinus. Are the purple
flowers borne on moderately long racemes? If so, the plant is certainly
C. Adami, for the true C. purpureus bears flowers close to the branches.
I am very sorry to be so troublesome, but I am very anxious to hear
again from you.
C. purpureus bears "flowers axillary, solitary, stalked."
P.S.--I think you said that the purple [tree] at Weirleigh does not
seed, whereas the C. purpureus seeds freely, as you may see in enclosed.
C. Adami never produces seeds or pods.
LETTER 730. TO E. HACKEL.
(730/1. The following extract refers to Darwin's book on "Cross and
Self-Fertilisation.")
November 13th, 1875.
I am now busy in drawing up an account of ten years' experiments in the
growth and fertility of plants raised from crossed and self-fertilised
flowers. It is really wonderful what an effect pollen from a distinct
seedling plant, which has been exposed to different conditions of life,
has on the offspring in comparison with pollen from the same flower or
from a distinct individual, but which has been long subjected to the
same conditions. The subject bears on the very principle of life, which
seems almost to require changes in the conditions.
LETTER 731. TO G.J. ROMANES.
(731/1. The following extract from a letter to Romanes refers to Francis
Darwin's paper, "Experiments on the Nutrition of Drosera rotundifolia."
"Linn. Soc. Journ." [1878], published 1880, page 17.)
August 9th [1876].
The second point which delights me, seeing that half a score of
botanists throughout Europe have published that the digestion of meat by
plants is of no use to them (a mere pathological phenomenon, as one man
says!), is that Frank has been feeding under exactly similar conditions
a large number of plants of Drosera, and the effect is wonderful. On
the fed side the leaves are much larger, differently coloured, and more
numerous; flower-stalks taller and more numerous, and I believe far
more seed capsules,--but these not yet counted. It is particularly
interesting that the leaves fed on meat contain very many more starch
granules (no doubt owing to more protoplasm being first formed); so that
sections stained with iodine, of fed and unfed leaves, are to the naked
eye of very different colours.
There, I have boasted to my heart's content, and do you do the same, and
tell me what you have been doing.
LETTER 732. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, October 25th [1876].
If you can put the following request into any one's hands pray do so;
but if not, ignore my request, as I know how busy you are.
I want any and all plants of Hoya examined to see if any imperfect
flowers like the one enclosed can be found, and if so to send them to
me, per post, damp. But I especially want them as young as possible.
They are very curious. I have examined some sent me from Abinger (732/1.
Lord Farrer's house.), but they were a month or two too old, and every
trace of pollen and anthers had disappeared or had never been developed.
Yet a very fine pod with apparently good seed had been formed by one
such flower. (732/2. The seeds did not germinate; see the account of
Hoya carnosa in "Forms of Flowers," page 331.)
LETTER 733. TO G.J. ROMANES.
(733/1. Published in the "Life of Romanes," page 62.)
Down, August 10th [1877].
When I went yesterday I had not received to-day's "Nature," and I
thought that your lecture was finished. (733/2. Abstract of a lecture
on "Evolution of Nerves and Nervo-Systems," delivered at the Royal
Institution, May 25th, 1877. "Nature," July 19th, August 2nd, August
9th, 1877.) This final part is one of the grandest essays which I ever
read.
It was very foolish of me to demur to your lines of conveyance like the
threads in muslin (733/3. "Nature," August 2nd, page 271.), knowing how
you have considered the subject: but still I must confess I cannot feel
quite easy. Everyone, I suppose, thinks on what he has himself seen, and
with Drosera, a bit of meat put on any one gland on its disc causes
all the surrounding tentacles to bend to this point, and here there can
hardly be differentiated lines of conveyance. It seems to me that the
tentacles probably bend to that point wherever a molecular wave strikes
them, which passes through the cellular tissue with equal ease in all
directions in this particular case. (733/4. Speaking generally, the
transmission takes place more readily in the longitudinal direction than
across the leaf: see "Insectivorous Plants," page 239.) But what a fine
case that of the Aurelia is! (733/5. Aurelia aurita, one of the medusae.
"Nature," pages 269-71.)
LETTER 734. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. 6, Queen Anne Street [December 1876].
Tell Hooker I feel greatly aggrieved by him: I went to the Royal Society
to see him for once in the chair of the Royal, to admire his dignity and
enjoy it, and lo and behold, he was not there. My outing gave me much
satisfaction, and I was particularly glad to see Mr. Bentham, and to see
him looking so wonderfully well and young. I saw lots of people, and it
has not done me a penny's worth of harm, though I could not get to sleep
till nearly four o'clock.
LETTER 735. TO D. OLIVER. Down, October, 13th [1876?].
You must be a clair-voyant or something of that kind to have sent me
such useful plants. Twenty-five years ago I described in my father's
garden two forms of Linum flavum (thinking it a case of mere variation);
from that day to this I have several times looked, but never saw the
second form till it arrived from Kew. Virtue is never its own reward:
I took paper this summer to write to you to ask you to send me flowers,
[so] that I might beg plants of this Linum, if you had the other form,
and refrained, from not wishing to trouble you. But I am now sorry
I did, for I have hardly any doubt that L. flavum never seeds in any
garden that I have seen, because one form alone is cultivated by slips.
(735/1. Id est, because, the plant being grown from slips, one form
alone usually occurs in any one garden. It is also arguable that it is
grown by slips because only one form is common, and therefore seedlings
cannot be raised.)
(736/1. The following five letters refer to Darwin's work on "bloom"--a
subject on which he did not live to complete his researches:--
One of his earliest letters on this subject was addressed in August,
1873, to Sir Joseph Hooker (736/2. Published in "Life and Letters,"
III., page 339.):
"I want a little information from you, and if you do not yourself know,
please to enquire of some of the wise men of Kew.
"Why are the leaves and fruit of so many plants protected by a thin
layer of waxy matter (like the common cabbage), or with fine hair, so
that when such leaves or fruit are immersed in water they appear as if
encased in thin glass? It is really a pretty sight to put a pod of the
common pea, or a raspberry, into water. I find several leaves are thus
protected on the under surface and not on the upper.
"How can water injure the leaves, if indeed this is at all the case?"
On this latter point Darwin wrote to the late Lord Farrer:
"I am now become mad about drops of water injuring leaves. Please ask
Mr. Payne (736/3. Lord Farrer's gardener.) whether he believes, FROM
HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, that drops of water injure leaves or fruit in his
conservatories. It is said that the drops act as burning-glasses; if
this is true, they would not be at all injurious on cloudy days. As
he is so acute a man, I should very much like to hear his opinion. I
remember when I grew hothouse orchids I was cautioned not to wet their
leaves; but I never then thought on the subject."
The next letter, though of later date than some which follow it, is
printed here because it briefly sums his results and serves as guide to
the letters dealing with the subject.)
LETTER 736. TO W. THISELTON-DYER.
(736/4. Published in "Life and Letters," III., page 341.)
Down, September 5th [1877].
One word to thank you. I declare, had it not been for your kindness,
we should have broken down. As it is we have made out clearly that with
some plants (chiefly succulent) the bloom checks evaporation--with
some certainly prevents attacks of insects; with SOME sea-shore plants
prevents injury from salt water, and, I believe, with a few prevents
injury from pure water resting on the leaves. This latter is as yet
the most doubtful and the most interesting point in relation to the
movements of plants.
(736/5. Modern research, especially that of Stahl on transpiration
("Bot. Zeitung," 1897, page 71) has shown that the question is more
complex than it appeared in 1877. Stahl's point of view is that moisture
remaining on a leaf checks the transpiration-current; and by thus
diminishing the flow of mineral nutriment interferes with the process of
assimilation. Stahl's idea is doubtless applicable to the whole problem
of bloom on leaves. For other references to bloom see letters 685, 689
and 693.)
LETTER 737. TO J.D. HOOKER. Down, August 19th, 1873.
The next time you walk round the garden ask Mr. Smith (737/1. Probably
John Smith (1798-1888), for some years Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew.), or
any of your best men, what they think about injury from watering during
sunshine. One of your men--viz., Mr. Payne, at Abinger, who seems very
acute--declares that you may water safely any plant out of doors in
sunshine, and that you may do the same for plants under glass if the
sashes are opened. This seems to me very odd, but he seems positive
on the point, and acts on it in raising splendid grapes. Another good
gardener maintains that it is only COLD water dripping often on the
same point of a leaf that ever injures it. I am utterly perplexed, but
interested on the point. Give me what you learn when you come to Down.
I should like to hear what plants are believed to be most injured by
being watered in sunshine, so that I might get such.
I expect that I shall be utterly beaten, as on so many other points;
but I intend to make a few experiments and observations. I have already
convinced myself that drops of water do NOT act as burning lenses.
LETTER 738. TO J.D. HOOKER. December 20th [1873].
I find that it is no use going on with my experiments on the evil
effects of water on bloom-divested leaves. Either I erred in the early
autumn or summer in some incomprehensible manner, or, as I suspect to be
the case, water is only injurious to leaves when there is a good supply
of actinic rays. I cannot believe that I am all in the wrong about the
movements of the leaves to shoot off water.
The upshot of all this is that I want to keep all the plants from Kew
until the spring or early summer, as it is mere waste of time going on
at present.
LETTER 739. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, July 22nd [1877].
Many thanks for seeds of the Malva and information about Averrhoa, which
I perceived was sensitive, as A. carambola is said to be; and about
Mimosa sensitiva. The log-wood [Haematoxylon] has interested me much.
The wax is very easily removed, especially from the older leaves, and I
found after squirting on the leaves with water at 95 deg, all the older
leaves became coated, after forty-eight hours, in an astonishing manner
with a black Uredo, so that they looked as if sprinkled with soot and
water. But not one of the younger leaves was affected. This has set
me to work to see whether the "bloom" is not a protection against
parasites. As soon as I have ascertained a little more about the case
(and generally I am quite wrong at first) I will ask whether I could
have a very small plant, which should never be syringed with water above
60 deg, and then I suspect the leaves would not be spotted, as were the
older ones on the plant, when it arrived from Kew, but nothing like what
they were after my squirting.
In an old note of yours (which I have just found) you say that you have
a sensitive Schrankia: could this be lent me?
I have had lent me a young Coral-tree (Erythrina), which is very sickly,
yet shows odd sleep movements. I suppose I could buy one, but Hooker
told me first to ask you for anything.
Lastly, have you any seaside plants with bloom? I find that drops of
sea-water corrode sea-kale if bloom is removed; also the var. littorum
of Triticum repens. (By the way, my plants of the latter, grown in pots
here, are now throwing up long flexible green blades, and it is very odd
to see, ON THE SAME CULM, the rigid grey bloom-covered blades and the
green flexible ones.) Cabbages, ill-luck to them, do not seem to be
hurt by salt water. Hooker formerly told me that Salsola kali, a var. of
Salicornia, one species of Suaeda, Euphorbia peplis, Lathyrus maritimus,
Eryngium maritimum, were all glaucous and seaside plants. It is very
improbable that you have any of these or of foreigners with the same
attributes.
God forgive me: I hope that I have not bored you greatly.
By all the rules of right the leaves of the logwood ought to move (as if
partially going to sleep) when syringed with tepid water. The leaves
of my little plant do not move at all, and it occurs to me as possible,
though very improbable, that it would be different with a larger plant
with perhaps larger leaves. Would you some day get a gardener to syringe
violently, with water kept in a hothouse, a branch on one of your
largest logwood plants and observe [whether?] leaves move together
towards the apex of leaf?
By the way, what astonishing nonsense Mr. Andrew Murray has been
writing about leaves and carbonic acid! I like to see a man behaving
consistently...
What a lot I have scribbled to you!
(FIGURE 13. Leaf of Trifolium resupinatum (from a drawing by Miss
Pertz).)
LETTER 740. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. [August, 1877.]
There is no end to my requests. Can you spare me a good plant (or even
two) of Oxalis sensitiva? The one which I have (formerly from Kew) has
been so maltreated that I dare not trust my results any longer.
Please give the enclosed to Mr. Lynch. (740/1. Mr. Lynch, now Curator
of the Cambridge Botanic Garden, was at this time in the R. Bot. Garden,
Kew. Mr. Lynch described the movements of Averrhoa bilimbi in the "Linn.
Soc. Journ," Volume XVI., page 231. See also "The Power of Movement in
Plants," page 330.) The spontaneous movements of the Averrhoa are very
curious.
You sent me seeds of Trifolium resupinatum, and I have raised plants,
and some former observations which I did not dare to trust have proved
accurate. It is a very little fact, but curious. The half of the lateral
leaflets (marked by a cross) on the lower side have no bloom and are
wetted, whereas the other half has bloom and is not wetted, so that the
two sides look different to the naked eye. The cells of the eipdermis
appear of a different shape and size on the two sides of the leaf
[Figure 13].
When we have drawings and measurements of cells made, and are sure of
our facts, I shall ask you whether you know of any case of the same leaf
differing histologically on the two sides, for Hooker always says you
are a wonderful man for knowing what has been made out.
(740/2. The biological meaning of the curious structure of the leaves of
Trifolium resupinatum remains a riddle. The stomata and (speaking from
memory) the trichomes differ on the two halves of the lateral leaflets.)
LETTER 741. TO L. ERRERA.
(741/1. Professor L. Errera, of Brussels wrote, as a student, to Darwin,
asking permission to send the MS. of an essay by his friend S. Gevaert
and himself on cross and self-fertilisation, and which was afterwards
published in the "Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg." XVII., 1878. The terms
xenogamy, geitonogamy, and autogamy were first suggested by Kerner in
1876; their definition will be found at page 9 of Ogle's translation
of Kerner's "Flowers and their Unbidden Guests," 1878. In xenogamy the
pollen comes from another PLANT; in geitonogamy from another FLOWER
on the same PLANT; in autogamy from the androecium of the fertilised
FLOWER. Allogamy embraces xenogamy and geitonogamy.)
Down, October 4th, 1877.
I have now read your MS. The whole has interested me greatly, and
is very clearly written. I wish that I had used some such terms as
autogamy, xenogamy, etc...I entirely agree with you on the a priori
probability of geitonogamy being more advantageous than autogamy; and
I cannot remember having ever expressed a belief that autogamy, as a
general rule, was better than geitonogamy; but the cases recorded by
me seem too strong not to make me suspect that there was some unknown
advantage in autogamy. In one place I insert the caution "if this
be really the case," which you quote. (741/2. See "Cross and
Self-Fertilisation," pages 352, 386. The phrase referred to occurs in
both passages; that on page 386 is as follows: "We have also seen reason
to suspect that self-fertilisation is in some peculiar manner beneficial
to certain plants; but if this be really the case, the benefit thus
derived is far more than counterbalanced by a cross with a fresh stock
or with a slightly different variety." Errera and Gevaert conclude
(pages 79-80) that the balance of the available evidence is in favour of
the belief that geitonogamy is intermediate, in effectiveness, between
autogamy and xenogamy.) I shall be very glad to be proved to be
altogether in error on this point.
Accept my thanks for pointing out the bad erratum at page 301. I hope
that you will experimentise on inconspicuous flowers (741/3. See Miss
Bateson, "Annals of Botany," 1888, page 255, "On the Cross-Fertilisation
of Inconspicuous Flowers:" Miss Bateson showed that Senecio vulgaris
clearly profits by cross-fertilisation; Stellaria media and Capsella
bursa-pastoris less certainly.); if I were not too old and too much
occupied I would do so myself.
Finally let me thank you for the kind manner in which you refer to my
work, and with cordial good wishes for your success...
LETTER 742. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, October 9th, 1877.
One line to thank you much about Mertensia. The former plant has begun
to make new leaves, to my great surprise, so that I shall be now well
supplied. We have worked so well with the Averrhoa that unless the
second species arrives in a very good state it would be superfluous to
send it. I am heartily glad that you and Mrs. Dyer are going to have
a holiday. I will look at you as a dead man for the next month, and
nothing shall tempt me to trouble you. But before you enter your grave
aid me if you can. I want seeds of three or four plants (not Leguminosae
or Cruciferae) which produce large cotyledons. I know not in the least
what plants have large cotyledons. Why I want to know is as follows: The
cotyledons of Cassia go to sleep, and are sensitive to a touch; but what
has surprised me much is that they are in constant movement up and down.
So it is with the cotyledons of the cabbage, and therefore I am very
curious to ascertain how far this is general.
LETTER 743. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, October 11th [1877].
The fine lot of seeds arrived yesterday, and are all sown, and will be
most useful. If you remember, pray thank Mr. Lynch for his aid. I had
not thought of beech or sycamore, but they are now sown.
Perhaps you may like to see a rough copy of the tracing of movements
of one of the cotyledons of red cabbage, and you can throw it into
the fire. A line joining the two cotyledons stood facing a north-east
window, and the day was uniformly cloudy. A bristle was gummed to one
cotyledon, and beyond it a triangular bit of card was fixed, and in
front a vertical glass. A dot was made in the glass every quarter or
half hour at the point where the end of the bristle and the apex of card
coincided, and the dots were joined by straight lines. The observations
were from 10 a.m. to 8.45 p.m. During this time the enclosed figure was
described; but between 4 p.m. and 5.38 p.m. the cotyledon moved so that
the prolonged line was beyond the limits of the glass, and the course
is here shown by an imaginary dotted line. The cotyledon of Primula
sinensis moved in closely analogous manner, as do those of a Cassia.
Hence I expect to find such movements very general with cotyledons,
and I am inclined to look at them as the foundation for all the other
adaptive movements of leaves. They certainly are of the so-called sleep
of plants.
I hope I have not bothered you. Do not answer. I am all on fire at the
work.
I have had a short and very prosperous note from Asa Gray, who says
Hooker is very prosperous, and both are tremendously hard at work.
(743/1. "Hooker is coming over, and we are going in summer to the Rocky
Mountains together, according to an old promise of mine." Asa Gray to
G.F. Wright, May 24th, 1877 ("Letters of Asa Gray," II., page 666).)
LETTER 744. TO H. MULLER. Down, January 1st [1878?].
I must write two or three lines to thank you cordially for your very
handsome and very interesting review of my last book in "Kosmos,"
which I have this minute finished. (744/1. "Forms of Flowers," 1877. H.
Muller's article is in "Kosmos," II., page 286.) It is wonderful how you
have picked out everything important in it. I am especially glad that
you have called attention to the parallelism between illegitimate
offspring of heterostyled plants and hybrids. Your previous article in
"Kosmos" seemed to me very important, but for some unknown reason the
german was very difficult, and I was sadly overworked at the time, so
that I could not understand a good deal of it. (744/2. "Kosmos," II.,
pages 11, 128. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 308.) But I
have put it on one side, and when I have to prepare a new edition of my
book I must make it out. It seems that you attribute such cases as that
of the dioecious Rhamnus and your own of Valeriana to the existence of
two forms with larger and smaller flowers. I cannot follow the steps
by which such plants have been rendered dioecious, but when I read your
article with more care I hope I shall understand. (744/3. See "Forms of
Flowers," Edition II., pages 9 and 304. H. Muller's view is briefly that
conspicuous and less conspicuous varieties occurred, and that the former
were habitually visited first by insects; thus the less conspicuous form
would play the part of females and their pollen would tend to become
superfluous. See H. Muller in "Kosmos," II.) If you have succeeded
in explaining this class of cases I shall heartily rejoice, for they
utterly perplexed me, and I could not conjecture what their meaning was.
It is a grievous evil to have no faculty for new languages.
With the most sincere respect and hearty good wishes to you and all your
family for the new year...
P.S.--What interesting papers your wonderful brother has lately been
writing!
LETTER 745. TO W. THISELTON-DYER.
(745/1. This letter refers to the purchase of instruments for the
Jodrell Laboratory in the Royal Gardens, Kew. "The Royal Commission on
Scientific Instruction and the Advancement of Science, commonly spoken
of as the Devonshire Commission, in its fourth Report (1874), page 10,
expressed the opinion that 'it is highly desirable that opportunities
for the pursuit of investigations in Physiological Botany should be
afforded at Kew to those persons who may be inclined to follow that
branch of science.' Effect was given to this recommendation by the
liberality of the late T.J. Phillips-Jodrell, M.A., who built and
equipped the small laboratory, which has since borne his name, at his
own expense. It was completed and immediately brought into use in 1876."
The above is taken from the "Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information," R.
Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1901, page 102, which also gives a list of work
carried out in the laboratory between 1876 and 1900.)
Down, March 14th, 1878.
I have a very strong opinion that it would be the greatest possible
pity if the Phys[iological] Lab., now that it has been built, were
not supplied with as many good instruments as your funds can possibly
afford. It is quite possible that some of them may become antiquated
before they are much or even at all used. But this does not seem to me
any argument at all against getting them, for the Laboratory cannot be
used until well provided; and the mere fact of the instruments being
ready may suggest to some one to use them. You at Kew, as guardians and
promoters of botanical science, will then have done all in your power,
and if your Lab. is not used the disgrace will lie at the feet of the
public. But until bitter experience proves the contrary I will never
believe that we are so backward. I should think the German laboratories
would be very good guides as to what to get; but Timiriazeff of Moscow,
who travelled over Europe to see all Bot. Labs., and who seemed so
good a fellow, would, I should think, give the best list of the most
indispensable instruments. Lately I thought of getting Frank or
Horace to go to Cambridge for the use of the heliostat there; but our
observations turned out of less importance than I thought, yet if there
had been one at Kew we should probably have used it, and might have
found out something curious. It is impossible for me to predict whether
or not we should ever want this or that instrument, for we are guided
in our work by what turns up. Thus I am now observing something about
geotropism, and I had no idea a few weeks ago that this would have been
necessary. In a short time we might earnestly wish for a centrifugal
apparatus or a heliostat. In all such cases it would make a great
difference if a man knew that he could use a particular instrument
without great loss of time. I have now given my opinion, which is very
decided, whether right or wrong, and Frank quite agrees with me. You
can, of course, show this letter to Hooker.
LETTER 746. TO F. LUDWIG. Down, May 29th, 1878.
I thank you sincerely for the trouble which you have taken in sending
me so long and interesting a letter, together with the specimens.
Gradations are always very valuable, and you have been remarkably
successful in discovering the stages by which the Plantago has become
gyno-dioecious. (746/1. See F. Ludwig, "Zeitsch. f. d. Geo. Naturwiss."
Bd. LII., 1879. Professor Ludwig's observations are quoted in the
preface to "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page ix.) Your view of its
origin, from being proterogynous, seems to me very probable, especially
as the females are generally the later-flowering plants. If you can
prove the reverse case with Thymus your view will manifestly be rendered
still more probable. I have never felt satisfied with H. Muller's view,
though he is so careful and admirable an observer. (746/2. See "Forms
of Flowers," Edition II., page 308. Also letter 744.) It is more than
seventeen years since I attended to Plantago, and when nothing had been
published on the subject, and in consequence I omitted to attend to
several points; and now, after so long an interval, I cannot pretend to
say to which of your forms the English one belongs; I well remember that
the anther of the females contained a good deal [of] pollen, though not
one sound grain.
P.S.--Delpino is Professor of Botany in Genoa, Italy (746/3. Now at
Naples.); I have always found him a most obliging correspondent.
LETTER 747. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, August 24th [1878].
Many thanks for seeds of Trifolium resupinatum, which are invaluable to
us. I enclose seeds of a Cassia, from Fritz Muller, and they are well
worth your cultivation; for he says they come from a unique, large and
beautiful tree in the interior, and though looking out for years, he
has never seen another specimen. One of the most splendid, largest and
rarest butterflies in S. Brazil, he has never seen except near this
one tree, and he has just discovered that its caterpillars feed on its
leaves.
I have just been looking at fine young pods beneath the ground of
Arachis. (747/1. Arachis hypogoea, cultivated for its "ground nuts.") I
suppose that the pods are not withdrawn when ripe from the ground;
but should this be the case kindly inform me; if I do not hear I shall
understand that [the] pods ripen and are left permanently beneath the
ground.
If you ever come across heliotropic or apheliotropic aerial roots on
a plant not valuable (but which should be returned), I should like
to observe them. Bignonia capreolata, with its strongly apheliotropic
tendrils (which I had from Kew), is now interesting me greatly. Veitch
tells me it is not on sale in any London nursery, as I applied to him
for some additional plants. So much for business.
I have received from the Geographical Soc. your lecture, and read it
with great interest. (747/2. "On Plant-Distribution as a field for
Geographical Research." "Geog. Soc. Proc." XXII., 1878, page 412.) But
it ought not merely to be read; it requires study. The sole criticism
which I have to make is that parts are too much condensed: but, good
Lord, how rare a fault is this! You do not quote Saporta, I think; and
some of his work on the Tertiary plants would have been useful to you.
In a former note you spoke contemptuously of your lecture: all I can
say is that I never heard any one speak more unjustly and shamefully of
another than you have done of yourself!
LETTER 748. TO H. MULLER. Down, September 20th, 1878.
I am working away on some points in vegetable physiology, but though
they interest me and my son, yet they have none of the fascination which
the fertilisation of flowers possesses. Nothing in my life has ever
interested me more than the fertilisation of such plants as Primula and
Lythrum, or again Anacamptis (748/1. Orchis pyramidalis.) or Listera.
LETTER 749. TO H. MULLER. Down, February 12th [1879].
I have just heard that some misfortune has befallen you, and that you
have been treated shamefully. (749/1. Hermann Muller was accused by
the Ultramontane party of introducing into his school-teaching crude
hypotheses ("unreife Hypothesen"), which were assumed to have a harmful
influence upon the religious sentiments of his pupils. Attempts were
made to bring about Muller's dismissal, but the active hostility of his
opponents, which he met in a dignified spirit, proved futile. ("Prof.
Dr. Hermann Muller von Lippstadt. Ein Gedenkblatt," von Ernst Krause.
"Kosmos," VII., page 393, 1883.)) I grieve deeply to hear this, and as
soon as you can find a few minutes to spare, I earnestly beg you to let
me hear what has happened.
LETTER 750. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON.
(750/1. The following letters refer to two forms of wheat cultivated in
Russia under the names Kubanka and Saxonka, which had been sent to Mr.
Darwin by Dr. Asher from Samara, and were placed in the hands of Mr.
Wilson that he might test the belief prevalent in Russia that Kubanka
"grown repeatedly on inferior soil," assumes "the form of Saxonka." Mr.
Wilson's paper of 1880 gives the results of his inquiry. He concludes
(basing his views partly on analogous cases and partly on his study of
the Russian wheats) that the supposed transformation is explicable in
chief part by the greater fertility of the Saxonka wheat leading to
extermination of the other form. According to Mr. Wilson, therefore,
the Saxonka survivors are incorrectly assumed to be the result of the
conversion of one form into the other.)
Down, April 24th, 1878.
I send you herewith some specimens which may perhaps interest you, as
you have so carefully studied the varieties of wheat. Anyhow, they are
of no use to me, as I have neither knowledge nor time sufficient. They
were sent me by the Governor of the Province of Samara, in Russia, at
the request of Dr. Asher (son of the great Berlin publisher) who farmed
for some years in the province. The specimen marked Kubanka is a very
valuable kind, but which keeps true only when cultivated in fresh
steppe-land in Samara, and in Saratoff. After two years it degenerates
into the variety Saxonica, or its synonym Ghirca. The latter alone is
imported into this country. Dr. Asher says that it is universally known,
and he has himself witnessed the fact, that if grain of the Kubanka is
sown in the same steppe-land for more than two years it changes into
Saxonica. He has seen a field with parts still Kubanka and the remainder
Saxonica. On this account the Government, in letting steppe-land,
contracts that after two years wheat must not be sown until an interval
of eight years. The ears of the two kinds appear different, as you will
see, but the chief difference is in the quality of the grains. Dr. Asher
has witnessed sales of equal weights of Kubanka and Saxonica grain,
and the price of the former was to that of the latter as 7 to 4. The
peasants say that the change commences in the terminal grain of the
ear. The most remarkable point, as Dr. Asher positively asserts, is that
there are no intermediate varieties; but that a grain produces a plant
yielding either true Kubanka or true Saxonica. He thinks that it would
be interesting to sow here both kinds in good and bad wheat soil and
observe the result. Should you think it worth while to make any such
trial, and should you require further information, Dr. Asher, whose
address I enclose, will be happy to give any in his power.
LETTER 751. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON. Basset, Southampton, April 29th
[1878].
Your kind note and specimens have been forwarded to me here, where I
am staying at my son's house for a fortnight's complete rest, which
I required from rather too hard work. For this reason I will not now
examine the seeds, but will wait till returning home, when, with my son
Francis' aid, I will look to them.
I always felt, though without any good reason, rather sceptical about
Prof. Buckman's experiment, and I afterwards heard that a most wicked
and cruel trick had been played on him by some of the agricultural
students at Cirencester, who had sown seeds unknown to him in his
experimental beds. Whether he ever knew this I did not hear.
I am exceedingly glad that you are willing to look into the Russian
wheat case. It may turn out a mare's nest, but I have often incidentally
observed curious facts when making what I call "a fool's experiment."
LETTER 752. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON. Down, March 5th, 1879.
I have just returned home after an absence of a week, and your letter
was not forwarded to me; I mention this to account for my apparent
discourtesy in not having sooner thanked you. You have worked out
the subject with admirable care and clearness, and your drawings are
beautiful. I suspected that there was some error in the Russian belief,
but I did not think of the explanation which you have almost proved
to be the true one. It is an extremely interesting instance of a more
fertile variety beating out a less fertile one, and, in this case, one
much more valuable to man. With respect to publication, I am at a
loss to advise you, for I live a secluded life and do not see many
periodicals, or hear what is done at the various societies. It seems to
me that your paper should be published in some agricultural journal; for
it is not simply scientific, and would therefore not be published by the
Linnean or Royal Societies.
Would the Royal Agricultural Society be a fitting place? Unfortunately
I am not a member, and could not myself present it. Unless you think
of some better journal, there is the "Agricultural Gazette": I have
occasionally suggested articles for publication to the editor (though
personally unknown to me) which he has always accepted.
Permit me again to thank you for the thorough manner in which you have
worked out this case; to kill an error is as good a service as, and
sometimes even better than, the establishing a new truth or fact.
LETTER 753. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON. Down, February 13th, 1880.
It was very kind of you to send me two numbers of the "Gardeners'
Chronicle" with your two articles, which I have read with much interest.
(753/1. "Gardeners' Chronicle," 1879, page 652; 1880, pages 108, 173.)
You have quite convinced me, whatever Mr. Asher may say to the contrary.
I want to ask you a question, on the bare chance of your being able to
answer it, but if you cannot, please do not take the trouble to write.
The lateral branches of the silver fir often grow out into knobs through
the action of a fungus, Aecidium; and from these knobs shoots grow
vertically (753/2. The well-known "Witches-Brooms," or "Hexen-Besen,"
produced by the fungus Aecidium elatinum.) instead of horizontally, like
all the other twigs on the same branch. Now the roots of Cruciferae and
probably other plants are said to become knobbed through the action of
a fungus: now, do these knobs give rise to rootlets? and, if so, do they
grow in a new or abnormal direction? (753/3. The parasite is probably
Plasmodiophora: in this case no abnormal rootlets have been observed, as
far as we know.)
LETTER 754. TO W. THISELTON-DYER. Down, June 18th, 1879.
The plants arrived last night in first-rate order, and it was very very
good of you to take so much trouble as to hunt them up yourself. They
seem exactly what I wanted, and if I fail it will not be for want of
perfect materials. But a confounded painter (I beg his pardon) comes
here to-night, and for the next two days I shall be half dead with
sitting to him; but after then I will begin to work at the plants and
see what I can do, and very curious I am about the results.
I have to thank you for two very interesting letters. I am delighted
to hear, and with surprise, that you care about old Erasmus D. God only
knows what I shall make of his life--it is such new kind of work to me.
(754/1. "Erasmus Darwin." By Ernst Krause. Translated from the German by
W.S. Dallas: with a preliminary notice by Charles Darwin. London, 1879.
See "Life and Letters," III., pages 218-20.)
Thanks for case of sleeping Crotalaria--new to me. I quite agree to
every word you say about Ball's lecture (754/2. "On the Origin of the
Flora of the European Alps," "Geogr. Soc. Proc." Volume I., 1879,
page 564. See Letter 395, Volume II.)--it is, as you say, like Sir W.
Thomson's meteorite. (754/3. In 1871 Lord Kelvin (Presidential Address
Brit. Assoc.) suggested that meteorites, "the moss-grown fragments from
the ruins of another world," might have introduced life to our planet.)
It is really a pity; it is enough to make Geographical Distribution
ridiculous in the eyes of the world. Frank will be interested about the
Auriculas; I never attended to this plant, for the powder did [not] seem
to me like true "bloom." (754/4. See Francis Darwin, on the relation
between "bloom" on leaves and the distribution of the stomata. "Linn.
Soc. Journ." Volume XXII., page 114.) This subject, however, for the
present only, has gone to the dogs with me.
I am sorry to hear of such a struggle for existence at Kew; but I have
often wondered how it is that you are all not killed outright.
I can most fully sympathise with you in your admiration of your little
girl. There is nothing so charming in this world, and we all in this
house humbly adore our grandchild, and think his little pimple of a nose
quite beautiful.
LETTER 755. TO G. BENTHAM. Down, February 16th, 1880.
I have had real pleasure in signing Dyer's certificate. (755/1. As a
candidate for the Royal Society.) It was very kind in you to write to me
about the Orchideae, for it has pleased me to an extreme degree that I
could have been of the least use to you about the nature of the parts.
They are wonderful creatures, these orchids, and I sometimes think with
a glow of pleasure, when I remember making out some little point in
their method of fertilisation. (755/2. Published in "Life and Letters,"
III., page 288.) With respect to terms, no doubt you will be able to
improve them greatly, for I knew nothing about the terms as used in
other groups of plants. Could you not invent some quite new term for
gland, implying viscidity? or append some word to gland. I used for
cirripedes "cement gland."
Your present work must be frightfully difficult. I looked at a few dried
flowers, and could make neither heads nor tails of them; and I well
remember wondering what you would do with them when you came to the
group in the "Genera Plantarum." I heartily wish you safe through your
work,...
LETTER 756. TO F.M. BALFOUR. Down, September 4th, 1880.
I hope that you will not think me a great bore, but I have this minute
finished reading your address at the British Association; and it has
interested me so much that I cannot resist thanking you heartily for the
pleasure derived from it, not to mention the honour which you have done
me. (756/1. Presidential address delivered by Prof. F.M. Balfour before
the Biological Section at the British Association meeting at Swansea
(1880).) The recent progress of embryology is indeed splendid. I have
been very stupid not to have hitherto read your book, but I have had of
late no spare time; I have now ordered it, and your address will make
it the more interesting to read, though I fear that my want of knowledge
will make parts unintelligible to me. (756/2. "A Treatise on Comparative
Embryology," 2 volumes. London, 1880.) In my recent work on plants I
have been astonished to find to how many very different stimuli the
same small part--viz., the tip of the radicle--is sensitive, and has
the power of transmitting some influence to the adjoining part of
the radicle, exciting it to bend to or from the source of irritation
according to the needs of the plant (756/3. See Letter 757.); and all
this takes place without any nervous system! I think that such facts
should be kept in mind when speculating on the genesis of the nervous
system. I always feel a malicious pleasure when a priori conclusions are
knocked on the head: and therefore I felt somewhat like a devil when I
read your remarks on Herbert Spencer (756/4. Prof. Balfour discussed
Mr. Herbert Spencer's views on the genesis of the nervous system, and
expressed the opinion that his hypothesis was not borne out by recent
discoveries. "The discovery that nerves have been developed from
processes of epithelial cells gives a very different conception of their
genesis to that of Herbert Spencer, which makes them originate from
the passage of nervous impulses through a track of mingled colloids..."
(loc. cit., page 644.))...Our recent visit to Cambridge was a brilliant
success to us all, and will ever be remembered by me with much pleasure.
LETTER 757. TO JAMES PAGET.
(757/1. During the closing years of his life, Darwin began to
experimentise on the possibility of producing galls artificially. A
letter to Sir J.D. Hooker (November 3rd, 1880) shows the interest which
he felt in the question:--
"I was delighted with Paget's essay (757/2. An address on "Elemental
Pathology," delivered before the British Medical Association, August
1880, and published in the Journal of the Association.); I hear that
he has occasionally attended to this subject from his youth...I am very
glad he has called attention to galls: this has always seemed to me a
profoundly interesting subject; and if I had been younger would take it
up."
His interest in this subject was connected with his ever-present wish
to learn something of the causes of variation. He imagined to himself
wonderful galls caused to appear on the ovaries of plants, and by these
means he thought it possible that the seed might be influenced, and thus
new varieties arise. (757/3. There would have been great difficulties
about this line of research, for when the sexual organs of plants
are deformed by parasites (in the way he hoped to effect by poisons)
sterility almost always results. See Molliard's "Les Cecidies Florales,"
"Ann. Sci. Nat." 1895, Volume I., page 228.) He made a considerable
number of experiments by injecting various reagents into the tissues of
leaves, and with some slight indications of success. (757/4. The above
passage is reprinted, with alterations, from "Life and Letters," III.,
page 346.)
The following letter to the late Sir James Paget refers to the same
subject.)
Down, November 14th, 1880.
I am very much obliged for your essay, which has interested me greatly.
What indomitable activity you have! It is a surprising thought that the
diseases of plants should illustrate human pathology. I have the German
"Encyclopaedia," and a few weeks ago told my son Francis that the
article on the diseases of plants would be well worth his study; but I
did not know it was written by Dr. Frank, for whom I entertain a high
respect as a first-rate observer and experimentiser, though for some
unknown reason he has been a good deal snubbed in Germany. I can give
you one good case of regrowth in plants, recently often observed by me,
though only externally, as I do not know enough of histology to follow
out details. It is the tip of the radicle of a germinating common bean.
The case is remarkable in some respects, for the tip is sensitive to
various stimuli, and transmits an order, causing the upper part of
the radicle to bend. When the tip (for a length of about 1 mm.) is cut
transversely off, the radicle is not acted on by gravitation or other
irritants, such as contact, etc., etc., but a new tip is regenerated
in from two to four days, and then the radicle is again acted on by
gravitation, and will bend to the centre of the earth. The tip of the
radicle is a kind of brain to the whole growing part of the radicle!
(757/5. We are indebted to Mr. Archer-Hind for the translation of the
following passage from Plato ("Timaeus," 90A): "The reason is every
man's guardian genius (daimon), and has its habitation in our brain; it
is this that raises man (who is a plant, not of earth but of heaven) to
an erect posture, suspending the head and root of us from the heavens,
which are the birthplace of our soul, and keeping all the body upright."
On the perceptions of plants, see "Nature," November 14th, 1901--a
lecture delivered at the Glasgow meeting of the British Association by
Francis Darwin. See also Bonitz, "Index Aristotelicus," S.V. phuton.)
My observation will be published in about a week's time, and I would
have sent you the book, but I do not suppose that there is anything else
in the book which would interest you. I am delighted that you have
drawn attention to galls. They have always seemed to me profoundly
interesting. Many years ago I began (but failed for want of time,
strength, and health, as on infinitely many other occasions) to
experimentise on plants, by injecting into their tissues some alkaloids
and the poison of wasps, to see if I could make anything like galls.
If I remember rightly, in a few cases the tissues were thickened and
hardened. I began these experiments because if by different poisons I
could have affected slightly and differently the tissues of the same
plant, I thought there would be no insuperable difficulty in the fittest
poisons being developed by insects so as to produce galls adapted for
them. Every character, as far as I can see, is apt to vary. Judging from
one of your sentences you will smile at this.
To any one believing in my pangenesis (if such a man exists) there does
not seem to me any extreme difficulty in understanding why plants have
such little power of regeneration; for there is reason to think that
my imaginary gemmules have small power of passing from cell to cell.
(757/6. On regeneration after injury, see Massart, "La Cicatrisation
chez les Vegetaux," in Volume 57 (1898) of the "Memoires Couronnes,"
published by the Royal Academy of Belgium. An account of the literature
is given by the author.)
Forgive me for scribbling at such unreasonable length; but you are to
blame for having interested me so much.
P.S.--Perhaps you may remember that some two years ago you asked me to
lunch with you, and proposed that I should offer myself again. Whenever
I next come to London, I will do so, and thus have the pleasure of
seeing you.
LETTER 758. TO W. THISELTON-DYER.
(758/1. "The Power of Movement in Plants" was published early in
November, 1880. Sir W. Thiselton-Dyer, in writing to thank Darwin for
a copy of the book, had (November 20th) compared a structure in
the seedling Welwitschia with the "peg" of Cucurbita (see "Power
of Movement," page 102). Dyer wrote: "One peculiar feature in the
germinating embryo is a lateral hypocotyledonary process, which
eventually serves as an absorbent organ, by which the nutriment of the
endosperm is conveyed to the seedling. Such a structure was quite new to
me, and Bower and I were disposed to see in it a representative of
the foot in Selaginella, when I saw the account of Flahault's 'peg.'"
Flahault, it should be explained, was the discoverer of the curious
peg in Cucurbita. Prof. Bower wrote a paper ("On the Germination and
Histology of the seedling of Welwitschia mirabilis" in the "Quart.
Journ. Microscop. Sci." XXI., 1881, page 15.)
Down, November 28th [1880].
Very many thanks for your most kind note, but you think too highly of
our work--not but what this is very pleasant.
I am deeply interested about Welwitschia. When at work on the pegs or
projections I could not imagine how they were first developed, before
they could have been of mere mechanical use. Now it seems possible that
a circle between radicle and hypocotyl may be permeable to fluids, and
thus have given rise to projections so as to expose larger surface.
Could you test Welwitschia with permanganate of potassium: if, like my
pegs, the lower surface would be coloured brown like radicle, and upper
surface left white like hypocotyl. If such an idea as yours, of an
absorbing organ, had ever crossed my mind, I would have tried many
hypocotyls in weak citrate of ammonia, to see if it penetrated on line
of junction more easily than elsewhere. I daresay the projection in
Abronia and Mirabilis may be an absorbent organ. It was very good fun
bothering the seeds of Cucurbita by planting them edgeways, as would
never naturally occur, and then the peg could not act properly. Many of
the Germans are very contemptuous about making out use of organs; but
they may sneer the souls out of their bodies, and I for one shall think
it the most interesting part of natural history. Indeed, you are greatly
mistaken if you doubt for one moment on the very great value of your
constant and most kind assistance to us. I have not seen the pamphlet,
and shall be very glad to keep it. Frank, when he comes home, will
be much interested and pleased with your letter. Pray give my kindest
remembrance to Mrs. Dyer.
This is a very untidy note, but I am very tired with dissecting worms
all day. Read the last chapter of our book, and then you will know the
whole contents.
LETTER 759. TO H. VOCHTING. Down, December 16th, 1880.
Absence from home has prevented me from sooner thanking you for your
kind present of your several publications. I procured some time ago your
"Organbilding" (759/1. "Organbildung im Pflanzenreich," 1878.) etc., but
it was too late for me to profit by it for my book, as I was correcting
the press. I read only parts, but my son Francis read the whole with
care and told me much about it, which greatly interested me. I also read
your article in the "Bot. Zeitung." My son began at once experimenting,
to test your views, and this very night will read a paper before the
Linnean Society on the roots of Rubus (759/2. Francis Darwin, "The
Theory of the Growth of Cuttings" ("Linn. Soc. Journ." XVIII.). [I take
this opportunity of expressing my regret that at page 417, owing to
neglect of part of Vochting's facts, I made a criticism of his argument
which cannot be upheld.--F.D.].), and I think that you will be pleased
to find how well his conclusions agree with yours. He will of course
send you a copy of his paper when it is printed. I have sent him your
letter, which will please him if he agrees with me; for your letter has
given me real pleasure, and I did not at all know what the many great
physiologists of Germany, Switzerland, and Holland would think of it
["The Power of Movement," etc.]. I was quite sorry to read Sachs' views
about root-forming matter, etc., for I have an unbounded admiration for
Sachs. In this country we are dreadfully behind in Physiological Botany.
LETTER 760. TO A. DE CANDOLLE. Down, January 24th, 1881.
It was extremely kind of you to write me so long and valuable a
letter, the whole of which deserves careful consideration. I have been
particularly pleased at what you say about the new terms used, because I
have often been annoyed at the multitude of new terms lately invented in
all branches of Biology in Germany; and I doubted much whether I was not
quite as great a sinner as those whom I have blamed. When I read your
remarks on the word "purpose" in your "Phytographie," I vowed that I
would not use it again; but it is not easy to cure oneself of a vicious
habit. It is also difficult for any one who tries to make out the use of
a structure to avoid the word purpose. I see that I have probably gone
beyond my depth in discussing plurifoliate and unifoliate leaves; but
in such a case as that of Mimosa albida, where rudiments of additional
leaflets are present, we must believe that they were well developed in
the progenitor of the plant. So again, when the first true leaf differs
widely in shape from the older leaves, and resembles the older leaves in
allied species, is it not the most simple explanation that such leaves
have retained their ancient character, as in the case of the embryos of
so many animals?
Your suggestion of examining the movements of vertical leaves with an
equal number of stomata on both sides, with reference to the light,
seems to me an excellent one, and I hope that my son Francis may follow
it up. But I will not trouble you with any more remarks about our book.
My son will write to you about the diagram.
Let me add that I shall ever remember with pleasure your visit here last
autumn.
LETTER 761. TO J. LUBBOCK (Lord Avebury). Down, April 16th [1881].
Will you be so kind as to send and lend me the Desmodium gyrans by the
bearer who brings this note.
Shortly after you left I found my notice of the seeds in the "Gardeners'
Chronicle," which please return hereafter, as I have no other copy.
(761/1. "Note on the Achenia of Pumilio argyrolepis." "Gardeners'
Chronicle," 1861, page 4.) I do not think that I made enough about the
great power of absorption of water by the corolla-like calyx or pappus.
It seems to me not unlikely that the pappus of other Compositae may be
serviceable to the seeds, whilst lying on the ground, by absorbing the
dew which would be especially apt to condense on the fine points and
filaments of the pappus. Anyhow, this is a point which might be easily
investigated. Seeds of Tussilago, or groundsel (761/2. It is not clear
whether Tussilago or groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) is meant; or whether
he was not sure which of the two plants becomes slimy when wetted.),
emit worm-like masses of mucus, and it would be curious to ascertain
whether wetting the pappus alone would suffice to cause such secretion.
(761/3. See Letter 707.)
LETTER 762. TO G.J. ROMANES. Down, April 18th, 1881.
I am extremely glad of your success with the flashing light. (762/1.
Romanes' paper on the effect of intermittent light on heliotropism was
the "Proc. Royal Soc." Volume LIV., page 333.) If plants are acted on by
light, like some of the lower animals, there is an additional point of
interest, as it seems to me, in your results. Most botanists believe
that light causes a plant to bend to it in as direct a manner as light
affects nitrate of silver. I believe that it merely tells the plant to
which side to bend, and I see indications of this belief prevailing even
with Sachs. Now it might be expected that light would act on a plant in
something the same manner as on the lower animals. As you are at work on
this subject, I will call your attention to another point. Wiesner, of
Vienna (who has lately published a great book on heliotropism) finds
that an intermittent light, say of 20 minutes, produces the same
effect as a continuous light of, say 60 m. (762/2. Wiesner's papers on
heliotropism are in the "Denkschriften" of the Vienna Academy, Volumes
39 and 43.) So that Van Tieghem, in the first part of his book which has
just appeared, remarks, the light during 40 m. out of the 60 m. produced
no effect. I observed an analogous case described in my book. (762/3.
"Power of Movement," page 459.)
Wiesner and Van Tieghem seem to think that this is explained by
calling the whole process "induction," borrowing a term used by some
physico-chemists (of whom I believe Roscoe is one) and implying an
agency which does not produce any effect for some time, and continues
its effect for some time after the cause has ceased. I believe that
photographic paper is an instance. I must ask Leonard (762/4. Mr.
Darwin's son.) whether an interrupted light acts on it in the same
manner as on a plant. At present I must still believe in my explanation
that it is the contrast between light and darkness which excites a
plant.
I have forgotten my main object in writing--viz., to say that I believe
(and have so stated) that seedlings vary much in their sensitiveness
to light; but I did not prove this, for there are many difficulties,
whether the time of incipient curvature or the amount of curvature is
taken as the criterion. Moreover they vary according to age, and
perhaps from vigour of growth, and there seems inherent variability,
as Strasburger (whom I quote) found with spores. If the curious anomaly
observed by you is due to varying sensitiveness, ought not all the
seedlings to bend if the flashes were at longer intervals of time?
According to my notion of contrast between light and darkness being the
stimulus, I should expect that if flashes were made sufficiently slow
it would be a powerful stimulus, and that you would suddenly arrive at
a period when the result would SUDDENLY become great. On the other hand,
as far as my experience goes, what one expects rarely happens.
LETTER 763. TO JULIUS WIESNER. Down, October 4th, 1881.
I thank you sincerely for your very kind letter, and for the present of
your new work. (763/1. "Das Bewegungsvermogen der Pflanze," 1881. One of
us has given some account of Wiesner's book in the presidential address
to Section D of the British Association, 1891. Wiesner's divergence
from Darwin's views is far-reaching, and includes the main thesis of
the "Power of Movement." See "Life and Letters," III., page 336, for an
interesting letter to Wiesner.) My son Francis, if he had been at home,
would have likewise sent his thanks. I will immediately begin to read
your book, and when I have finished it will write again. But I read
german so very slowly that your book will take me a considerable time,
for I cannot read for more than half an hour each day. I have, also,
been working too hard lately, and with very little success, so that I am
going to leave home for a time and try to forget science.
I quite expect that you will find some gross errors in my work, for you
are a very much more skilful and profound experimentalist than I am.
Although I always am endeavouring to be cautious and to mistrust myself,
yet I know well how apt I am to make blunders. Physiology, both animal
and vegetable, is so difficult a subject, that it seems to me to
progress chiefly by the elimination or correction of ever-recurring
mistakes. I hope that you will not have upset my fundamental notion
that various classes of movement result from the modification of a
universally present movement of circumnutation.
I am very glad that you will again discuss the view of the turgescence
of the cells being the cause of the movement of parts. I adopted De
Vries' views as seeming to me the most probable, but of late I have felt
more doubts on this head. (763/2. See "Power of Movement," page 2. De
Vries' work is published in the "Bot. Zeitung," 1879, page 830.)
LETTER 764. TO J.D. HOOKER. Glenrhydding House, Patterdale, Penrith,
June 15th, 1881.
It was real pleasure to me to see once again your well-known handwriting
on the outside of your note. I do not know how long you have returned
from Italy, but I am very sorry that you are so bothered already with
work and visits. I cannot but think that you are too kind and civil
to visitors, and too conscientious about your official work. But a man
cannot cure his virtues, any more than his vices, after early youth;
so you must bear your burthen. It is, however, a great misfortune for
science that you have so very little spare time for the "Genera." I can
well believe what an awful job the palms must be. Even their size must
be very inconvenient. You and Bentham must hate the monocotyledons, for
what work the Orchideae must have been, and Gramineae and Cyperaceae
will be. I am rather despondent about myself, and my troubles are of an
exactly opposite nature to yours, for idleness is downright misery to
me, as I find here, as I cannot forget my discomfort for an hour. I have
not the heart or strength at my age to begin any investigation lasting
years, which is the only thing which I enjoy; and I have no little jobs
which I can do. So I must look forward to Down graveyard as the sweetest
place on earth. This place is magnificently beautiful, and I enjoy the
scenery, though weary of it; and the weather has been very cold and
almost always hazy.
I am so glad that your tour has answered for Lady Hooker. We return home
on the first week of July, and should be truly glad to aid Lady Hooker
in any possible manner which she will suggest.
I have written to my gardener to send you plants of Oxalis corniculata
(and seeds if possible). I should think so common a weed was never asked
for before,--and what a poor return for the hundreds of plants which I
have received from Kew! I hope that I have not bothered you by writing
so long a note, and I did not intend to do so.
If Asa Gray has returned with you, please give him my kindest
remembrances.
LETTER 765. TO J.D. HOOKER. October 22nd, 1881.
I am investigating the action of carbonate of ammonia on chlorophyll,
which makes me want the plants in my list. (765/1. "The Action of
Carbonate of Ammonia on Chlorophyll Bodies." "Linn. Soc. Journ." XIX.,
page 262, 1882.) I have incidentally observed one point in Euphorbia,
which has astonished me--viz. that in the fine fibrous roots of
Euphorbia, the alternate rows of cells in their roots must differ
physiologically, though not in external appearance, as their contents
after the action of carbonate of ammonia differ most conspicuously...
Wiesner of Vienna has just published a book vivisecting me in the most
courteous, but awful manner, about the "Power of Movement in Plants."
(765/2. See Letter 763, note.) Thank heaven, he admits almost all my
facts, after re-trying all my experiments; but gives widely different
interpretation of the facts. I think he proves me wrong in several
cases, but I am convinced that he is utterly erroneous and fanciful
in other explanations. No man was ever vivisected in so sweet a manner
before, as I am in this book.
CHAPTER 2.XII.
VIVISECTION AND MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS, 1867-1882.
2.XII.I. VIVISECTION, 1875-1882.
LETTER 766. TO LORD PLAYFAIR.
(766/1. A Bill was introduced to the House of Commons by Messrs. Lyon
Playfair, Walpole and Ashley, in the spring of 1875, but was withdrawn
on the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole
question. Some account of the Anti-Vivisection agitation, the
introduction of bills, and the appointment of a Royal Commission
is given in the "Life and Letters," III., page 201, where the more
interesting of Darwin's letters on the question are published.)
Down, May 26th, 1875.
I hope that you will excuse my troubling you once again. I received some
days ago a letter from Prof. Huxley, in Edinburgh, who says with respect
to your Bill: "the professors here are all in arms about it, and as the
papers have associated my name with the Bill, I shall have to repudiate
it publicly, unless something can be done. But what in the world is to
be done?" (766/2. The letter is published in full in Mr. L. Huxley's
interesting chapter on the vivisection question in his father's "Life,"
I., page 438.) Dr. Burdon Sanderson is in nearly the same frame of mind
about it. The newspapers take different views of the purport of
the Bill, but it seems generally supposed that it would prevent
demonstrations on animals rendered insensible, and this seems to me
a monstrous provision. It would, moreover, probably defeat the end
desired; for Dr. B. Sanderson, who demonstrates to his class on animals
rendered insensible, told me that some of his students had declared
to him that unless he had shown them what he had, they would have
experimented on live animals for themselves. Certainly I do not believe
that any one could thoroughly understand the action of the heart without
having seen it in action. I do not doubt that you wish to aid the
progress of Physiology, and at the same time save animals from all
useless suffering; and in this case I believe that you could not do
a greater service than to warn the Home Secretary with respect to the
appointment of Royal Commissioners, that ordinary doctors know little or
nothing about Physiology as a science, and are incompetent to judge of
its high importance and of the probability of its hereafter conferring
great benefits on mankind.
LETTER 767. TO LORD PLAYFAIR. Down, May 28th.
I must write one line to thank you for your very kind letter, and to say
that, after despatching my last note, it suddenly occurred to me that I
had been rude in calling one of the provisions of your Bill "monstrous"
or "absurd"--I forget which. But when I wrote the expression it was
addressed to the bigots who, I believed, had forced you to a compromise.
I cannot understand what Dr. B. Sanderson could have been about not to
have objected with respect to the clause of not demonstrating on animals
rendered insensible. I am extremely sorry that you have had trouble and
vexation on the subject. It is a most disagreeable and difficult one. I
am not personally concerned, as I never tried an experiment on a living
animal, nor am I a physiologist; but I know enough to see how ruinous
it would be to stop all progress in so grand a science as Physiology. I
commenced the agitation amongst the physiologists for this reason,
and because I have long felt very keenly on the question of useless
vivisection, and believed, though without any good evidence, that there
was not always, even in this country, care enough taken. Pray forgive me
this note, so much about myself...
LETTER 768. TO G.J. ROMANES.
(768/1. Published in "Life of Romanes," page 61, under 1876-77.)
Down, June 4th [1876].
Your letter has made me as proud and conceited as ten peacocks. (768/2.
This may perhaps refer to Darwin being elected the only honorary member
of the Physiological Society, a fact that was announced in a letter from
Romanes June 1st, 1876, published in the "Life" of Romanes, page 50.
Dr. Sharpey was subsequently elected a second honorary member.) I am
inclined to think that writing against the bigots about vivisection is
as hopeless as stemming a torrent with a reed. Frank, who has just
come here, and who sputters with indignation on the subject, takes an
opposite line, and perhaps he is right; anyhow, he had the best of an
argument with me on the subject...It seems to me the physiologists are
now in the position of a persecuted religious sect, and they must grin
and bear the persecution, however cruel and unjust, as well as they can.
LETTER 769. TO T. LAUDER BRUNTON.
(769/1. In November, 1881, an absolutely groundless charge was brought
by the Victoria Street Society for the Protection of Animals from
Vivisection against Dr. Ferrier for an infringement of the Vivisection
Act. The experiment complained of was the removal of the brain of a
monkey and the subsequent testing of the animal's powers of reacting to
certain treatment. The fact that the operation had been performed six
months before the case came into court would alone have been fatal to
the prosecution. Moreover, it was not performed by Dr. Ferrier, but
by another observer, who was licensed under the Act to keep the monkey
alive after the operation, which was performed under anaesthetics.
Thus the prosecution completely broke down, and the case was dismissed.
(769/2. From the "British Medical Journal," November 19th, 1881. See
also "Times," November 18th, 1881.) The sympathy with Dr. Ferrier in
the purely scientific and medical world was very strong, and the British
Medical Association undertook the defence. The prosecution did good in
one respect, inasmuch as it led to the formation of the Science Defence
Association, to which reference is made in some of Mr. Darwin's letters
to Sir Lauder Brunton. The Association still exists, and continues to do
good work.
Part of the following letter was published in the "British Medical
Journal," December 3rd, 1881.)
Down, November 19th, 1881.
I saw in some paper that there would probably be a subscription to pay
Dr. Ferrier's legal expenses in the late absurd and wicked prosecution.
As I live so retired I might not hear of the subscription, and I should
regret beyond measure not to have the pleasure and honour of showing my
sympathy [with] and admiration of Dr. Ferrier's researches. I know that
you are his friend, as I once met him at your house; so I earnestly beg
you to let me hear if there is any means of subscribing, as I should
much like to be an early subscriber. I am sure that you will forgive me
for troubling you under these circumstances.
P.S.--I finished reading a few days ago the several physiological and
medical papers which you were so kind as to send me. (769/3. Some of
Lauder Brunton's publications.) I was much interested by several of
them, especially by that on night-sweating, and almost more by others on
digestion. I have seldom been made to realise more vividly the wondrous
complexity of our whole system. How any one of us keeps alive for a day
is a marvel!
LETTER 770. T. LAUDER BRUNTON TO CHARLES DARWIN. 50, Welbeck Street,
London, November 21st, 1881.
I thank you most sincerely for your kind letter and your offer of
assistance to Dr. Ferrier. There is at present no subscription list, as
the British Medical Association have taken up the case, and ought to
pay the expenses. Should these make such a call upon the funds of the
Association as to interfere with its other objects, the whole or part
of the expenses will be paid by those who have subscribed to a guarantee
fund. To this fund there are already a number of subscribers, whose
names are taken by Professor Gerald Yeo, one of the secretaries of the
Physiological Society. They have not subscribed a definite sum, but have
simply fixed a maximum which they will subscribe, if necessary, on the
understanding that only so much as is required shall be asked from each
subscriber in proportion to his subscription. It is proposed to send
by-and-by a list of the most prominent members of this guarantee fund
to the "Times" and other papers, and not only every scientific man, but
every member of the medical profession, will rejoice to see your name
in the list. Dr. Ferrier has been quite worn out by the worry of this
prosecution, or, as it might well be called, persecution, and has gone
down to Shanklin for a couple of days. He returns this afternoon, and I
have sent on your letter to await his arrival, knowing as I do that it
will be to him like cold water to a thirsty soul.
LETTER 771. TO T. LAUDER BRUNTON. Down, November 22nd, 1881.
Many thanks for your very kind and interesting letter...
I write now to beg a favour. I do not in the least know what others
have guaranteed in relation to Dr. Ferrier. (771/1. In a letter dated
November 27th, 1881, Sir Lauder Brunton wrote in reply to Mr. Darwin's
inquiry as to the amount of the subscriptions: "When I ascertain
what they intend to give under the new conditions--viz., that the
subscriptions are not to be applied to Ferrier's defence, but to the
defence of others who may be attacked and to a diffusion of knowledge
regarding the nature and purposes of vivisection, I will let you
know...") Would twenty guineas be sufficient? If not, will you kindly
take the trouble to have my name put down for thirty or forty guineas,
as you may think best. If, on the other hand, no one else has guaranteed
for as much as twenty guineas, will you put me down for ten or fifteen
guineas, though I should like to give twenty best.
You can understand that I do not wish to be conspicuous either by too
little or too much; so I beg you to be so very kind as to act for me. I
have a multitude of letters which I must answer, so excuse haste.
LETTER 772. TO T. LAUDER BRUNTON.
(772/1. The following letter was written in reply to Sir T. Lauder
Brunton's suggestion that Mr. Darwin should be proposed as President of
the Science Defence Association.)
4, Bryanston Street, Portman Square, December 17th, 1881.
I have been thinking a good deal about the suggestion which you made
to me the other day, on the supposition that you could not get some man
like the President of the College of Physicians to accept the office. My
wife is strongly opposed to my accepting the office, as she feels sure
that the anxiety thus caused would tell heavily on my health. But
there is a much stronger objection suggested to me by one of my
relations--namely, no man ought to allow himself to be placed at the
head (though only nominally so) of an associated movement, unless he
has the means of judging of the acts performed by the association, after
hearing each point discussed. This occurred to me when you spoke to
me, and I think that I said something to this effect. Anyhow, I have in
several analogous cases acted on this principle.
Take, for instance, any preliminary statement which the Association may
publish. I might feel grave doubts about the wisdom or justice of some
points, and this solely from my not having heard them discussed. I am
therefore inclined to think that it would not be right in me to accept
the nominal Presidency of your Association, and thus have to act
blindly.
As far as I can at present see, I fear that I must confine my assistance
to subscribing as large a sum to the Association as any member gives.
I am sorry to trouble you, but I have thought it best to tell you at
once of the doubts which have arisen in my mind.
LETTER 773. TO LAUDER BRUNTON.
(773/1. Sir T. Lauder Brunton had written (February 12th) to Mr. Darwin
explaining that two opinions were held as to the constitution of the
proposed Science Defence Association: one that it should consist of
a small number of representative men; the other that it should, if
possible, embrace every medical practitioner in the country. Sir Lauder
Brunton adds: "I should be very greatly obliged if you would kindly say
what you think of the two schemes.")
Down, February 14th, 1882.
I am very much obliged for your information in regard to the
Association, about which I feel a great interest. It seems to me highly
desirable that the Association should include as many medical and
scientific men as possible throughout the whole country, who could
illumine those capable of illumination on the necessity of physiological
research; but that the Association should be governed by a council of
powerful men, not too many in number. Such a council, as representing
a large body of medical men, would have more power in the eyes of
vote-hunting politicians than a small body representing only themselves.
From what I see of country practitioners, I think that their annual
subscription ought to be very small. But would it not be possible to
add to the rules some such statement as the following one: "That by a
donation of... pounds, or of any larger sum, from those who feel a deep
interest in the progress of medical science, the donor shall become a
life member." I, for one, would gladly subscribe 50 or 100 pounds. If
such a plan were approved by the leading medical men of London, two or
three thousand pounds might at once be collected; and if any such
sum could be announced as already subscribed, when the program of the
Association is put forth, it would have, as I believe, a considerable
influence on the country, and would attract the attention of country
practitioners. The Anti-Corn Law League owed much of its enormous power
to several wealthy men laying down 1,000 pounds; for the subscription of
a good sum of money is the best proof of earnest conviction. You asked
for my opinion on the above points, and I have given it freely, though
well aware that from living so retired a life my judgment cannot be
worth much.
Have you read Mr. Gurney's articles in the "Fortnightly" and "Cornhill?"
(773/2. "Fortnightly Review," XXX., page 778; "Cornhill Magazine," XLV.,
page 191. The articles are by the late Edmund Gurney, author of "The
power of Sound," 1880.) They seem to me very clever, though obscurely
written; and I agree with almost everything he says, except with some
passages which appear to imply that no experiments should be tried
unless some immediate good can be predicted, and this is a gigantic
mistake contradicted by the whole history of science.
P.S.--That is a curious fact about babies. I remember hearing on good
authority that very young babies when moved are apt to clutch hold of
anything, and I thought of your explanation; but your case during sleep
is a much more interesting one. Very many thanks for the book, which I
much wanted to see; it shall be sent back to-day, as from you, to the
Society.
2.XII.II. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS, 1867-1882.
LETTER 774. TO CANON FARRAR.
(774/1. The lecture which forms the subject of this letter was one
delivered by Canon Farrar at the Royal Institution, "On Some Defects in
Public School Education.")
Down, March 5th, 1867.
I am very much obliged for your kind present of your lecture. We have
read it aloud with the greatest interest, and I agree to every word. I
admire your candour and wonderful freedom from prejudice; for I feel an
inward conviction that if I had been a great classical scholar I should
never have been able to have judged fairly on the subject. As it is, I
am one of the root and branch men, and would leave classics to be learnt
by those alone who have sufficient zeal and the high taste requisite
for their appreciation. You have indeed done a great public service in
speaking out so boldly. Scientific men might rail forever, and it would
only be said that they railed at what they did not understand. I was
at school at Shrewsbury under a great scholar, Dr. Butler; I
learnt absolutely nothing, except by amusing myself by reading and
experimenting in chemistry. Dr. Butler somehow found this out, and
publicly sneered at me before the whole school for such gross waste of
time; I remember he called me a Pococurante (774/2. Told in "Life and
Letters," I., page 35.), which, not understanding, I thought was a
dreadful name. I wish you had shown in your lecture how science could
practically be taught in a great school; I have often heard it objected
that this could not be done, and I never knew what to say in answer.
I heartily hope that you may live to see your zeal and labour produce
good fruit.
LETTER 775. TO HERBERT SPENCER. Down, December 9th [1867].
I thank you very sincerely for your kind present of your "First
Principles." (775/1. "This must have been the second edition." (Note by
Mr. Spencer.)) I earnestly hope that before long I may have strength to
study the work as it ought to be studied, for I am certain to find
or re-find much that is deeply interesting. In many parts of your
"Principles of Biology" I was fairly astonished at the prodigality of
your original views. (775/2. See "Life and Letters," III., pages 55,
56.) Most of the chapters furnished suggestions for whole volumes of
future researches. As I have heard that you have changed your residence,
I am forced to address this to Messrs. Williams & Norgate; and for the
same reason I gave some time ago the same address to Mr. Murray for a
copy of my book on variation, etc., which is now finished, but delayed
by the index-maker.
LETTER 776. TO T.H. HUXLEY.
(776/1. This letter refers to a movement set on foot at a meeting held
at the Freemasons' Tavern, on November 16th, 1872, of which an account
is given in the "Times" of November 23rd, 1872, at which Mark Pattison,
Mr. Henry Sidgwick, Sir Benjamin Brodie, Professors Rolleston, Seeley,
Huxley, etc., were present. The "Times" says that the meeting was held
"by members of the Universities and others interested in the promotion
of mature study and scientific research in England." One of the
headings of the "Program of Discussion" was "The Abolition of Prize
Fellowships.")
Sevenoaks, October 22nd [1872].
I have been glad to sign and forward the paper, for I have very long
thought it a sin that the immense funds of the Universities should be
wasted in Fellowships, except a few for paying for education. But when
I was at Cambridge it would have been an unjustifiable sneer to have
spoken of the place as one for education, always excepting the men who
went in for honours. You speak of another resolution "in the interest
of the anti-letter-writing association"--but alas, this never arrived!
I should like a society formed so that every one might receive pleasant
letters and never answer them.
We return home on Saturday, after three weeks of the most astounding
dullness, doing nothing and thinking of nothing. I hope my Brain likes
it--as for myself, it is dreadful doing nothing. (776/2. Darwin returned
to Down from Sevenoaks on Saturday, October 26th, 1872, which fixes the
date of the letter.)
LETTER 777. TO LADY DERBY. Down, Saturday [1874?].
If you had called here after I had read the article you would have found
a much perplexed man. (777/1. Probably Sir W. Crookes' "Researches in
the Phenomena of Spiritualism" (reprinted from the "Quarterly Journal of
Science"), London, 1874. Other papers by Crookes are in the "Proceedings
of the Society for Psychical Research.") I cannot disbelieve Mr.
Crooke's statement, nor can I believe in his result. It has removed
some of my difficulty that the supposed power is not an anomaly, but is
common in a lesser degree to various persons. It is also a consolation
to reflect that gravity acts at any distance, in some wholly unknown
manner, and so may nerve-force. Nothing is so difficult to decide as
where to draw a just line between scepticism and credulity. It was
a very long time before scientific men would believe in the fall of
aerolites; and this was chiefly owing to so much bad evidence, as in the
present case, being mixed up with the good. All sorts of objects were
said to have been seen falling from the sky. I very much hope that a
number of men, such as Professor Stokes, will be induced to witness Mr.
Crooke's experiments.
(778/1. The two following extracts may be given in further illustration
of Darwin's guiding principle in weighing evidence. He wrote to Robert
Chambers, April 30th, 1861: "Thanks also for extract out of newspaper
about rooks and crows; I wish I dared trust it. I see in cutting the
pages [of Chambers' book, "Ice and Water"]...that you fulminate against
the scepticism of scientific men. You would not fulminate quite so much
if you had had so many wild-goose chases after facts stated by men
not trained to scientific accuracy. I often vow to myself that I will
utterly disregard every statement made by any one who has not shown the
world he can observe accurately." In a letter to Dr. Dohrn, of Naples,
January 4th, 1870, Darwin wrote: "Forgive me for suggesting one
caution; as Demosthenes said, 'Action, action, action,' was the soul of
eloquence, so is caution almost the soul of science.")
LETTER 778. TO J. BURDON SANDERSON. Down, July 16th, 1875.
Some little time ago Mr. Simon (778/1. Now Sir John Simon) sent me the
last Report, and your statements about contagion deeply interested me.
By the way, if you see Mr. Simon, and can remember it, will you thank
him for me; I was so busy at the time that I did not write. Having been
in correspondence with Paget lately on another subject, I mentioned to
him an analogy which has struck me much, now that we know that sheep-pox
is fungoid; and this analogy pleased him. It is that of fairy rings,
which are believed to spread from a centre, and when they intersect the
intersecting portion dies out, as the mycelium cannot grow where it has
grown during previous years. So, again, I have never seen a ring within
a ring; this seems to me a parallel case to a man commonly having the
smallpox only once. I imagine that in both cases the mycelium must
consume all the matter on which it can subsist.
LETTER 779. TO A. GAPITCHE.
(779/1. The following letter was written to the author (under the
pseudonym of Gapitche) of a pamphlet entitled "Quelques mots sur
l'Eternite du Corps Humaine" (Nice, 1880). Mr. Gapitche's idea was
that man might, by perfect adaptation to his surroundings, indefinitely
prolong the duration of life. We owe Mr. Darwin's letter to the kindness
of Herr Vetter, editor of the well-known journal "Kosmos.")
Down, February 24th, 1880.
I suppose that no one can prove that death is inevitable, but the
evidence in favour of this belief is overwhelmingly strong from the
evidence of all other living creatures. I do not believe that it is by
any means invariably true that the higher organisms always live longer
than the lower ones. Elephants, parrots, ravens, tortoises, and some
fish live longer than man. As evolution depends on a long succession of
generations, which implies death, it seems to me in the highest degree
improbable that man should cease to follow the general law of evolution,
and this would follow if he were to be immortal.
This is all that I can say.
LETTER 780. TO J. POPPER.
(780/1. Mr. Popper had written about a proposed flying machine in which
birds were to take a part.)
Down, February 15th, 1881.
I am sorry to say that I cannot give you the least aid, as I have never
attended to any mechanical subjects. I should doubt whether it would be
possible to train birds to fly in a certain direction in a body, though
I am aware that they have been taught some tricks. Their mental powers
are probably much below those of mammals. It is said, and I suppose
truly, that an eagle will carry a lamb. This shows that a bird may have
great power for a short distance. I cannot remember your essay with
sufficient distinctness to make any remarks on it. When a man is old and
works hard, one subject drives another out of his head.
LETTER 781. TO T.H. HUXLEY. Worthing, September 9th, 1881.
(781/1. Mr. Anthony Rich left his house at Worthing as a legacy to Mr.
Huxley. See Huxley's "Life and Letters," II., pages 286, 287.)
We have been paying Mr. Rich a little visit, and he has often spoken of
you, and I think he enjoyed much your and Mrs. Huxley's visit here.
But my object in writing now is to tell you something, which I am
very doubtful whether it is worth while for you to hear, because it is
uncertain. My brother Erasmus has left me half his fortune, which is
very considerable. Therefore, I thought myself bound to tell Mr. Rich of
this, stating the large amount, as far as the executors as yet know it
roughly. I then added that my wife and self thought that, under these
new circumstances, he was most fully justified in altering his will and
leaving his property in some other way. I begged him to take a week to
consider what I had told him, and then by letter to inform me of the
result. But he would not, however, hardly allow me to finish what I had
to say, and expressed a firm determination not to alter his will, adding
that I had five sons to provide for. After a short pause he implied (but
unfortunately he here became very confused and forgot a word, which on
subsequent reflection I think was probably "reversionary")--he implied
that there was a chance, whether good or bad I know not, of his becoming
possessed of some other property, and he finished by saying distinctly,
"I will bequeath this to Huxley." What the amount may be (I fear not
large), and what the chance may be, God only knows; and one cannot
cross-examine a man about his will. He did not bind me to secrecy, so I
think I am justified in telling you what passed, but whether it is wise
on my part to send so vague a story, I am not at all sure; but as a
general rule it is best to tell everything. As I know that you hate
writing letters, do not trouble yourself to answer this.
P.S.--On further reflection I should like to hear that you receive this
note safely. I have used up all my black-edged paper.
LETTER 782. TO ANTHONY RICH. Down, February 4th, 1882.
It is always a pleasure to me to receive a letter from you. I am very
sorry to hear that you have been more troubled than usual with your old
complaint. Any one who looked at you would think that you had passed
through life with few evils, and yet you have had an unusual amount of
suffering. As a turnkey remarked in one of Dickens' novels, "Life is
a rum thing." (782/1. This we take to be an incorrect version of Mr.
Roker's remark (in reference to Tom Martin, the Butcher), "What a rum
thing Time is, ain't it, Neddy?" ("Pickwick," Chapter XLII.). A careful
student finds that women are also apostrophised as "rum": see the
remarks of the dirty-faced man ("Pickwick," Chapter XIV.).) As for
myself, I have been better than usual until about a fortnight ago,
when I had a cough, and this pulled me down and made me miserable to a
strange degree; but my dear old wife insisted on my taking quinine, and,
though I have very little faith in medicine, this, I think, has done me
much good. Well, we are both so old that we must expect some troubles: I
shall be seventy-three on Feb. 12th. I have been glad to hear about the
pine-leaves, and you are the first man who has confirmed my account that
they are drawn in by the base, with a very few exceptions. (782/2. "The
Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms," 1881, page
71.) With respect to your Wandsworth case, I think that if I had heard
of it before publishing, I would have said nothing about the ledges
(782/3. "Ledges of Earth on Steep Hill-sides" (ibid., page 278).);
for the Grisedale case (782/4. "The steep, grass-covered sides of a
mountainous valley in Westmorland, called Grisedale, were marked in
many places with innumerable, almost horizontal, little ledges...Their
formation was in no way connected with the action of worms (and their
absence is an inexplicable fact)...(ibid., page 282.), mentioned in my
book and observed whilst I was correcting the proof-sheets, made me feel
rather doubtful. Yet the Corniche case (782/5. Ibid., page 281.) shows
that worms at least aid in making the ledges. Nevertheless, I wish I had
said nothing about the confounded ledges. The success of this worm book
has been almost laughable. I have, however, been plagued with an
endless stream of letters on the subject; most of them very foolish
and enthusiastic, but some containing good facts, which I have used in
correcting yesterday the "sixth Thousand."
Your friend George's work about the viscous state of the earth and tides
and the moon has lately been attracting much attention (782/6. Published
in the "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society," 1879, 1880,
1881.), and all the great judges think highly of the work. He intends to
try for the Plumian Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy
at Cambridge, which is a good and honourable post of about 800 pounds
a year. I think that he will get it (782/7. He was elected Plumian
Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy in 1883.) when
Challis is dead, and he is very near his end. He has all the great
men--Sir W. Thomson, Adams, Stokes, etc.--on his side. He has lately
been chief examiner for the Mathematical Tripos, which was tremendous
work; and the day before yesterday he started for Southampton for
a five-weeks' tour to Jamaica for complete rest, to see the Blue
Mountains, and escape the rigour of the early spring. I believe that
George will some day be a great scientific swell. The War Office has
just offered Leonard a post in the Government Survey at Southampton, and
very civilly told him to go down and inspect the place, and accept or
not as he liked. So he went down, but has decided that it would not
be worth his while to accept, as it would entail his giving up his
expedition (on which he had been ordered) to Queensland, in Australia,
to observe the Transit of Venus. (782/8. Major Leonard Darwin, late
R.E., served in several scientific expeditions, including the Transits
of Venus of 1874 and 1882.) Dear old William at Southampton has not been
very well, but is now better. He has had too much work--a willing horse
is always overworked--and all the arrangements for receiving the British
Association there this summer have been thrown on his shoulders.
But, good Heavens! what a deal I have written about my sons. I have had
some hard work this autumn with the microscope; but this is over, and
I have only to write out the papers for the Linnean Society. (782/9.
i. "The Action of Carbonate of Ammonia on the Roots of Certain plants."
[Read March 16th, 1882.] "Journ. Linn. Soc." Volume XIX., 1882, page
239. ii. "The Action of Carbonate of Ammonia on Chlorophyll-bodies."
[Read March 6th, 1882.] Ibid., page 262.) We have had a good many
visitors; but none who would have interested you, except perhaps Mrs.
Ritchie, the daughter of Thackeray, who is a most amusing and pleasant
person. I have not seen Huxley for some time, but my wife heard this
morning from Mrs. Huxley, who wrote from her bed, with a bad account
of herself and several of her children; but none, I hope, are at all
dangerously ill. Farewell, my kind, good friend.
Many thanks about the picture, which if I survive you, and this I do not
expect, shall be hung in my study as a perpetual memento of you.
(782/10. The concluding chapter of the "Life and Letters" gives some
account of the gradual failure in health which was perceptible in the
last year of Mr. Darwin's life. He died on April 19th, 1882, in his 74th
year.)
THE END.
INDEX.
INDEX.
[The German a-, o-, u-diaeresis are treated as a, o, u, not as ae, oe,
ue.]
Aberrant genera, Darwin's work on.
Abich, on Vesuvius.
Abinger, excavations of Roman villa at.
-plants from.
Abinger Hall, Darwin visits.
-Lord Farrer's recollections of Darwin at.
Abiogenesis, Huxley's address on Biogenesis and.
Abortion, Romanes on.
Abrolhos, plants from the.
Abromia.
Abrus precatorius, dispersal of seeds.
Abstract, Darwin's dislike of writing papers in.
Abstract, the name applied by Darwin to the "Origin."
Abutilon, F. Muller's experiments on.
Abyssinia, flora of.
"Academy," Darwin's opinion of the.
Acanthaceae.
Acceleration of development, Cope and Hyatt on retardation and.
-reference in the "Origin" to.
Accumulation, of deposits in relation to earth-movements.
-of specific differences.
-of sterility.
-of varieties.
Accuracy, difficult to attain.
-the soul of Natural History.
Aceras, fertilisation of.
-monstrous flower.
Acineta, Darwin unable to fertilise.
Aconitum, peloria and reversion.
Acropera, atrophy of ovules.
-Darwin's mistake over.
-fertilisation of.
-relation to Gongora.
-J. Scott's work on.
Acropera Loddigesii, abnormal structure of ovary.
-Darwin's account of flower.
-artificial fertilisation.
-relation to A. luteola.
-J. Scott's observations.
-two sexual conditions of.
-A. luteola, Darwin's observations on.
-fertilisation of.
-flowers of.
-structure of ovary.
Adaptation, Darwin's difficulty in understanding.
-hybrids and.
-not the governing law in Geographical Distribution.
-more clearly seen in animals than plants.
-Natural Selection and.
-in orchids.
-resemblances due to.
-in Woodpecker.
Adenanthera pavonina, seed-dispersal by Parrots.
Adenocarpus, a Mediterranean genus in the Cameroons.
Adlumia.
Adoxa, difference in flowers of same plant.
Aecidium elatinum, Witches'-Broom fungus.
Aegialitis Sanctae-helenae.
Aegilops triticoides, hybrids.
Affaiblissement, A. St. Hilaire on.
Africa, connection with Ceylon.
-connection with India.
-continent of Lemuria and.
-considered by Murchison oldest continent.
-plants of equatorial mountains of.
Africa (East,) coral reefs on coast.
Africa (South), plants of.
-relation of floras of Western Europe to.
Africa (West), botanical relation to Java.
Agassiz, Alex., "Three Cruises of the 'Blake.'"
-his belief in evolution the result of F. Muller's writings.
-account of Florida Coral-reefs.
-letters to.
-visits Down.
Agassiz, Louis Jean Rodolphe (1807-73): entered a college at Bienne at the
age of ten, and from 1822 to 1824 he was a student at the Academy of
Lausanne. Agassiz afterwards spent some years as a student in the
Universities of Zurich, Heidelberg, and Munich, where he gained a
reputation as a skilled fencer. It was at Heidelberg that his studies took
a definite turn towards Natural History. He took a Ph.D. degree at
Erlangen in 1829. Agassiz published his first paper in "Isis" in 1828, and
for many years devoted himself chiefly to Ichthyology. During a visit to
Paris he became acquainted with Cuvier and Alexander von Humboldt; in 1833,
through the liberality of the latter, he began the publication of his
"Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles," and in 1840 he completed his
"Etudes sur les Glaciers." In 1846 Agassiz went to Boston, where he
lectured in the Lowell Institute, and in the following year became
Professor of Geology and Zoology at Cambridge. During the last
twenty-seven years of his life Agassiz lived in America, and exerted a
great influence on the study of Natural History in the United States. In
1836 he received the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London,
and in 1861 he was selected for the Copley Medal of the Royal Society. In
1873 Agassiz dictated an article to Mrs. Agassiz on "Evolution and
Permanence of Type," in which he repeated his strong conviction against the
views embodied in the "Origin of Species." See "Life, Letters, and Works
of Louis Agassiz," by Jules Marcou, 2 volumes, New York, 1896; "Louis
Agassiz: his Life and Correspondence," edited by Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, 2
volumes, London, 1885; "Smithsonian Report," 1873, page 198.
-attack on "Origin."
-Darwin's criticism of book on Brazil.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-views on creation of species.
-on geographical distribution.
-"Methods of Study" by.
-misstatement of Darwin's views.
-Walsh on.
-"Etudes sur les Glaciers."
-Darwin on glacier work of.
-on glaciers in Ceara Mts.
-glacier-ice-lake theory of Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
-on glacier moraines.
-on rock-cavities formed by glacier-cascades.
-on Darwin's theory.
-on Geology of the Amazons.
-doubts recent upheaval of Patagonia.
-mentioned.
Age of the world.
Aggressive plants, introduction of.
Agricultural Society, experiments on potatoes.
Airy, H. letter to.
Albemarle Island, Darwin's collection of plants from.
-volcanoes of.
Aldrovanda.
Alerse ("Alerce"), occurrence in Chiloe.
Algae, movement of male-cells to female organ.
Alisma, F. Muller's observations on.
-submerged flowers of.
Alisma macrophylla, circumnutation of.
Allbutt, Prof. Clifford, on sperm-cells.
Allen, Grant, review by Romanes of his "Physiological Aesthetics."
Allen, J.A., on colours of birds.
-on mammals and birds of Florida.
Allogamy, use of term.
Almond, seedling peaches resembling.
Alopecurus pratensis, fertilisation of.
Alpine floras, Arctic and.
-of Azores, Canaries and Madeira.
-absence of, in southern islands.
-Ball on origin of flora.
-Darwin's work on.
-of United States.
-existence prior to Glacial period.
-Ice-action in New Zealand, and.
-Ball on origin of.
Alpine insects.
Alpine plants.
-change due to transplanting.
-slight change in isolated forms.
-as evidence of continental land at close of Glacial period.
Alps, Australian.
-Murchison on structure of.
-submergence.
-Tyndall's book on.
Alternate generations, in Hydrozoa.
Amazonia, Insects of.
Amazons, L. Agassiz on glacial phenomena in valley of.
-L. Agassiz on geology of.
-Bates on lepidoptera of.
-sedimentation off mouth of.
Amber, extinct plants preserved in.
Amblyopsis, a blind cave-fish, effect of conditions on.
Ameghino, Prof., discovery of Neomylodon Listai.
America (North), are European birds blown to?
-Falconer on elephants.
-fauna and flora of Japan and.
-flora of.
-mammalian fauna.
-introduction of European weeds.
-subsidence during Glacial period.
-western European plants and flora of.
-contrast during Tertiary period between South and.
-former greater distinction between fauna of South and.
-glaciation of South and.
-Rogers on coal-fields.
America (South), Bollaert's "Antiquities" of.
-Araucarian fossil wood from.
-Carabi of.
-elevation of coast.
-fauna of.
-floras of Australia and.
-geology of.
-Darwin's "Geological Observations" on.
-deposition of sediment on coast.
-European plants in.
-frequency of earthquakes.
-D. Forbes on geology of.
-W. Jameson on geology of.
-D'Orbigny on.
-volcanic eruptions.
-Wallace opposed to continent uniting New Zealand, Australia and.
American War.
Ammonia, Darwin's work on effect on roots of carbonate of.
Ammonites, degeneration of.
-reversion.
-of S. America.
Amsinckia.
Amsinckia spectabilis, dimorphism of.
Anacamptis (=Orchis pyramidalis), fertilisation of.
Anacharis (=Elodea Canadensis), spread of.
Analogy, difference between homology and.
Anamorphism, Huxley on.
Anatifera, illustrating difficulty in nomenclature.
Anatomy of Vertebrata, Owen's attack on Darwin and Lyell in.
"Ancient Sea Margins," by R. Chambers.
Anderson-Henry, Isaac (1799?-1884): of Edinburgh, was educated as a
lawyer, but devoted himself to horticulture, more particularly to
experimental work on grafting and hybridisation. As President of the
Botanical Society of Edinburgh he delivered two addresses on
"Hybridisation or Crossing of Plants," of which a full abstract was
published in the "Gardeners' Chronicle," April 13th, 1867, page 379, and
December 21st, 1867, page 1296. See obit. notice in "Gardeners'
Chronicle," September 27th, 1884, page 400.
-letter to.
Andes, Darwin on geology of.
-high-road for European plants.
-comparatively recent origin.
Anemophilous plants, Delpino's work on.
Angiosperms, origin of.
Angraecum sesquipedale, Duke of Argyll on.
Animal Intelligence, Romanes on.
Animals, difference between plants and.
-resemblance to plants.
Annuals, adapted to short seasons.
-Hildebrand on percentages of.
Anoplotherium, occurrence in Eocene of S. America.
Ansted, David Thomas, F.R.S. (1814-80): Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge,
Professor of Geology at King's College, London, author of several papers
and books on geological subjects (see "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume
XXXVII., page 43.)
-letter to.
Antarctic continent, Darwin on existence of Tertiary.
-hypothetical.
"Antarctic Flora," Sir J.D. Hooker's.
Antarctic floras.
-Darwin at work on.
Antarctic islands, plants of.
Antarctic Land.
"Anti-Jacobin," quiz on Erasmus Darwin in.
"Antiquity of Man," Sir Charles Lyell's.
-cautious views on species.
-Darwin's criticism of.
-Extract on Natural Selection from.
-Falconer on.
-Owen's criticism on.
Antirrhinum, peloric flowers.
Ants, account in "Origin" of Slave-.
-Forel's work on.
-Moggridge on Harvesting-.
-F. Muller's observations on neuter.
-storing leaves for plant-culture.
Apathus, living in nests of Bombus.
Apes, comparison as regards advance in intellect between man and.
-ears of anthropoid.
Aphides, absence of wings in viviparous.
Aphis, Huxley on.
Apostasia, morphology of flowers.
Appalachian chain, Rogers on cleavage of.
Apteryx, Owen on.
-wings of.
Aquilegia, Hooker and Thomson on.
-variation in.
-peloria and reversion.
Arachis hypogaea, Darwin on.
Arachnidae.
Araucaria, abundant in Secondary period.
Araucarian wood, fossil in S. America.
Arca, Morse on.
Archaeopteryx.
Archer-Hind, R.D., translation of passage from Plato by.
Archetype, Owen's book on.
-Owen's term.
d'Archiac's "Histoire des Progres de la Geologie."
-candidate for Royal Society Foreign list.
Arctic animals, protective colours.
Arctic climate, cause of present.
Arctic expeditions, Darwin on.
Arctic floras.
-relation between Alpine and.
-relation between Antarctic and.
-Hooker's Essay on.
-Darwin's admiration of Hooker's Essay.
-migration of.
Arctic regions, few plants common to Europe and N. America not ranging
to.
-range of plants.
-northern limit of vegetation formerly lower.
-ice piled up in.
-previous existence of plants in.
Arenaria verna, range.
Argus pheasant, colour.
-unadorned head.
Argyll, Duke of, attack on Romanes in "Nature."
-rejoinder by Romanes in "Nature."
-Hooker on.
-letter to.
-"Reign of Law" by.
Aristolochia, fertilisation of.
Aristotle, reference to.
Ark, Fitz-Roy on extinction of Mastodon owing to construction of.
Armadillo.
Army, measurement of soldiers of U.S.A.
Artemia, Schmankewitsch's experiments on.
Ascension Island, plants of.
-earth-movements.
-volcanic rocks.
Ascidians, budding of.
Asclepiadeae, fertilisation of.
Ash, comparison of peat and coal.
Asher, Dr., sends Russian wheat to Darwin.
Ashley.
Ashley Heath, Mackintosh on boulders of.
Askenasy, E., on Darwinism.
Aspicarpa.
Ass, hybrids between mare and.
Asterias.
Astragalus hypoglottis, range of.
Astronomical causes, crust-movements due to.
Asturian plants in Ireland.
Atavism, use of term by Duchesne.
-Kollmann on.
Athenaeum Club, Huxley's election.
"Athenaeum," correspondence on Darwin's statements on rate of increase
of elephants.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-abuse of Darwin.
Atlantic islands, peculiar genera and their origin.
Atlantis, America and.
-Canary I. and.
-Darwin's disbelief in.
-Heer's map.
-Wollaston's.
Atolls, Darwin's wish for investigation by boring of coral.
-Darwin on Murray's theory.
-Darwin's work on.
Atomogenesis, term suggested as substitute for pangenesis.
Atriplex, buried seeds found in sandpit near Melrose.
Attica, Gaudry on fossil animals.
Auckland Island, flora.
Audubon, J.J., on antics of birds during courtship.
-"Ornithological Biography."
Aurelia, Romanes on.
Auricula, dimorphism of.
-experiments on.
Austen, Godwin, on changes of level on English coast.
Australia, caves of.
-character of fauna.
-flora of.
-Hooker on flora.
-relation of flora to S. America.
-relation of flora to S. Africa.
-European plants in.
-local plants in S.W.
-naturalised plants.
-plants on mountains.
-fossil plants.
-dichogamy of trees in.
-as illustrating rate and progress of evolution.
-Mastodon from.
-products of, compared with those of Asia.
-submergence.
Australian savages and Natural Selection.
Australian species, occurrence in Malay Archipelago and Philippines.
Autobiographical recollections, Charles Darwin's.
Autobiography, extract from Darwin's.
Autogamy, Kerner's term.
Automatism, Huxley's Essay.
Avebury, Lord.
-address at British Association meeting at York (1881).
-on the Finns and Kjokken moddings.
-letters to.
-on the "Origin."
-"Prehistoric Times."
-on the Progress of Science.
-on Seedlings.
-story of Darwin told by.
-Darwin regrets his entrance into politics.
-on Ramsay's lake-theory.
Averrhoa, Darwin's work on.
Axell, Severin, book on fertilisation of plants.
Axon, W.E., letter from Darwin to Mrs. E. Talbot published by.
Aye Aye, Owen on the.
Azara.
Azores, organic relation with America.
-birds.
-European birds as chance wanderers to.
-erratic blocks.
-flora.
-European plants in.
-Miocene beds in.
-relation to Madeira and Canaries.
-Watson on the.
-Orchids from.
-mentioned.
Babies, habit of clutching objects.
Babington, Prof. Charles C., at the British Association (Manchester,
1861).
-"British Flora."
-Darwin sends seeds of Atriplex to.
Baden-Powell, Prof.
Baer.
Bagehot, W., article in "Fortnightly Review" on Physics and Politics.
Bahia Blanca, collection of plants from.
Bailey, on Heterocentron roseum.
Baillon, on pollen-tubes of Helianthemum.
Baker's Flora of the Mauritius and Seychelles.
Balancement, G. St. Hilaire's law of.
Balanidae, Darwin's work on.
Balanus, questions of nomenclature.
Balfour, F.M. (1851-82): Professor of Animal Morphology at Cambridge.
He was born 1851, and was killed, with his guide, on the Aiguille
Blanche, near Courmayeur, in July 1882. (See "Life and Letters," III.,
page 250.)
-letter to.
-mentioned.
Ball, J., on origin of Alpine flora.
Ball, P., "The effects of Use and Disuse."
Balsaminaceae, genera of.
Banks' Cove, volcano of.
Barber, C., on graft-hybrids of sugar-cane.
Barber, Mrs., on Papilio nireus.
Barberry, abundance in N. America.
-dispersal of seeds by birds.
-Lord Farrer and H. Muller on floral mechanism.
-movement of stamens.
Barbs, see Pigeons.
Bardfield Oxlip (Primula elatior).
Barnacles, Darwin's work on.
-metamorphosis in.
-F. Muller on.
-nomenclature.
-of Secondary Period.
-advance in.
-complemental males compared with plants.
Barneoud, on irregular flowers.
"Baronne Prevost," Rivers on the rose.
Barrande, Joachim (died 1883): devoted himself to the investigation of
the Palaeozoic fossils of Bohemia, his adopted country. His greatest
work was the "Systeme Silurien de la Boheme," of which twenty-two
volumes were published before his death. He was awarded the Wollaston
Medal of the Geological Society in 1855. Barrande propounded the
doctrine of "colonies." He found that in the Silurian strata of
Bohemia, containing a normal succession of fossils, exceptional bands
occurred which yielded fossils characteristic of a higher zone. He
named these bands "colonies," and explained their occurrence by
supposing that the later fauna represented in these "precursory bands"
had already appeared in a neighbouring region, and that by some means
communication was opened at intervals between this region and that in
which the normal Silurian series was being deposited. This apparent
intercalation of younger among older zones has now been accounted for by
infoldings and faulting of the strata. See J.E. Marr, "On the Pre-
Devonian Rocks of Bohemia," "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXXVI.,
page 591 (1880); also "Defense des Colonies," by J. Barrande (Prag,
1861), and Geikie's "Text-book of Geology" (1893), page 773.
-candidature for Royal medal.
-candidate for Royal Society foreign list.
-work on Colonies.
-Lyell on work of.
Barriers to plant distribution in America.
Barrow, on Emberiza longicauda.
-"Travels in S. Africa."
Barrow, Sir J., connection with naval expeditions.
Barrow, germination of seeds from a.
Bartlett, Abraham Dee (1812-97): was resident superintendent of the
Zoological Society's Gardens in Regent's Park from 1859 to 1897. He
communicated several papers to the Zoological Society. His knowledge was
always at the service of Mr. Darwin, who had a sincere respect for him.
-letters to.
Barton, on trees of N. America.
Basalt, association with granite.
-separation of trachyte and.
Basques, H. Christy on the.
-Hooker on Finns and.
Bastian, "The Beginnings of Life."
Bat, natural selection and increase in size of wings.
Bates, Henry Walter (1825-92): was born at Leicester, and after an
apprenticeship in a hosiery business he became a clerk in Allsopp's
brewery. He did not remain long in this uncongenial position, for in 1848
he embarked for Para with Mr. Wallace, whose acquaintance he had made at
Leicester some years previously. Mr. Wallace left Brazil after four years'
sojourn, and Bates remained for seven more years. He suffered much ill-
health and privation, but in spite of adverse circumstances he worked
unceasingly: witness the fact that his collection of insects numbered
14,000 specimens. He became Assistant Secretary to the Royal Geographical
Society in 1864, a post which he filled up to the time of his death in
1892. In Mr. Clodd's interesting memoir prefixed to his edition of the
"Naturalist on the Amazons," 1892, the editor pays a warm and well-weighed
tribute to Mr. Bates's honourable and lovable personal character. See also
"Life and Letters," II., page 380.
-"A Naturalist on the Amazons."
-Darwin's opinion of his work.
-on insect fauna of Amazon Valley.
-on lepidoptera of Amazons.
-letter from Hooker to.
-letters to.
-letter to Hooker from.
-Darwin reviews paper by.
-on flower of Monochaetum.
-on insects of Chili.
-supplies Darwin with facts for sexual selection.
Bateson, Miss A., on cross fertilisation in inconspicuous flowers.
Bateson, W., on breeding lepidoptera in confinement.
-Mendel's "Principles of Heredity."
Batrachians, Kollmann on rudimentary digits.
Bauer, F., drawings by.
Bauhinia, sleep-movements of leaves.
Beaches, S. American raised.
"Beagle" (H.M.S.), circumstance of Darwin joining.
-Darwin's views on species when on.
-FitzRoy and voyage of.
-return of.
-voyage.
Beans, holes bitten by bees in flowers.
-extra-floral nectaries of.
Bear, comparison with whale.
-modification of.
Beaton, Donald (1802-63): Biographical notices in the "Journal of
Horticulture" and the "Cottage Gardener," XIII., page 153, and "Journ.
Hort." 1863, pages 349 and 415, are referred to in Britten & Boulger's
"Biographical Index of Botanists," 1893. Dr. Masters tells us that
Beaton had a "first-rate reputation as a practical gardener, and was
esteemed for his shrewdness and humour."
-Darwin on work of.
-on Pelargonium.
Beatson, on land birds in S. Helena.
Beaufort.
Beaufort, Captain, asks Darwin for information as to collecting.
Beaumont, Elie de (1798-1874): was a pupil in the Ecole Polytechnique
and afterwards in the Ecole des Mines. In 1820 he accompanied M.
Brochant de Villiers to England in order to study the principles of
geological mapping, and to report on the English mines and metallurgical
establishments. For several years M. de Beaumont was actively engaged
in the preparation of the geological map of France, which was begun in
1825, and in 1835 he succeeded M. B. de Villiers in the Chair of Geology
at the Ecole des Mines. In 1853 he was elected Perpetual Secretary of
the French Academy, and in 1861 he became Vice-President of the Conseil
General des Mines and a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour. Elie de
Beaumont is best known among geologists as the author of the "Systemes
des Montagnes" and other publications, in which he put forward his
theories on the origin of mountain ranges and on kindred subjects.
("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXXI.; "Proc." page xliii, 1875.)
-on lines of elevation.
-on elevation in Cordilleras.
-elevation-crater theory.
-Darwin's disbelief in views and work of.
-on lava and dykes.
-Lyell's refutation of his theory.
-measurement of natural inclination of lava-streams.
Beauty, criticism by J. Morley of Darwin's phraseology in regard to.
-discussion on.
-lepidoptera and display of.
-Wallace on.
-Darwin's discussion on origin.
-in female animals.
-in plumage of male and female birds.
-of seeds and fruits.
-Shaw on.
-standards of.
Bedford, flint implements found near.
Beech, in Chonos I.
-in T. del Fuego and Chili.
-Miquel on distribution.
Bee-Ophrys (Ophrys apifera), see Bee-Orchis.
Bee-Orchis, Darwin's experiments on crossing.
-fertilisation.
-self-fertilisation.
-intermediate forms between Ophrys arachnites and.
Bees, combs.
-Haughton on cells of.
-and instinct.
-referred to in "Descent of Man."
-New Zealand clover and.
-acquisition of power of building cells.
-Darwin's observations on.
-agents in fertilisation of papilionaceous flowers.
-as pollen collectors.
-difference between sexes.
-H. Muller on.
-and parthenogenesis.
-regular lines of flight at Down.
Beet, graft-hybrids.
Beete-Jukes, alluded to in De la Beche's presidential address.
Beetles, bivalves distributed by.
-Forel's work on.
-nest-inhabiting.
-stag-.
-stridulating organs.
"Befruchtung der Blumen," H. Muller's, the outcome of Darwin's
"Fertilisation of Orchids."
Begonia, monstrous flowers.
-B. frigida, Hooker on.
Begoniaceae, genera of.
Behring Straits, spreading of plants from.
Belize, coral reefs near.
Bell, on Owen's "Edinburgh Review" article.
Bell, Sir C., "Anatomy of Expression."
Belt, T., on conspicuously coloured animals distasteful to birds.
-letter to.
-"The Naturalist in Nicaragua."
Ben Nevis, Ice-barrier under.
Benson, Miss, on Chalazogamy in Amentiferae.
Bentham, George (1800-83): son of Sir Samuel Bentham, and nephew of Jeremy,
the celebrated authority on jurisprudence. Sir Samuel Bentham was at first
in the Russian service, and afterwards in that of his own country, where he
attained the rank of Inspector-General of Naval Works. George Bentham was
attracted to botany during a "caravan tour" through France in 1816, when he
set himself to work out the names of flowers with De Candolle's "Flore
Francaise." During this period he entered as a student of the Faculte de
Theologie at Tours. About 1820 he was turned to the study of philosophy,
probably through an acquaintance with John Stuart Mill. He next became the
manager of his father's estates near Montpellier, and it was here that he
wrote his first serious work, an "Essai sur la Classification des Arts et
Sciences." In 1826 the Benthams returned to England, where he made many
friends, among whom was Dr. Arnott; and it was in his company that Bentham,
in 1824, paid a long visit to the Pyrenees, the fruits of which was his
first botanical work, "Catalogue des Plantes indigenes des Pyrenees, etc."
1826. About this time Bentham entered Lincoln's Inn with a view to being
called to the Bar, but the greater part of his energies was given to
helping his Uncle Jeremy, and to independent work in logic and
jurisprudence. He published his "Outlines of a New System of Logic"
(1827), but the merit of his work was not recognised until 1850. In 1829
Bentham finally gave up the Bar and took up his life's work as a botanist.
In 1854 he presented his collections and books (valued at 6,000 pounds) to
the Royal Gardens, Kew, and for the rest of his life resided in London, and
worked daily at the Herbarium. His work there began with the "Flora of
Hong Kong," which was followed by that of Australia published in 1867 in
seven volumes octavo. At the same time the "Genera Plantarum" was being
planned; it was begun, with Dr. Hooker as a collaborator, in 1862, and
concluded in 1883. With this monumental work his labours ended; "his
strength...suddenly gave way...his visits to Kew ended, and lingering on
under increasing debility, he died of old age on September 10th last"
(1883.)
The amount of work that he accomplished was gigantic and of the most
masterly character. In speaking of his descriptive work the writer (Sir
J.D. Hooker) of the obituary notice in "Nature" (October 2nd, 1884), from
which many of the above facts are taken, says that he had "no superior
since the days of Linnaeus and Robert Brown, and he has left no equal
except Asa Gray" ("Athenaeum," December 31st, 1850; "Contemporary Review,"
May, 1873; "George Bentham, F.R.S." By Sir J.D. Hooker, "Annals Bot."
Volume XII., 1898).
-mentioned.
-address to Linnean Society.
-Darwin's criticism on address.
-letters to.
-extract from letter to.
-views on species and on "Origin."
-on fertilisation mechanism in Goodeniaceae.
-on hybridism.
-runs too many forms together.
-on Scott's Primula paper.
Berberis, Pfeffer on stamens.
Berkeley, Miles Joseph (1803-89): was educated at Rugby and Christ's
College, Cambridge; he took orders in 1827. Berkeley is described by
Sir William Thiselton-Dyer as "the virtual founder of British Mycology"
and as the first to treat the subject of the pathology of plants in a
systematic manner. In 1857 he published his "Introduction to
Cryptogamic Botany." ("Annals of Botany," Volume XI., 1897, page ix;
see also an obituary notice by Sir Joseph Hooker in the "Proc. Royal
Society," Volume XLVII., page ix, 1890.)
-address by.
-experiments on saltwater and seed-dispersal.
-letter to.
-mentioned.
-notice of Darwin's work by.
Bermudas, American plants in.
-coral-reefs.
Berzelius, on flints.
Bhootan, Rhododendron Boothii from.
Bible, chronology of.
Biffen, R., potato grafts.
Bignonia, F. Muller's paper on.
-B. capreolata, tendrils of.
Binney, Edward William F.R.S. (1812-81): contributed numerous papers to the
Royal, Palaeontographical, Geological, and other Societies, on Upper
Carboniferous and Permian Rocks; his most important work deals with the
internal structure of Coal-Measure plants. In a paper "On the Origin of
Coal," published in the "Memoirs of the Manchester Literary and
Philosophical Society," Volume VIII., page 148, in 1848, Binney expressed
the view that the sediments of the Coal Period were marine rather than
estuarine, and were deposited on the floor of an ocean, which was
characterised by a "uniformity and shallowness unknown" in any oceanic area
of the present day.
-on marshes of Coal period.
-on coal and coal plants.
Biogenesis, Huxley's address on abiogenesis and.
Biology, Huxley's "Course of Practical Instruction" in.
Biology of plants, Hooker's scheme for a Flora, with notes on.
Birds, as agents of dispersal of plants.
-blown to Madeira.
-climate and effect on American.
-coloration of.
-comparison with mammals.
-as isolated groups.
-of Madeira.
-modification in.
-Andrew Murray on Wallace's theory of nests.
-Wallace's theory of nests.
-agents in dispersal of land-molluscs.
-antics during courtship.
-courtesy towards own image.
-expression of fear by erection of feathers.
-means of producing music.
-spurs on female.
-pairing.
-polygamy.
-proportion of sexes.
-sexual selection and colour.
-attracted by singing of bullfinch.
-tameness in Brazilian species.
-occurrence of unpaired.
-Weir's observations on.
Bird of paradise, and polygamy.
Birmingham, British Association meeting (1849).
Bivalves, means of dispersal of freshwater.
Bizcacha, burrowing animal of Patagonia.
Blackbird, variation in tufted.
Blair, Rev. R.H., observations on the blind.
Blake, paper on Elephants in "Geologist."
Blanford, H.F., on an Indo-oceanic continent.
Blanford, W.T., obituary notice of Neumayr by.
Blind, expression of those born.
Blomefield, L., see Jenyns, L.
Bloom, Darwin's work on.
-F. Darwin on connection between stomata and (see also Darwin, F.)
-effect of rain on.
-on leaf of Trifolium resupinatum.
-protection against parasites.
-on seashore plants.
Blow-fly, Lowne on the.
Blyth, Edward (1810-73): distinguished for his knowledge of Indian birds
and mammals. He was for twenty years Curator of the Museum of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, a collection which was practically created by
his exertions. Gould spoke of him as "the founder of the study" of
Zoology in India. His published writings are voluminous, and include,
in addition to those bearing his name, numerous articles in the "Field,
Land and Water," etc., under the signature "Zoophilus" or "Z." He also
communicated his knowledge to others with unsparing generosity, yet--
doubtless the chief part of his "extraordinary fund of information" died
with him. Darwin had much correspondence with him, and always spoke of
him with admiration for his powers of observation and for his judgment.
The letters to Blyth have unfortunately not come into our hands. The
indebtedness of Darwin to Blyth may be roughly gauged by the fact that
the references under his name in the index to "Animals and Plants"
occupy nearly a column. For further information about Blyth see Grote's
introduction to the "Catalogue of Mammals and Birds of Burma, by the
late E. Blyth" in the "Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal," Part
II., Extra number, August 1875; also an obituary notice published at the
time of his death in the "Field." Mr. Grote's Memoir contains a list of
Blyth's writings which occupies nearly seven pages of the "Journal." We
are indebted to Professor Newton for calling our attention to the
sources of this note.
-reference to letter from.
-visits Down.
-on Gallinaceae.
Blytt, Axel Gudbrand (1843-98): the son of the well-known systematist M.N.
Blytt. He was attached to the Christiania Herbarium in 1865, and in 1880
became Professor of Botany in the University. His best-known work is the
essay referred to above, but he was also known for purely systematic work
in Botany as well as for meteorological and geological contributions to
science. The above facts are taken from C. Holtermann's obituary notice in
the "Berichte der Deutschen Bot. Gesell." Volume XVII., 1899.
-essay on immigration of Norwegian flora during alternating rainy and
dry periods.
-letter to.
Bog-Mammoth.
Boiler, comparison with volcano.
Boissier, on plants of S. Spain.
Boissiera, crossing experiments on.
Bolbophyllum, Darwin's account of.
Bolivia, geology of.
Bollaert's "Antiquities of S. America."
Bombus, diversity in generative organs.
-Psithyrus in nests of.
-Pollen-collecting apparatus of male.
Bombycilla, protective colours.
Bombyx, sexes in.
Bonaparte, L., on Basque and Finnish language.
Bonatea speciosa, F. Muller on.
-structure of flower.
Bonney's Edition of Darwin's "Coral Reefs."
-"Charles Lyell and Modern Geology."
Bonnier, G., on alpine plants.
Boragineae, dimorphism in.
Borneo, New Zealand and Australian plants in.
-temperate plants in lowlands.
-possible region for remains of early man.
Bory's Flora of Bourbon.
Bosquet, cirripede monograph sent by Darwin to.
-gives Darwin note on fossil Chthamalus.
Botanical collections (national) consolidation at Kew.
Botanist, Darwin as.
Botany, philosophical spirit in study of.
Boulders, transport of erratic (see also Erratic blocks).
-Darwin on Ashley Heath.
-in Glen Roy.
-on Moel Tryfan.
Bourbon, Bory's Flora of.
Bournemouth, Darwin's visit to.
Bovey Tracey, Heer on fossil plants of.
Bower, Prof. F.O., on Welwitschia.
Bower-bird, Bartlett's experiments on.
-colours discriminated by.
Bowman, W., Letters to.
-supplies Darwin with facts on Expression.
Brachiopods, Morse on.
-Silurian.
Brackish-water plants.
Bradshaw, H., translation of Hebrew letter by.
Brain, Owen on.
-evolution in man.
-Wallace on Natural Selection and Evolution of.
Branchipus, Schmankewitsch's experiments on.
Branta, mentioned in reference to nomenclature of Barnacles.
Brassica sinapistrum, germination at Down of old seeds.
Braun, A., convert to Darwin's views.
Bravais, on lines of old sea-level in Finmark.
Brazil, L. Agassiz's book on.
-Agassiz on glacial phenomena in.
-F. Muller's residence in.
-plants on mountains of.
-basalt in association with granite.
-Darwin on origin of lakes in.
-dimorphism of plants in S.
Bree, Dr., on Celts.
-misrepresents Darwin.
Breeders, views on Selection held by.
Breeding, chapter in "Origin" on.
Brehm, on birds.
Breitenbach, Dr.
Brewster, Sir D., on Glen Roy.
Bridgeman.
Brinton, Dr., attends Darwin.
British Association,
Meetings: Belfast (1874), Birmingham (1849), Cambridge (1862), Ipswich
(1851), Leeds (1858), Liverpool (1870), Manchester (1861), Norwich
(1868), Nottingham (1866), Oxford (1847), Oxford (1860), Southampton
(1846), Swansea (1880), York (1881).
Addresses: Berkeley, Fawcett, Hooker, Hooker on Insular Floras, (see
also Hooker, Sir J.D.), Huxley on Abiogenesis, Lord Kelvin, Wallace on
Birds' Nests.
British Association, Committee for investigation of Coral Atoll by
boring.
British Medical Association, undertakes defence of Dr. Ferrier.
British Museum, disposal of Botanical Collections.
Brodie, Sir Benjamin.
Brongniart, Ad., on Sigillaria.
Bronn, H.G., Letter to.
-on German translation of "Origin."
-reference in his translation of "Origin" to tails of mice as difficulty
opposed to Natural Selection.
-on Natural Selection.
-"Entwickelung."
-"Morphologische Studien."
-"Naturgeschische der drei Reiche."
Brougham, Lord, on Structure of Bees' cells.
-habit of writing everything important three times.
Brown, H.T., and F. Escombe, on vitality of seeds.
-on influence of varying amounts of CO2 on plants.
Brown, R., accompanies Flinders on Australian voyage.
-meets Darwin.
-dilatoriness over King's collection.
-illness.
-on course of vessels in orchid flowers.
-mentioned.
-on pollen-tubes.
-seldom indulged in theory.
Brulle, Gaspard-Auguste (1809-73): held a post in the Natural History
Museum, Paris, from 1833 to 1839; on leaving Paris he occupied the chair
of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at Dijon. ("Note sur la Vie et les
Travaux Entomologiques d'Auguste Brulle" by E. Desmarest. "Ann. Soc.
Entom." Volume II., page 513.)
-reference to work by.
-his pupils' eagerness to hear Darwin's views.
Brunonia, Hamilton on fertilisation mechanism.
Brunton, Sir T. Lauder, letters to.
-letter to Darwin from.
Brydges and Anderson, collection of S. American plants.
Bryophyllum calycinum, Duval-Jouve and F. Muller on movements of leaves.
Bryozoa, specimens found during voyage of "Beagle."
Buch, von, on craters of Albermarle I.
-Darwin's disbelief in his views.
-mentioned.
-"Travels in Norway."
Buckland, William (1784-1856): became a scholar of Corpus Christi
College, Oxford, in 1801; in 1808 he was elected Fellow and ordained
priest. Buckland travelled on horseback over a large part of the
south-west of England, guided by the geological maps of William Smith.
In 1813 he was appointed to the Chair of Mineralogy at Oxford, and soon
afterwards to a newly created Readership in Geology. In 1823 the
"Reliquiae Diluvianae" was published, a work which aimed at supporting
the records of revelation by scientific investigations. In 1824
Buckland was President of the Geological Society, and in the following
year he left Oxford for the living of Stoke Charity, near Whitchurch,
Hampshire. "The Bridgewater Treatise" appeared in 1836. In 1845
Buckland was appointed Dean of Westminster; he was again elected
president of the Geological Society in 1840, and in 1848 he received the
Wollaston medal. An entertaining account of Buckland is given in Mr.
Tuckwell's "Reminiscences of Oxford," London, 1900, page 35, with a
reproduction of the portrait from Gordon's "Life of Buckland."
-on Glen Roy.
-mentioned.
Buckle, Darwin reads book by.
Buckley, Miss.
Buckman, on N. American plants.
Buckman, Prof., experiments at Cirencester.
Bud, propagation by.
-Hooker's use of term.
-fertilisation in.
Bud-variation.
Buenos-Ayres, fossils sent by Darwin from.
Bull-dog, as example of Design.
Bullfinch, experiment on colouring.
-attracted by German singing-bird.
-Weir on pairing.
Bunbury, Sir Charles James Fox, Bart. (1809-85): was born at Messina in
1809, and in 1829 entered Trinity College, Cambridge. At the end of 1837
he went with Sir George Napier to the Cape of Good Hope, and during a
residence there of twelve months Bunbury devoted himself to botanical
field-work, and afterwards (1848) published his "Journal of a Residence at
the Cape of Good Hope." In 1844 Bunbury married the second daughter of Mr.
Leonard Horner, Lady Lyell's sister.
In addition to several papers dealing with systematic and geographical
Botany Bunbury published numerous contributions on palaeobotanical
subjects, a science with which his name will always be associated as one
of those who materially assisted in raising the study of Fossil Plants
to a higher scientific level. His papers on fossil plants were
published in the "Journal of the Geological Society" between 1846 and
1861, and shortly before his death a collection of botanical
observations made in South Africa and South America was issued in book
form in a volume entitled "Botanical Fragments" (London, 1883). Bunbury
was elected into the Royal Society in 1851, and from 1847 to 1853 he
acted as Foreign Secretary to the Geological Society. "Life, Letters,
and Journals of Sir Charles J.F. Bunbury, Bart." edited by his wife
Frances Joanna Bunbury, and privately printed. (Undated.)
-Darwin's opinion of.
-views on Evolution.
-on Agassiz's statements on glaciation of Brazil.
-on plants of Madeira.
-illness.
-mentioned.
Bunsen, Copley medal awarded to.
-mentioned.
Burbidge, F.W., on Malaxis.
Burleigh, Lord.
Burnett.
Busk, G., visit to the Continent with Falconer.
-on caves of Gibraltar.
Butler, A.G., identification of butterflies.
Butler, Dr., Darwin at Shrewsbury School under.
-mentioned.
Butterflies, attracted by colours.
-and mimicry.
-tameness of.
-colour and sexual selection.
-description by Darwin of ticking.
Butterfly-orchis, (see also Habenaria.)
Cabbage, Darwin's work on.
-effect of salt water on.
-Pinguicula and seeds of.
-sleep-movements of cotyledons.
-waxy secretion on leaves.
Caddis-flies, F. Muller on abortion of hairs on legs of.
Caenonympha, breeding in confinement.
Caird, on Torbitt's potato experiments.
Calcutta, J. Scott's position in Botanic Garden.
Callidryas philea, and Hedychium.
Callithrix Sciureus, wrinkling of eyes during screaming.
Calluna vulgaris, in Azores.
Cambrian, piles of unconformable strata below.
Cambridge, Darwin and Henslow.
-Honorary LL.D. given to Darwin.
-mentioned.
-Darwin's recollections of.
-Owen's address.
-Philosophical Society meeting.
-Darwin visits.
-specimens of Darwin's plants in Botanical Museum.
Camel, Cuvier's statement on teeth.
-in N. America.
Cameroons, commingling of temperate and tropical plants.
-Hooker on plants of.
-plants of.
Campanula, fertilisation mechanism.
-C. perfoliata, note by Scott on.
Campanulaceae, crossing in.
Campbell Island, flora.
Campodea, Lord Avebury on.
Canada, Sir William Dawson's work.
Canaries, fertility of hybrids.
-plumage.
-wildness of hybrids.
Canary Islands, flora.
-Humboldt on.
-insects of.
-Madeira formerly connected with.
-relation to Azores and Madeira.
-d'Urville on.
-African affinity of eastern.
-elevation of.
-Von Buch on.
-Trunks of American trees washed on shores of.
Candolle, Alphonse Louis Pierre Pyramus De (1806-93): was the son of
Augustin Pyramus, and succeeded his father as Professor of Botany at
Geneva in 1835. He resigned his Chair in 1850, and devoted himself to
research for the rest of his life. At the time of his father's death,
in 1841, seven volumes of the "Prodromus" had appeared: Alphonse
completed the seventeenth volume in 1873. In 1855 appeared his
"Geographie botanique raisonnee," "which was the most important work of
his life," and if not a precursor, "yet one of the inevitable
foundation-stones" of modern evolutionary principles. He also wrote
"Histoire des Savants," 1873, and "Phytographie," 1880. He was lavish
of assistance to workers in Botany, and was distinguished by a dignified
and charming personality. (See Sir W. Thiselton-Dyer's obituary in
"Nature," July 20th, 1893, page 269.)
-on influence of climate.
-on Cupuliferae.
-on extinction of plants in cultivated land.
-"Geographie botanique."
-letters to.
-on introduced plants.
-on naturalised plants and variation.
-review by Asa Gray of.
-on relation of size of families to range of species.
-on social plants.
-mentioned.
Candolle, C. de, on latent life in seeds.
Canestrini, on proportion of sexes in Bombyx.
Canna, fertilisation of.
Cape of Good Hope (see also Africa).
-Australian flora compared with that of.
-flora.
-variable heaths of.
-Darwin's geological observations on metamorphism at.
-European element in flora.
-Meyer and Doege on plants of.
Cape Tres Montes, the "Beagle's" southern limit.
Caprification, F. Muller in "Kosmos" on.
Capsella bursa-pastoris, cross-fertilisation of.
Carabus, origin of.
-in Chili.
-A. Murray on.
Carbon dioxide, percentage in atmosphere.
Carboniferous period, glacial action.
-subsidence during.
Cardamine, quasi-bulbs on leaves.
Carduelis elegans, length of beak.
Carex.
Carices, of Greenland.
Carlisle, Sir A., on Megatherium.
Carlyle, Mrs., remark on Owen.
Carmichael, on Tristan d'Acunha.
Carmichaelia.
Carnarvonshire, Darwin on glaciers of.
Caroline Islands, want of knowledge on flora.
Carpenter, Dr., on influence of blood in crossing.
Carrier-pigeon (see Pigeon), preference for certain colours in pairing.
Carrot, flowers of.
Carruthers, W., on potato experiments.
Carter, H.J., on reproduction of lower animals and foreshadowing of
Chemotaxis.
Carus, Professor Victor: translated several of Mr. Darwin's books into
German (see "Life and Letters, III., page 48).
-letters to.
Casarea, a snake peculiar to Round Island.
Case, G., Darwin at school of.
Cassia, Darwin's experiments on.
-sleep-movements of leaves.
-two kinds of stamens.
-Todd on flowers of.
Cassini, observations on pollen.
-on ovaries of Compositae.
Cassiope hypnoides.
Castes, Galton on.
Catalpa.
Catasetum, fertilisation of.
-Huxley's scepticism as to mechanism of.
-morphology of flower.
-aerial roots.
-sexual forms of.
-C. saccatum, flower of.
-C. tridentatum, three sexual forms.
Caterpillars, colour and protection.
-experiments by Weir.
Cats, Belgian society to encourage homing of.
-habits of.
Cattell, on crossing sweet peas.
Cattleya, Darwin suggests experiments on.
-self-fertilisation.
Caucasus, wingless insects of.
Cauquenes, baths of.
Cave-fish, reference in the "Origin" to blind.
Cave-rat.
Caves, animals in Australian.
Cavia, specimens collected by Darwin.
Ceara Mountains, L. Agassiz on glaciers of.
Cebus, expression when astonished.
Cecidomyia, ancestor of.
Cedars, Hooker on.
Celebes, geographical distribution in.
Cellaria.
Celosia, experiment on.
Celts, Bree on.
Centipedes, luminosity of.
Centradenia, two sets of stamens in.
-position of pistil.
Cephalanthera, flower.
-single pollen-grains.
-C. grandiflora, fertilisation mechanism.
Cephalopods, Hyatt on embryology of.
-Hyatt on fossil.
Cephalotus.
Cervus campestris, of La Plata.
Cetacea, Lyell on.
Ceylon, Malayan types in.
-plants.
-former connection with Africa.
-dimorphic plants of.
Chaffinch, courtship of.
Chalazal fertilisation, Miss Benson on.
-foreshadowed by Darwin.
-Treub on.
Chalk, occurrence of Angiosperms in.
-as oceanic deposit.
"Challenger" (H.M.S.), reports reviewed by Huxley.
-account of sedimentation in.
Challis, Prof.
Chambers, Robert (1802-71): began as a bookseller in Edinburgh in 1816, and
from very modest beginnings he gradually increased his business till it
became the flourishing publishing firm of W. & R. Chambers. After writing
several books on biographical, historical and other subjects, Chambers
published anonymously the "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation" in
1844; in 1848 his work on "Ancient Sea Margins" appeared; and this was
followed by the "Book of Days" and other volumes. ("Dict. Nat. Biog."
1887; see also Darwin's "Life and Letters," I., pages 355, 356, 362, 363.)
-announced as author of "Vestiges of Creation."
-on derivation of marine from land and fresh-water organisms.
-Darwin visits.
-on Glen Roy.
-on land-glaciation of Scotland.
-letters to.
-letter to Milne-Home from.
-on scepticism of scientific men.
-mentioned.
Chance, use of term.
Chandler, S.E. (see Farmer, J.B.)
Changed conditions, Schmankewitsch's experiments on effect of.
Charles Island, Darwin's plants from.
Charlock, germination of old seeds.
Chatham Island, Darwin's collection of plants from.
-Travers on.
Checks, use of artificial.
Chemotaxis, foreshadowed by Carter.
Chiasognathus Grantii.
Childhood, Charles Darwin's.
Children, Darwin on.
-experiment on emotions of.
-colour-sense.
-coloured compared with white.
-comparison between those of educated and uneducated parents.
-expression.
-development of mind.
-intelligence of monkeys and.
Chili, elevation of coast.
-geology of.
-plants common to New Zealand and.
-Carabus of.
-Darwin on earthquakes and terraces in.
Chillingham cattle, Darwin and Hindmarsh on.
Chiloe, description of.
-forests.
-geology.
-plants on mountains.
-boulders.
China, expedition to.
Chinese, explanation of affinities with Mexicans.
"Chips from a German Workshop," Max Muller's.
Chloeon dimidiatum, Lord Avebury on.
Chlorite, segregation of.
Chlorophyll, Darwin's work on action of carbonate of ammonia on.
Chonos Islands, Darwin's collections of plants from.
-Darwin's account of.
-geology of.
-potato.
Christy, H.
Christy, Miller, on oxlip.
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium.
Chthamalus, in the chalk.
Cicada, experiments on eggs.
-Muller on rivalry of.
-Walsh on.
-C. septendecim, Sharp's account of.
Cinchona, Hooker on different rates of growth in seedlings.
Circumnutation, F. Muller's observations on.
Cirripedes, see Barnacles.
Cistus, hybridism of.
Citrus, unequal cotyledons.
-polyembryonic seeds.
Civilisation, effect on savages.
Claparede, convert to Darwin's views.
-and Mdlle. Royer.
Clapperton's "Scientific Meliorism," letter of Gaskell in.
Clark, on classification of sponges.
Clark, Sir James (1788-1870): was for some years a medical officer in
the Navy; he afterwards practised in Rome till he moved to London in
1826. On the accession of Queen Victoria he was made Physician in
Ordinary and received a baronetcy; he was elected into the Royal Society
in 1832. ("Dict. Nat. Biog." 1857; article by Dr. Norman Moore.)
-on Glen Roy.
Clarke, W.B., "Wreck of the 'Favourite.'"
Clarkia, two kinds of stamens.
-C. elegans.
Classification, Bentham on.
-Cuvier on.
-Dana on mammalian.
-Darwin on.
-Darwin and Huxley on.
-genealogy and.
-value of reproductive organs in.
Clay-slate, metamorphism of.
Cleavage and foliation.
-Darwin on his work on.
-history of work on.
-parallelism of foliation and.
-relation to stratification.
-relation to rock-curves.
-Rogers on.
-Sedgwick on.
-uniformity of foliation and.
-result of chemical action.
-metamorphic schists.
-lines of incipient tearing form planes of.
-Tyndall on Sorby's observations.
Cleistogamic flowers, fertilisation.
-of grass.
-of Oxalis and Viola.
-pollen of.
-comparison with Termites.
Clematis, Darwin's error in work on.
-Darwin's experiments on.
-irritability.
Clematis glandulosa, identified at Down by power of feeling.
Cleodora, specific differences in.
Clethra, absence in Azores.
-remnant of Tertiary Flora.
Clianthus.
Clift, William (1775-1849): Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College
of Surgeons.
-on fossil bones from Australia.
-Owen assistant to.
Climate, changes in.
-effect on species.
-effect on species of birds.
-migration of organisms and change in.
-relation to distribution and structure of plants.
-extinct mammals as evidence of change in.
-and sexual differentiation.
-variation and.
-Lyell on former.
-mild Miocene.
Climbing Plants, Darwin's work on.
-circumnutation of.
-F. Muller's work on.
Clivia, Scott's work on.
Clodd's memoir of Bates.
Close species, absence of intermediate forms between.
-definition of.
-Asa Gray on.
-in warm temperate lands of N. and S. hemispheres.
-relation to flora of N. America.
Clover, relation between bees and.
Club, dinner at Linnean.
-Philosophical.
Coal, Darwin on origin of.
-Lesquereux on the flora of.
-marine marshes and plants of.
-ash of.
Coal period, higher percentage of CO2 during.
Coast-lines, parallelism with lines of volcanoes.
Cobbe, Miss, article in "Theological Review" on "Descent of Man."
Cockburn Island, boulders from.
Cochin hen, experiments on.
Coelogyne, fertilisation mechanism.
Coffea arabica, seeds with two embryos.
Cohn, F., notice in "Cornhill" of his botanical work.
Coldstream, Dr.
Colenso, on Maori races of New Zealand.
Coleoptera, apterous form of Madeira.
-colonisation of ants' nests by.
Colias edusa, wings of.
Collecting, Darwin's early taste for.
Collier, Hon. John: Royal Academician, son-in-law to Professor Huxley.
-Art primer by.
-letter to.
-portrait of Darwin by.
Collingwood, Dr., on mimetic forms.
Colonies, Barrande's.
Colonisation, conditions of.
Coloration, Walsh on unity of.
Colour, butterflies attracted by.
-mimicry in butterflies by means of.
-of dioecious flowers.
-and fertilisation of flowers.
-in grouse, and Natural Selection.
-in birds.
-in male birds, not simply due to Natural Selection.
-Darwin's work on.
-Darwin differs from Wallace in views on.
-evolution of.
-experiments on birds.
-Hackel on lower animals and.
-Krause on.
-Magnus on.
-protection and.
-relation to sex.
-in seeds and fruits.
-and Sexual Selection.
-sense of, in children.
-Wallace on.
Columba aenas, habits of.
-C. livia, descent of pigeons from.
Combretum.
Combs, bees', (see also Bees).
Comparative anatomy, Huxley's book on.
Compensation, belief of botanists in.
Compiler, Darwin's opinion of a.
Compositae, Harvey on.
-Masters' reference to.
-monstrosities in.
-morphological characters.
-Schleiden on.
-Darwin on crossing.
-fertilisation mechanism.
-Hildebrand on dispersal of seeds.
-viscid threads of seeds.
Comte, Huxley on.
Concepcion Island, geology of.
-Darwin's account of earthquake.
Conchoderma, in reference to nomenclature.
Concretions, origin of.
Conditions of life, effect on animals and plants.
-effect on elephants.
-effect on reproductive system.
-hybrids and.
-importance in maintaining number of species.
-species and changes in.
-and sterility.
-variability depends more on nature of organisms than on.
Confervae and sexuality.
Coniferae, abundant in humid temperate regions.
Connecting links.
-Gaudry on.
Conscience, Morley on Darwin's treatment of.
Conspectus crustaceorum, Dana's.
Constancy, in abnormally developed organs.
Contemporaneity, Darwin on.
Continental elevation, volcanic eruptions and.
Continental extension, Darwin on.
-evidence in favour of.
-Hooker on.
-Lyell on.
-and means of distribution.
-New Zealand and.
Continental forms, versus insular.
Continents, inhabitants of islands and.
-movements of.
-Wallace on sinking imaginary.
Controversy, Darwin's hatred and avoidance of.
Convallaria majalis, in Virginia.
Convolvulus, supposed dimorphism of.
Cooling of crust, disagreement among physicists as to rate.
Cope, Edward Drinker (1840-97): was for a short time Professor at Haverford
College; he was a member of certain United States Geological Survey
expeditions, and at the time of his death he held a Professorship in the
University of Pennsylvania. He wrote several important memoirs on
"Vertebrate Paleontology," and in 1887 published "The Origin of the
Fittest."
-style of.
-and Hyatt, theories of.
Copley medal, Darwin and the.
-Falconer, and Darwin's.
-Lindley considered for the.
-awarded to Lyell.
-awarded to Bunsen.
-Darwin describes letter from Hooker as a.
Coquimbo, Darwin visits.
-upraised shells.
Coral islands, and subsidence.
-plants of.
Coral reefs, Darwin's work on.
-Bonney's edition of Darwin's book on.
-A. Agassiz on.
-Dana on.
-fossil.
-Murray on.
-conditions of life of polyps.
-solution by CO2 of.
-subsidence of.
Coral tree, (see Erythrina).
Corallines, nature of.
Cordiaceae, dimorphism in.
Cordilleras, glaciers of.
-high-road for plants.
-plants of.
-birds of.
-comparison between Glen Roy and terraces of.
-Darwin on earth-movements of.
-Forbes on.
-submarine lava-streams.
-volcanic activity and elevation.
Coronilla, Lord Farrer on.
-C. emerus.
-C. varia.
Coryanthes, "beats everything in orchids."
Corydalis, Hildebrand shows falsity of idea of self-fertilisation of.
-C. cava, Hildebrand on self-sterility of.
-C. claviculata, tendrils of.
-C. tuberosa, possible case of reversion in floral structure.
"Cottage Gardener," Darwin offers reward for Hyacinth grafts.
Cotyledons, Darwin's experiments on.
Counterbalance, Watson on divergent variation and.
Cowslips, Primroses and.
-Darwin's experiments on artificial fertilisation.
-homomorphic seedlings.
-loss of dimorphism.
Craig Dhu, shelves of.
Craters, in Galapagos Island.
-of denudation, Lyell on.
-of elevation.
-Darwin on.
Crawford, John (1783-1868): Orientalist, Ethnologist, etc. Mr. Crawford
wrote a review on the "Origin," which, though hostile, was free from
bigotry (see "Life and Letters," II., page 237).)
Creation, acts of.
-doctrine of.
-of species as eggs.
-Owen on.
-Romanes on individual.
Creation-by-variation, doctrine of.
"Creed of Science," Graham's.
Cresy, E., letters to.
Cretaceous flora, Heer on Arctic.
Crick, W.D., letter to.
Crinum, crossing experiments on.
-C. passiflora, fertility of.
Crocker, W., work on hollyhocks.
Croll, James (1821-90): was born at Little Whitefield, in Perthshire.
After a short time passed in the village school, he was apprenticed as a
wheelwright, but lack of strength compelled him to seek less arduous
employment, and he became agent to an insurance company. In 1859 he was
appointed keeper in the Andersonian University and Museum, Glasgow. His
first contribution to science was published in the "Philosophical Magazine"
for 1861, and this was followed in 1864 by the essay "On the Physical Cause
of the Change of Climate during the Glacial Period." From 1867 to 1881 he
held an appointment in the department of the Geological Survey in
Edinburgh. In 1876 Croll was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. His
last work, "The Philosophical Basis of Evolution," was published in the
year of his death. ("Nature," Volume XLIII., page 180, 1891.)
-Darwin on his theory.
-on icebergs as grinding agents.
-letters to.
-Lyell on his theory.
-on sub-aerial denudation.
-on time.
Crookes, Sir W., on spiritualism.
"Cross and Self-fertilisation," Darwin's book on.
Cross-fertilisation, Darwin's experiments on self- and.
-check to endless variability.
-Darwin states that as a rule flowers described as adapted to self-
fertilisation are really adapted to.
-of inconspicuous flowers.
-all plants require occasional.
-small advantages when confined to same plant.
Crosses, fertility and sterility of.
Crossing, agreement between Darwin's and breeders' views.
-counterbalance of.
-Darwin's views on.
-effects of.
-experiments on.
-Hooker's views.
-in animals and plants.
-influence of blood in.
-intermediate character of results.
-Natural Selection and disinclination towards.
-offspring of.
-of primroses and cowslips.
-and sterility.
-Westphalian pig and English boar.
-botanists' work on.
-importance of.
-pains taken by Nature to ensure.
-in Pisum.
-in Primula.
-in individuals of same species.
-F. Muller compliments Darwin on his chapter on.
-and separate sexes in trees.
Crotalaria.
Crotalus.
Cruciferae, action of fungus on roots.
Cruciferous flower, morphology.
Cruger, Dr., on cleistogamic fertilisation of Epidendrum.
-death of.
-on fertilisation of figs.
-on pollinia of Acropera.
-on Melastomaceae.
-on fertilisation of orchids.
Crustacea, comparison of classification of mammals and.
-Darwin on.
-F. Muller on.
-sex in.
Crying, action of children in.
-physiology of.
-wrinkling of eyes in.
Crystal Palace, Darwin's visit to.
Crystals, separation in lava-magmas.
Cucurbita, seeds and seedlings of.
Cucurbitaceae, Dr. Wight on.
Cudham Wood.
Cultivated plants, Darwin's work on.
Cultivation and self-sterility.
Cuming, on Galapagos Islands.
Cupuliferae, A. de Candolle on.
Curculionidae, Schoenherr's catalogue.
Currents, as means of dispersal.
Cuvier, on camels' teeth.
-on classification.
-mentioned.
Cybele, H.C. Watson's.
Cycadaceae, supposed power to withstand excess of CO2.
Cyclas cornea.
Cyclops (H.M.S.) dredging by.
Cynips, dimorphism in.
-Walsh on.
Cypripedium, fertilisation mechanism.
-C. hirsutissimum.
Cyrena, range and variability.
Cytisus Adami, Darwin on.
-note on.
-C. alpinus.
-C. laburnum, graft-hybrids between C. purpureus and.
-J.J. Weir on.
Cyttarogenesis, suggested substitute for pangenesis.
Dallas, W.S., translator of F. Muller's "Fur Darwin."
Dampiera, Hamilton on fertilisation mechanism.
Dana, James Dwight (1813-95): published numerous works on Geology,
Mineralogy, and Zoology. He was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal
Society in 1877, and elected a foreign member in 1884.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-health.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
-on classification of mammalia.
-Darwin's criticism of.
-on Kilauea.
-Lyell on his claims for Royal Society foreign list.
-volume on geology in Wilkes' Reports.
Dareste, C., letter to.
Darwin, Annie: Charles Darwin's daughter.
Darwin, Bernard: Charles Darwin's grandson, observations on, as a child.
Darwin, Caroline (1800-99): Charles Darwin's sister.
-Charles Darwin's early recollections of.
-letter to.
Darwin, Catherine (1810-66): Charles Darwin's sister.
-death.
-letter to.
Darwin, Charles, boyhood.
-went to Mr. Case's school.
-went to Shrewsbury School.
-abused as an atheist.
-Collier's picture of.
-complains of little time for reading.
-contribution to Henslow's biography.
-Copley medal awarded to.
-engagement to Miss Emma Wedgwood.
-Falconer's list of scientific labours of.
-first meeting with Hooker.
-friendship with Huxley.
-on Gray's work on distribution.
-growth of his evolutionary views.
-health.
-honorary degree at Cambridge.
-intimacy with Hooker.
-Judd's recollections of.
-Lamarck and.
-letters to "Nature."
-marriage.
-friendship with F. Muller.
-prefatory note to Meldola's translation of Weismann.
-recollections of Cambridge.
-relation between J. Scott and.
-review on Bates.
-attends meeting of Royal Society.
-slowness in giving up old beliefs.
-tendency to restrict interest to Natural History.
-and the "Vestiges."
-visits London.
-Wallace and.
-and Weismann.
-working hours.
-book on S. American Geology.
-pleasure in angling.
-on making blunders.
-slight knowledge of Botany.
-visits Cambridge.
-love of children.
-on cleavage and foliation.
-on origin of coal.
-his theory of Coral reefs supported by Funafuti boring.
-large correspondence.
-on danger of trusting in science to principle of exclusion.
-death of his child from scarlet fever.
-on difficulty of writing good English.
-feels need of stimulus in work.
-subscribes to Dr. Ferrier's defence.
-on flaws in his reasoning.
-follows golden rule of putting adverse facts in strongest light.
-"Geological Instructions."
-geological work on Lochaber.
-visit to Glen Roy.
-bad handwriting.
-idleness a misery.
-on immortality and death.
-on lavas.
-letter to "Scotsman" on Glen Roy.
-indebtedness to Lyell.
-on Lyell as a geologist.
-on Lyell's "Second Visit to the U.S.A."
-work on Man and Sexual Selection.
-on mountain-chains.
-offer of help to F. Muller.
-never afraid of his facts.
-an honorary member of the Physiological Society.
-pleasure in discussing Geology with Lyell.
-reads paper before Linnean Society.
-A. Rich leaves his fortune to.
-on satisfaction of aiding fellow-workers in Science.
-reminiscences of school-days.
-visits Sedgwick.
-sits to an artist.
-on speculation.
-style in writing.
-gives testimonial in support of Hooker's candidature for Botanical
Chair in Edinburgh.
-theological abuse in the "Three Barriers."
-visits to Abinger.
-visit to Patterdale.
-on vitality of seeds.
-on volcanic phenomena.
-on Welsh glaciers.
-work on action of carbonate of ammonia on plants.
Darwin, Mrs. Charles, impressions of Down.
-letter to.
-passage from Darwin's autobiography on.
-mentioned.
-illness.
Darwin, Emma, see Mrs. Charles Darwin.
Darwin, Erasmus Alvey (1804-81): elder brother of Charles Darwin.
-death of.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
-visit to.
Darwin, Dr. Erasmus: Charles Darwin's grandfather.
-Charles Darwin's preliminary notice to Krause's memoir of.
-Charles Darwin and evolutionary views of.
Darwin, Francis: Charles Darwin's son.
-on bloom and stomata.
-on Dipsacus.
-on Huxley's speech at Cambridge.
-on the Knight-Darwin law.
-on lobing of leaves.
-experiments on nutrition.
-experiments on plant-movements.
-lecture at Glasgow (British Association, 1901) on perceptions of
plants.
-suggestion for Romanes' experiments on intelligence.
-on vivisection.
-on Vochting's work.
-on Wiesner's work.
Darwin, George: Charles Darwin's son.
-success at Cambridge.
-criticism of Wallace.
-elected Plumian Professor at Cambridge.
-suggested experiments with magnetic needles and insects.
-on Galton's work on heredity.
-article in "Contemporary Review" on origin of language.
Darwin, Henrietta (Mrs. Litchfield): Charles Darwin's daughter.
-criticism of Huxley.
Darwin, Horace: Charles Darwin's son.
-remark as a boy on Natural Selection.
-mentioned.
Darwin, Leonard: Charles Darwin's son.
Darwin, Robert W.: Charles Darwin's father.
-letter to.
Darwin, Susan: Charles Darwin's sister.
-alluded to in early recollections of Charles Darwin.
-illness.
-sends Wedgwood ware to Hooker.
Darwin, William Erasmus: Charles Darwin's eldest son.
-on fertilisation of Epipactis palustris.
-letter to.
"Darwin and after Darwin," Romanes'.
"Darwiniana," Asa Gray's.
-extract from Huxley's.
"Darwinsche Theorie," Wagner's book.
"Darwinism," Wallace's.
Darwinismus, at the British Association meeting at Norwich (1868).
Daubeny, Prof. Charles Giles Bridle, F.R.S. (1795-1867): Fellow of
Magdalen College, Oxford; elected Professor of Chemistry in the
University 1822; in 1834 he became Professor of Botany, and in 1840
Professor of Rural Economy.
-invites Darwin to attend British Association at Oxford.
-mentioned.
David, Prof. Edgeworth, and the Funafuti boring.
Dawn of life, oldest fossils do not mark the.
Dawson, Sir J. William, C.M.G., F.R.S. (1820-99), was born at Pictou,
Nova Scotia, and studied at Edinburgh University in 1841-42. He was
appointed Principal of the McGill University, Montreal, in 1855,--a post
which he held thirty-eight years. See "Fifty Years of Work in Canada,
Scientific and Educational," by Sir William Dawson, 1901.
-antagonism to Darwinism.
-criticism of "Origin" by.
-criticism of Hooker's arctic paper.
-Hooker on.
Dayman, Captain, on soundings.
De la Beche, Sir Henry Thomas (1796-1855): was appointed Director of the
Ordnance Geological Survey in 1832; his private undertaking to make a
geological survey of the mining districts of Devon and Cornwall led the
Government to found the National Survey. He was also instrumental in
forming the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street.
Death, Darwin on immortality and.
Decaisne.
Decapods, Zoea stage of.
Dedication of Hackel's "Generelle Morphologie" to Darwin.
Dedoublement, theory of.
Deep-sea soundings, Huxley's work on.
Degeneration, in ammonites.
-of culinary plants.
-and parasitism.
Degradation.
Deification of Natural Selection.
Deinosaurus, and free-will.
Delboeuf's "La Psychologie," etc.
Delpino, F., on Asclepiadeae and Apocyneae.
-on crossing.
-on dichogamy.
-on fertilisation mechanism.
-letter to.
-praises Axell's book.
-mentioned.
Demosthenes, quoted by Darwin.
Denudation, Dana on.
-Darwin on marine.
-comparison of subaerial and marine.
-Ramsay and Jukes overestimate subaerial.
Deodar, Hooker on the.
Deposition and denudation as measure of time.
Derby, Lady, letter to.
Descent, Falconer on intermediate forms.
-from single pair.
-Owen's belief in doctrine of.
-resemblance due to.
Descent of Man.
"Descent of Man," reference in, to effect of climate on species.
-reviewed by John Morley.
-transmission of characters dealt with in.
-Darwin's work on.
-Sir W. Turner supplies facts for.
-Wallace on.
Descent with modification, Wallace on.
Desert animals, and protective colouring.
Design, Darwin on.
-examples of.
-Lord Kelvin on.
Deslongchamps, L., on fertilisation of closed flowers.
Desmodium gyrans, Darwin's experiments on.
-leaf movements.
Development, acceleration and retardation in.
-floral.
-importance of, in classification.
-rate of.
-sudden changes during.
Devonshire Commission, report on physiological investigation at Kew.
Devonshire, flora of.
Dewar, Prof., and Sir Wm. Thiselton-Dyer, on vitality of seeds in liquid
hydrogen.
Diaheliotropism, F. Muller's observations.
Dialogue, title of paper by Asa Gray.
Diatomaceae, beauty of.
-conjugation in.
Dicentra thalictriformis, morphology of tendrils.
Dichaea, fertilisation mechanism.
Dichogamy, Delpino on.
-ignorance of botanists of, prior to publication of "Fertilisation of
Orchids."
Dick, Sir T. Lauder, Survey of Glen Roy by.
Dickens, quotation from.
Dickson, Dr.
Dickson, W.K.
Dicotyledons, Heer on oldest known.
-sudden appearance.
Didelphys.
Digestion, beneficial effect on plants.
Dillwyn, paper in "Gardeners' Chronicle."
Diluvium, tails of.
Dimorphism, in Cynips.
-Darwin on.
-difficult to explain.
-and mimicry.
-in parasitic plants.
-Wallace on.
-Walsh on.
-Weismann on Sexual.
-in Cicadas.
-flowers illustrating.
-Darwin knows no case in very irregular flowers.
-in Melastomaceae.
-in Linum.
-in eight Natural Orders.
-in Primula.
-apparent cases due to mere variability.
-explanation of.
Dingo.
Diodia.
Dioeciousness, origin of.
Dionoea, experiments on.
response to stimuli.
Curtis' observations on.
Dipsacus, F. Darwin on.
Dipterocarpus, survival during glacial period.
Direct action, arguments against.
-Darwin led to believe more in.
-Darwin's desire not to underestimate.
-Darwin's underestimates.
-facts proving.
-Falconer on.
-and hybridity.
-importance of.
-of pollen.
-variation and.
Direction, sense of, in animals.
Disease, Dobell on "Germs and Vestiges" of.
Dispersal, (see also Distribution), of seeds.
-of shells.
Distribution, Forbes on.
-Hooker on Arctic plants.
-of land and sea in former times.
-of plants.
-factors governing.
-of shells.
-Thiselton-Dyer on plant-.
-Wallace on.
-Blytt's work on.
Disuse, Darwin on.
-effect of.
-Owen on.
Divergence, Hooker on.
-principle of.
Diversification, Darwin's doctrine of the good of.
Dobell, H., letter to.
Dogs, descent of.
-experiment in painting.
-expression.
-habits.
-rudimentary tail inherited in certain sheep-.
Dohrn, Dr., visits Darwin.
-serves in Franco-Prussian war.
-extract from letter to.
"Dolomit Riffe," Darwin on Mojsisovics'.
Domestic animals, crossing in.
-Darwin's work on.
-Settegast on.
-variability of.
-treatment in "Variation of Animals and Plants."
Domestication, effects of.
-and loss of sterility.
Domeyko, on Chili.
Dominant forms.
Don, D., on variation.
-mentioned.
Donders, F.C., on action of eyelids.
-letters to.
Dorkings, power of flight.
Down, description of house and country.
-Darwin's satisfaction with his house.
-instances of vitality of seeds recorded from.
-method of determining plants at.
-Darwin on geology of.
-observations on regular lines of flight of bees at.
Down (lanugo), on human body.
Dropmore.
Drosera, F. Darwin's experiments.
-"a disguised animal."
-Darwin's observations on.
-Darwin's pleasure on proving digestion in.
-effect of inorganic substance on.
-experiments on absorption of poison.
-Pfeffer on.
-J. Scott's paper on.
-response to stimuli.
-D. filiformis, experiments on.
-D. rotundifolia, experiments on.
Drosophyllum, vernation of.
-Darwin's work on.
-Drosophyllum lusitanicum, sent by Tait to Darwin.
-used in Portugal to hang up as fly-paper.
Druidical mounds, seeds from.
Drummond, J., on fertilisation in Leschenaultia formosa.
Duchesne, on atavism.
Ducks, period of hatching.
-skeletons.
-hybrids between fowls and.
Dufrenoy, Pierre Armand: published "Memoires pour servir a une
Description Geologique de la France," as well as numerous papers in the
"Annales des Mines, Comptes Rendus, Bulletin Soc. Geol. France," and
elsewhere on mineralogical and geological subjects.
-geological work of.
Duncan, Rev. J., encourages J. Scott's love for plants.
Dung, plants germinated from locust-.
Dutrochet, on climbing plants.
Duval-Jouve, on leaf-movement in Bryophyllum.
Dyer, see Thiselton-Dyer.
Dytiscus, as means of dispersal of bivalves.
Ears, loss of voluntary movement.
-in man and monkeys.
-rudimentary muscles.
-Wallis's work on.
Earth, age of the.
Earth-movements, cause of.
-in England.
-relation to sedimentation.
-subordinate part played by heat in.
Earthquakes, coincidence of shocks in S. America and elsewhere.
-connection with elevation.
-connection with state of weather.
-Darwin on.
-in England.
-frequency of.
-Hopkins on.
-in Scotland.
Earthworms, Darwin's book on.
-geological action of.
-influence of sea-water on.
-F. Muller gives Darwin facts on.
-Typhlops and true.
Echidna, anomalous character of.
Edentata, migration into N. America.
Edgeworth, mentioned.
Edinburgh, Darwin's student-days in.
-Hooker's candidature for Chair of Botany.
"Edinburgh Review," article on Lyell's "Antiquity of Man."
-reference to Huxley's Royal Institution Lectures.
-Owen's article.
Education, effect of.
-influence on children of parents'.
Edwardsia, seeds possibly floated from Chili to New Zealand.
-in Sandwich Is. and India.
Egerton, Sir Philip de Malpas Grey- (1806-81): devoted himself to the
study of fossil fishes, and published several memoirs on his collection,
which was acquired by the British Museum.
Eggs, creation of species as.
-means of dispersal of molluscan.
Ehrenberg, Ascension I. plants sent to.
-on rock-building by infusoria.
-Darwin's wish that he should examine underclays.
Eichler, A.W., on morphology of cruciferous flower.
-on course of vessels as guide to floral morphology.
-reference to his Bluthendiagramme.
Eildon Hills, need of examination of.
Elateridae, luminous thorax of.
Elective affinity.
Electric organs of fishes, the result of external conditions.
Electricity, and plant-movements.
"Elements of Geology," Wallace's review of Lyell's.
Elephants, Falconer's work on.
-rate of increase of.
-and variation.
-found in gravel at Down.
-manner of carrying tail.
-shedding tears.
Elephas Columbi, Falconer on.
-Owen's conduct in regard to Falconer's work on.
-E. primigenius, as index of climate.
-woolly covering of.
-E. texianus, Owen and nomenclature of.
Elevation, in Chili.
-lines of.
-New Zealand and.
-continental extension, subsidence and.
-connection with earthquakes.
-equable nature of movements of subsidence and.
-evidence in Scandinavia and Pampas of equable.
-Hopkins on.
-large areas simultaneously affected by.
-d'Orbigny on sudden.
-rate of.
-Rogers on parallelism of cleavage and axes of.
-sedimentary deposits exceptionally preserved during.
-subsidence and.
-vulcanicity and.
Elodea canadensis, successful American immigrant.
Emberiza longicauda, long tail-feathers and Sexual Selection.
Embryology, argument for.
-succession of changes in animal-.
-Darwin's explanation of.
-of flowers.
-of Peneus.
-Balfour's work on comparative.
Embryonic stages, obliteration of.
Endlicher's "Genera Plantarum."
Engelmann, on variability of introduced plants in N. America.
England, former union with Continent.
-men of science of Continent and.
Entada scandens, dispersal of seeds.
Entomologists, evolutionary views of.
"Entstehung und Begriff der naturhistorischen Art," Nageli's Essay.
-Darwin on.
Environment, and colour protection.
Eocene, Anoplotherium in S. America.
-monkeys.
-mammals.
-co-existence with recent shells.
Eozoon, illustrating difficulty of distinguishing organic and inorganic
bodies.
Ephemera dimidiatum, Lord Avebury on.
Epidendreae, closely related to Malaxeae.
Epidendrum, Cruger on fertilisation of.
-self-fertilisation of.
Epiontology, De Candolle's term.
Epipactis, fertilisation mechanism.
-F. Muller on.
-pollinia of.
-E. palustris, fertilisation mechanism.
Epithecia, fertilisation mechanism.
Equatorial refrigeration.
Equus, Marsh's work on.
-geographical distribution.
-in N. and S. America.
Erica tetralix, Darwin on.
Erigeron canadense, successful immigrant from America.
Erodium cicutarium, introduced from Spain to America.
-range in U.S.A.
Erratic blocks, in Azores.
-in S. America.
-Darwin on transport.
-of Jura.
-Mackintosh on.
-on Moel Tryfan.
Errera, Prof. L., letter to.
-and S. Gevaert, on cross and self-fertilisation.
Eruptions, parallelism of lines of, with coast-lines.
Eryngium maritimum, bloom on.
Erythrina, MacArthur on.
-of New S. Wales.
-sleep movements of.
Erythroxylon, dimorphism of sub-genus of.
Eschscholtzia, crossing and self-fertility.
-Darwin's experiments on self-sterility.
-F. Muller's experiments in crossing.
Eschricht, on lanugo on human embryo.
Escombe, F., on vitality of seeds.
-see Brown, H.T.
Esquimaux, Natural Selection and.
"Essays and Reviews," attitude of laymen towards.
Eternity, Gapitche on.
Etheridge, Robert, F.R.S.: President of Geological Society in 1880-81.
Etna, Sir Charles Lyell's work on.
-map of.
Eucalyptus, species setting seed.
-mentioned.
Euonymus europaeus, dispersal of seeds.
Euphorbia, Darwin on roots of.
-E. peplis, bloom on.
Euphrasia, parasitism of.
Europe, movement of.
Eurybia argophylla, musk-tree of Tasmania, an arborescent Composite.
Evergreen vegetation, connection with humid and equable climate.
Evolution, Darwin's early views.
-Fossil Cephalopods used by Hyatt as test of.
-Huxley's lectures on.
-of mental traits.
-F. Muller's contributions to.
-Nageli's Essay, "Entstehung und Begriff der Naturhistorischen Art."
-Palaeontology as illustrating.
-Romanes' lecture on.
-Saporta's belief in.
-unknown law of.
-of Angiosperms.
-of colour.
-and death.
-Heer opposed to.
-of language.
-Lyell's views (see also Lyell).
-Turner on man and.
-Wallace on.
Ewart, Prof. C., on Telegony.
Exacum, dimorphism of.
Experiments, botanical.
-Tegetmeier's on pigeons.
-time expended on.
Expression, queries on.
-Bell on anatomy of.
-Darwin at work on.
"Expression of the Emotions," Wallace's review.
External conditions, Natural Selection and.
-See also Direct Action.
Extinction, behaviour of species verging towards.
-contingencies concerned in.
-Hooker on.
-races of man and.
-Proboscidea verging towards.
-St. Helena and examples of.
Eyebrows, use of.
Eyes, behaviour during meditation.
-contraction in blind people of muscles of.
-children's habit of rubbing with knuckles.
-gorged with blood during screaming.
-contraction of iris.
-wrinkling of children's.
Fabre, J.H.: is best known for his "Souvenirs Entomologiques," in No.
VI. of which he gives a wonderfully vivid account of his hardy and
primitive life as a boy, and of his early struggles after a life of
culture.
-letters to.
"Facts and Arguments for Darwin," translation of F. Muller's "Fur
Darwin."
-delay in publication.
-sale.
-unfavourable review in "Athenaeum."
Fairy rings, Darwin compares with fungoid diseases in man and animals.
Falconer, Hugh (1809-65): was a student at the Universities of Aberdeen and
Edinburgh, and went out to India in 1830 as Assistant-Surgeon on the Bengal
Establishment. In 1832 he succeeded Dr. Royle as the Superintendent of the
Botanic Gardens at Saharunpur; and in 1848, after spending some years in
England, he was appointed Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanical Garden
and Professor of Botany in the Medical College. Although Falconer held an
important botanical post for many years, he is chiefly known as a
Palaeozoologist. He seems, however, to have had a share in introducing
Cinchona into India. His discovery, in company with Colonel Sir Proby T.
Cautley, of Miocene Mammalia in the Siwalik Hills, was at the time perhaps
the greatest "find" which had been made. The fossils of the Siwalik Hills
formed the subject of Falconer's most important book, "Fauna Antiqua
Sivalensis," which, however, remained unfinished at the time of his death.
Falconer also devoted himself to the investigation of the cave-fauna of
England, and contributed important papers on fossils found in Sicily,
Malta, and elsewhere. Dr. Falconer was a Vice-President of the Royal
Society and Foreign Secretary of the Geological Society. "Falconer did
enough during his lifetime to render his name as a palaeontologist immortal
in science; but the work which he published was only a fraction of what he
accomplished...He was cautious to a fault; he always feared to commit
himself to an opinion until he was sure he was right, and he died in the
prime of his life and in the fulness of his power." (Biographical sketch
contributed by Charles Murchison to his edition of Hugh Falconer's
"Palaeontological Memoirs and Notes," London, 1868; "Proc. R. Soc." Volume
XV., page xiv., 1867: "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXI., page xlv,
1865.) Hugh Falconer was among those who did not fully accept the views
expressed in the "Origin of Species," but he could differ from Darwin
without any bitterness. Two years before the book was published, Darwin
wrote to Asa Gray: "The last time I saw my dear old friend Falconer he
attacked me most vigorously, but quite kindly, and told me, 'You will do
more harm than any ten naturalists will do good. I can see that you have
already corrupted and half spoiled Hooker.'" ("Life and Letters," II.,
page 121.) The affectionate regard which Darwin felt for Falconer was
shared by their common friend Hooker. The following extract of a letter
from Hooker to Darwin (February 3rd, 1865) shows clearly the strong
friendships which Falconer inspired: "Poor old Falconer! how my mind runs
back to those happiest of all our days that I used to spend at Down twenty
years ago--when I left your home with my heart in my mouth like a
schoolboy. We last heard he was ill on Wednesday or Thursday, and sent
daily to enquire, but the report was so good on Saturday that we sent no
more, and on Monday night he died...What a mountainous mass of admirable
and accurate information dies with our dear old friend! I shall miss him
greatly, not only personally, but as a scientific man of unflinching and
uncompromising integrity--and of great weight in Murchisonian and other
counsels where ballast is sadly needed."
-article in "Natural History Review."
-Darwin's Copley medal and.
-Darwin's criticism of his elephant work.
-Darwin's regard for.
-Forbes attacked by.
-his opinion of Forbes.
-goes to India.
-Hooker's regard for.
-letter to Darwin.
-letter to Sharpey.
-letters to.
-letter to "Athenaeum."
-Lyell and.
-on Mastodon andium.
-on Mastodon of Australia.
-on elephants.
-Owen and.
-on phyllotaxis.
-on Plagiaulax.
-speech at Cambridge.
-"Memoirs."
Falkland Islands, Darwin visits.
-Polyborus sp. in.
-brightly coloured female hawk.
-effect of subsidence.
-streams of stones.
Fanciers, use made of Selection by.
Fantails, see Pigeons.
Faraday, memorial to.
Faramea, dimorphism.
Farmer, Prof. J.B., and S.E. Chandler, on influence of excess of CO2 on
anatomy of plants.
Faroe Islands, Polygala vulgaris of.
Farrer, Canon, lecture on defects in Public School Education.
-letter to.
Farrer, Lady.
Farrer, Thomas Henry, Lord (1819-99): was educated at Eton and Balliol
College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar, but gave up practice for the
public service, where he became Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade.
According to the "Times," October 13th, 1899, "for nearly forty years he
was synonymous with the Board in the opinion of all who were brought into
close relation with it." He was made a baronet in 1883; he retired from
his post a few years later, and was raised to the peerage in 1893. His
friendship with Mr. Darwin was of many years' standing, and opportunities
of meeting were more frequent in the last ten years of Mr. Darwin's life,
owing to Lord Farrer's marriage with Miss Wedgwood, a niece of Mrs.
Darwin's, and the subsequent marriage of his son Horace with Miss Farrer.
His keen love of science is attested by the letters given in the present
volume. He published several excellent papers on the fertilisation of
flowers in the "Ann. and Mag. of Natural History," and in "Nature," between
1868 and 1874.
In Politics he was a Radical--a strong supporter of free trade: on this
last subject, as well as on bimetallism, he was frequently engaged in
public controversy. He loyally carried out many changes in the legislature
which, as an individualist, he would in his private capacity have
strenuously opposed.
In the "Speaker," October 21st, 1899, Lord Welby heads his article on Lord
Farrer with a few words of personal appreciation:--
"In Lord Farrer has passed away a most interesting personality. A great
civil servant; in his later years a public man of courage and lofty ideal;
in private life a staunch friend, abounding as a companion in humour and
ripe knowledge. Age had not dimmed the geniality of his disposition, or an
intellect lively and eager as that of a boy--lovable above all in the
transparent simplicity of his character."
-interest in Torbitt's potato experiment.
-letters to.
-on earthworms.
-observations on fertilisation of Passiflora.
-recollections of Darwin.
-seeds sent to.
Fawcett, Henry (1833-84): Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge,
1863, Postmaster-General 1880-84. See Leslie Stephen's well-known "Life."
-defends Darwin's arguments.
-letter to.
-letter to Darwin.
Fear, expression of.
Felis, range.
Fellowships, discussion on abolition of Prize-.
Felspar, segregation of.
Females, modification for protection.
"Fenland, Past and Present," by Miller and Skertchley.
Fergusson on Darwinism.
Fernando Po, plants of.
Ferns, Scott on spores.
-Darwin's ignorance of.
-variability "passes all bounds."
Ferrier, Dr., groundless charge brought against, for infringement of
Vivisection Act.
Fertilisation, articles in "Gardeners' Chronicle."
-of flowers.
-H. Muller's work on.
-and sterility.
-Darwin fascinated by study of.
-different mechanisms in same genus.
-travelling of reproductive cells in.
Fertilisation of orchids, Darwin's work on.
-paper by Darwin in "Gardeners' Chronicle" on.
"Fertilisation of Orchids," Asa Gray's review.
-Hooker's review.
-description of Acropera and Catasetum in.
-H. Muller's "Befruchtung der Blumen," the outcome of Darwin's.
Fertility, Natural Selection and.
-and sterility.
-Primula.
-Scott on varieties and relative.
Festuca.
Figs, F. Muller on fertilisation of.
Finmark, Bravais on sea-beaches of.
Fir (Silver), Witches' brooms of.
"First Principles," Spencer's.
Fish, Pictet and Humbert on fossil.
Fiske, J., letter to.
Fissure-eruptions.
Fitton, reference to his work.
FitzRoy (Fitz-Roy), Captain, and the "Beagle" voyage.
-writes preface to account of the voyage.
-Darwin nearly rejected by.
-letter to "Times."
Flagellaria, as a climber.
Flahault, on the peg in Cucurbita.
Fleeming Jenkin, review of "Origin" by, see Jenkin.
Flinders, M., voyage to Terra Australis by.
Flint implements found near Bedford.
Flints, abundance and derivation of, at Down.
-Darwin on their upright position in gravel.
Floating ice, Darwin on agency of.
-J. Geikie underestimates its importance.
-transporting power of.
Flora, Darwin's idea of an Utopian.
-Hooker's scheme for a.
-Hooker's work on Tasmanian.
"Flora antarctica," Hooker's.
"Flora fossilis arctica," Heer's.
Floras:
N. American.
Arctic.
British.
Colonial.
European.
French.
Greenland.
Holland.
India.
Japan.
New Zealand.
-distribution of.
-of islands.
-local.
-tabulation of.
Florida, A. Agassiz on Coral reefs.
-Coral reefs.
Flourens, experiments on pigeons.
Flower, Sir William H., Letter to.
-on muscles of the os coccyx.
Flowering plants, possible origin on a Southern Continent.
-sudden appearance of.
Flowers, at Down.
-Darwin's work on forms of.
-monstrous.
-morphological characters.
-regular and irregular.
-cross-fertilisation in inconspicuous.
-ignorance of botanists on mechanism of.
"Flowers and their unbidden Guests," Dr. Ogle's translation of Kerner's
"Schutzmittel des Pollens."
Flying machine, Darwin on Popper's proposed.
Folding of strata.
Foliation and cleavage, reference by A. Harker to work on.
Foliation, aqueous deposition and.
-Darwin considers his observations on cleavage less deserving of
confidence than those on.
-Darwin on.
-parallelism with cleavage.
-relation to rock-curvature.
Food, as determining number of species.
Foraminifera.
Forbes, D., on the Cordilleras.
-on elevation in Chili.
-on nitrate of soda beds in S. America.
Forbes, Edward, F.R.S. (1815-1854): filled the office of Palaeontologist to
the Ordnance Geological Survey, and afterwards became President of the
Geological Society; in 1854--the last year of his life--he was appointed to
the chair of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. Forbes
published many papers on geological, zoological, and botanical subjects,
one of his most remarkable contributions being the well-known essay "On the
Connexion between the Distribution of the Existing Fauna and Flora of the
British Isles and the Geological Changes which have affected their area"
("Mem. Geol. Surv." Volume I., page 336, 1846). (See "Proc. Roy. Soc."
Volume VII., page 263, 1856; "Quart. Journl. Geol. Soc." Volume XI., page
xxvii, 1855, and "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." Volume XV., 1855.
-on flora of Azores.
-on Chambers as author of the "Vestiges."
-on continental extension.
-Darwin opposed to his views on continental extension.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-Article on distribution.
-on continuity of land.
-on plant-distribution.
-introductory lecture as professor in Edinburgh.
-on former lower extension of glaciers in Cordillera.
-lecture by.
-letter to Darwin from.
-on Madagascar insects.
-on post-Miocene land.
-Polarity theory.
-on British shells.
-too speculative.
-on subsidence.
-visits Down.
-mentioned.
-royal medal awarded to.
-essay on connection between distribution of existing fauna and flora of
the British Isles and geological changes.
Forbes, H.O., on Melastoma.
Force and Matter, Huxley on.
Forel, Auguste: the distinguished author of "Les Fourmis de la Suisse,"
Zurich, 1874, and of a long series of well-known papers.
-on ants and beetles.
-author of "Les Fourmis de la Suisse."
-letter to.
Forfarshire, Lyell on glaciers of.
"Forms of Flowers," De Candolle's criticism of Darwin's.
homomorphic and heteromorphic unions described in.
Forsyth-Major, zoological expedition to Madagascar.
"Fortnightly Review," Huxley's article on Positivism.
Romanes on Evolution.
Fossil Cephalopods, Hyatt on.
Fossil corals.
Fossil plants, small proportion of.
of Australia.
sudden appearance of Angiosperms indicated by.
Fossil seeds, supposed vivification of.
Fossils as evidence of variability.
Fournier, E., De la Fecundation dans les Phanerogames.
Fowls, difference in sexes.
-purred female.
Fox, tails of, used by Esquimaux as respirators.
Fox, Rev. W. Darwin.
Foxglove, use of hairs in flower.
France, edition of "Origin" in.
-opinion favourable to Darwin's views in.
-birth-rate.
Franco-Prussian war, opinion in England.
-Science retarded by.
Frank, Albert Bernhard (1839-1900): began his botanical career as
Curator of the University Herbarium, Leipzig, where he afterwards became
Privatdocent and finally "Ausserordentlicher Professor." In 1881 Frank
was appointed Professor of Plant-Physiology in the Landwirthschaftliche
Hochschule, Berlin. In 1899 he was appointed to the Imperial
Gesundheits-Amt in Berlin, and raised to the rank of Regierungsrath.
Frank is chiefly known for his work on "The Assimilation of Free
Nitrogen, etc.," and for his work on "The Diseases of Plants" ("Die
Krankheiten der Pflanzen," 1880). It was his brilliant researches on
growth-curvature ("Beitrage zur Pflanzen-physiologie," 1868, and "Die
Naturlichen wagerechte Richtung von Pflanzen-theilen," 1870) which
excited Darwin's admiration.
-Darwin's admiration for his work.
Franklin, Sir J., search expedition.
Fraser, G., letter to.
"Fraser's Magazine," article by Hopkins.
-article by Galton on twins.
-Huxley on review in.
Freemasons' Tavern, meeting held at.
Freewill, a preordained necessity.
Freke, Dr., paper by.
Freshwater, Bee-orchis at.
Freshwater fauna, ocean faunas compared with.
-poverty of.
-preservation of.
Friendly Islands, rats regarded as game.
Fringillidae, colour and sexual selection.
Frogs, article on spawn of.
-F. Muller on.
-salt water and spawn of.
-frozen in glaciers.
Fruits, bright colours of.
Fucus, variation in.
Fuegia, plants of, (see also Tierra del Fuego).
Fumaria (Corydalis) claviculata, Mohl on tendrils.
Fumariaceae, cross- and self-fertilisation.
-morphology of tendrils.
Funafuti, Darwin's theory supported by results of boring in coral island
of.
Fungoid diseases, Darwin on.
Fungus, effect on roots and shoots.
"Fur Darwin," F. Muller's (see "Facts and Arguments for Darwin).
-Darwin quotes.
-Hooker's opinion of.
-publication of.
Furze, seeds and seedlings.
Galapagos Islands, visited during the "Beagle" voyage.
-birds of.
-character of species of, the beginning of Darwin's evolutionary views.
-distribution of animals.
-distribution of plants.
-flora of.
-Hooker on plants of.
-insects.
-craters.
-fissure eruptions in.
-restricted fauna.
-Sandwich Islands and.
-subsidence in the.
Galashiels, terraces near.
Galaxias, distribution of.
Gallinaceae, Blyth on.
-colour of.
Galls, artificial production of.
-Cynips and.
-hybrids and.
-Walsh on willow-.
Gallus bankiva, colour of wings.
-colour and environment.
-wings of.
Galton, F., experiments on transfusion of blood.
-letters to.
-letter to Darwin from.
-on twins.
-on variation.
-on heredity.
-on human faculty and its development.
-on prayer.
-proposal to issue health certificates for marriage.
Game-cock and Sexual Selection.
Gamlingay, lilies-of-the-valley at.
Ganoid fishes, preservation in fresh water.
Gapitche, A., letter to.
"Gardeners' Chronicle," Darwin's article on fertilisation.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-Darwin's experiment on immersion of seeds in salt water.
-article on Orchids.
-Harvey on Darwin.
-Rivers' articles.
-Wallace on nests.
-Darwin's index.
Gardner, G., "Travels in the Interior of Brazil."
Gartner, on Aquilegia.
-experiments on crossing and variation.
-on Primula.
-on Verbascum.
-Darwin's high opinion of his "Bastarderzeugung."
-Beaton's criticism of.
-on self-fertilisation in flowers.
-mentioned.
Gaskell, G.A., Letter to.
Gatke, on "Heligoland as an Ornithological Observatory."
Gaudry, Albert: Professor of Palaeontology in the Natural History
Museum, Paris, Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London, author of
"Animaux Foss. et Geol. de l'Attique."
-letter to.
-on Pikermi fossils.
Gay, on lizards.
Gazania.
Gegenbauer, Karl: Professor of Anatomy at Heidelberg.
-as convert to Darwinism.
-views on regeneration.
Geikie, Sir A., on age of the Earth.
-edition of "Hutton's Theory of the Earth."
-memoir of Sir A.C. Ramsay.
Geikie, Prof. J., "Ice Age."
-on intercrossing of erratics.
-Letters to.
-"Prehistoric Europe."
-Presidential address, Edinburgh British Association meeting.
Geitonogamy, Kerner suggests term.
Gemmation and dimorphism.
Gemmules, in reproductive organs.
-and bud-variation.
Genealogy and classification.
Genera, aberrant.
-range of large and small.
-variation of.
-Wallace on origin of.
"Genera Plantarum," work on the.
Generalisations, evil of.
-easier than careful observation.
-importance.
"Generelle Morphologie," Darwin on Hackel's.
"Genesis of Species," Mivart's
Geographical distribution, L. Agassiz on.
-Darwin on.
-Darwin's high opinion of value of.
-Darwin's interest in.
-E. Forbes on.
-Huxley on birds and.
-proposed work by Hooker on.
-relation of genera an important element in.
-Humboldt the founder of.
"Geographical Distribution of Animals," Darwin's criticism of Wallace's.
"Geographical Distribution of Mammals," A. Murray's.
Geographical regions, Darwin on.
Geological Committee on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
"Geological Gossip," Ansted's.
"Geological Instructions," Darwin's manual of.
"Geological Observations in S. America," Darwin's.
-Darwin on his.
Geological record, imperfection of the.
-Morse on the.
Geological Society, award of medal to Darwin.
-Darwin signs Hooker's certificate.
-museum of.
-Darwin attends Council meeting.
Geological Survey, foundation of.
-investigation of the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
Geological Time, article in "N. British Review."
Geologist, Darwin as.
Geologists, evolutionary views of.
Geology, arguments in favour of evolution from.
-chapter in "Origin" on.
-practical teaching of.
-English work in.
-Hooker talks of giving up.
-Lyellian school.
-progress of.
Geotropism, Darwin on.
German, Darwin's slight knowledge of.
Germany, converts to evolution in.
-opinion on the "Origin" in.
-Englishmen rejoice over victory of.
Germination of seeds, Darwin's experiments on effect of salt water.
"Germs and Vestiges of Disease," Dobell's.
Gesneria, Darwin on dimorphism of.
Gestation of hounds.
Gibraltar, elevation and subsidence of.
Gilbert, Sir J.H.: of Rothamsted.
-letter to.
-on nitrogen in worms' casting.
-and Sir J. Lawes, Rothamsted experiments.
Glacial period, absence of phanerogams near polar regions in N. America
during.
-Bates on.
-climatic changes since.
-conditions during.
-continental changes since.
-Darwin's views on geographical changes as cause of.
-destruction of organisms during.
-destruction of Spanish plants in Ireland.
-distribution of organisms affected by.
-duration of.
-effect on animals and plants.
-and elephants.
-S.E. England dry land during.
-Greenland depopulated during.
-introduction of Old World forms into New World subsequent to.
-migration during.
-mundane character of.
-subsidence of Alps during.
-Croll on.
-existence of Alpine plants before.
-Hooker on.
-Glen Roy and.
-Lyell on.
-extinction of mammals during.
-Wallace on.
-movement of Europe since and during.
Glaciers, Agassiz on.
-Lyell on.
-Tyndall's book on.
-as agents in the formation of lakes.
-Darwin on structure of.
-Hooker on Yorkshire.
-Moseley on motion of.
-physics of.
-Parallel Roads of Glen Roy formed by.
-rock-cavities formed by cascades in.
-in S. America.
-in Wales.
Gladstone, Herbert Spencer on criticisms by.
Glass, Dr., on grafting sugar-canes.
Glen Collarig, absence of terminal moraines.
-terraces in.
Glen Glaster, absence of terminal moraines.
-barriers of detritus.
-Milne on.
-shelves of.
Glen Gluoy, shelves of.
Glen Roy, Parallel Roads of.
-L. Agassiz on.
-Darwin on.
-Darwin's mistake over.
-Darwin on ice-lake theory of Agassiz and Buckland.
-glacier theory of.
-history of work on.
-Hooker on.
-marine theory of.
-Milne-Home's paper on.
-investigated by Geological Survey.
-coincidence of shelves with watersheds.
-measurement of terraces.
Glen Spean.
Glen Turret, MacCulloch on.
Gloriosa, Darwin's experiments on leaf-tendrils.
Glossotherium Listai.
Gloxinia, peloric forms of.
Gnaphalium.
Gneiss, Darwin on.
God, Darwin on existence of personal.
Godron, on Aegilops.
Godron's "Flora of France."
Goethe, Darwin's reference to.
-Owen on.
Goldfinch, difference in beaks of male and female.
Gongora, and Acropera.
-Darwin on.
-G. fusca (see Acropera luteola).
-G. galeata (see A. Loddigesii).
Gondwana Land.
Goodenia, Hamilton on fertilisation of.
Goodeniaceae.
Gordon, General, Huxley on Darwin and.
Gosse, E., "Life of P.H. Gosse" by.
Gosse, Philip Henry (1810-88): was an example of that almost extinct type--
a naturalist with a wide knowledge gained at first hand from nature as a
whole. This width of culture was combined with a severe and narrow
religious creed, and though, as Edmund Gosse points out, there was in his
father's case no reconcilement of science and religion, since his
"impressions of nature" had to give way absolutely to his "convictions of
religion," yet he was not debarred by his views from a friendly intercourse
with Darwin. He did much to spread a love of Natural History, more
especially by his seaside books, and by his introduction of the aquarium--
the popularity of which (as Mr. Edmund Gosse shows) is reflected in the
pages of "Punch," especially in John Leech's illustrations. Kingsley said
of him (quoted by Edmund Gosse, page 344) "Since White's "History of
Selborne" few or no writers on Natural History, save Mr. Gosse and poor Mr.
Edward Forbes, have had the power of bringing out the human side of
science, and giving to seemingly dry disquisitions...that living and
personal interest, to bestow which is generally the special function of the
poet." Among his books are the "Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica," 1851; "A
Naturalist's Rambles on the Devonshire Coast," 1853; "Omphalos," 1857; "A
Year at the Shore," 1865. He was also author of a long series of papers in
scientific journals.
-letter to.
Gould, on sex in nightingales.
Gower Street, Darwin's house in.
Gradation in plants.
Graft-hybrids, experiments on.
-of Cytisus.
-Hildebrand on.
-of potatoes.
-of sugar-canes.
Grafting, Darwin on.
-difficulty of.
-in hyacinth bulbs.
Graham's "Creed of Science."
Gramineae, Darwin on crossing.
Granite, explanation of association with basalt.
Grasses, range of genera.
-cleistogamous.
-fertilisation of.
-F. Muller on Brazilian.
Gratiolet, on behaviour of eyes in rage.
Gravity, comparison between variation and laws of.
Gray, Asa (1810-88): was born in the township of Paris, Oneida Co., New
York. He became interested in science when a student at the Fairfield
Academy; he took his doctor's degree in 1831, but instead of pursuing
medical work he accepted the post of Instructor in Chemistry, Mineralogy,
and Botany in the High School of Utica. Gray afterwards became assistant
to Professor Torrey in the New York Medical School, and in 1835 he was
appointed Curator and Librarian of the New York Lyceum of Natural History.
From 1842 to 1872 he occupied the Chair of Natural History in Harvard
College, and the post of Director of the Cambridge Botanical Gardens; from
1872 till the time of his death he was relieved of the duties of teaching
and of the active direction of the Gardens, but retained the Herbarium.
Professor Gray was a Foreign Member of the Linnean and of the Royal
Societies. The "Flora of North America" (of which the first parts appeared
in 1838), "Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, the Botany
of Commodore Wilkes' South Pacific Exploring Expedition" are among the most
important of Gray's systematic memoirs; in addition to these he wrote
several botanical text-books and a great number of papers of first-class
importance. In an obituary notice written by Sir Joseph Hooker, Asa Gray
is described as "one of the first to accept and defend the doctrine of
Natural Selection..., so that Darwin, whilst fully recognising the
different standpoints from which he and Gray took their departures, and
their divergence of opinion on important points, nevertheless regarded him
as the naturalist who had most thoroughly gauged the "Origin of Species,"
and as a tower of strength to himself and his cause" ("Proc. R. Soc."
Volume XLVI., page xv, 1890: "Letters of Asa Gray," edited by Jane Loring
Gray, 2 volumes, Boston, U.S., 1893).
-articles by.
-as advocate of Darwin's views.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-on Hooker's Antarctic paper.
-on large genera varying.
-letters to Darwin from.
-letters to.
-on Darwin's views.
-plants of the Northern States.
-on variation.
-book for children by.
-on crossing.
-visits Down.
-on dimorphism.
-on Agassiz.
-extract from letter to G.F. Wright from.
-on fertilisation of Cypripedium.
-on Gymnadenia tridentata.
-on Habenaria.
-on Passiflora.
-on relative ranges of U. States and European species.
-on Sarracenia.
-mentioned.
Gray, Mrs.
Gray, Dr. John Edward, F.R.S. (1800-75): became an assistant to the
Natural History Department of the British Museum in 1824, and was
appointed Keeper in 1840. Dr. Gray published a great mass of zoological
work, and devoted himself "with unflagging energy to the development of
the collections under his charge." ("Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." Volume XV.,
page 281, 1875.)
-and British Museum.
Greatest Happiness principle.
Grebes, as seed-eaters.
Greenland, absence of Arctic Leguminosae.
-connection with Norway.
-flora of.
-introduction of plants by currents.
-as line of communication of alpine plants.
-migration of European birds to.
Greg, W.R.: Author of "The Enigmas of Life," 1872.
-Darwin on his "Enigmas of Life."
-letter to.
Grey, Sir G., on Australian Savages.
Grinnell expedition, reference to the second.
Grisebach, A.
Grisebach, A.W.
Grossulariaceae.
Grouse, Natural Selection and colours of.
-Owen describes as distinct creation.
Grypotherium Darwini.
-G. domesticum.
Guiana, Bates on.
Gulf-weed, Darwin on.
Gully Dr.
Gunther, Dr., visit to Down.
Gurney, E., articles in "Fortnightly" and "Cornhill."
-"Power of Sound."
Gymnadenia, course of vessels in flower of.
-Asa Gray on.
-penetration by pollen of rostellum.
Gynodioecism in Plantago.
Haast, Sir Julius von, (1824-87): published several papers on the
Geology of New Zealand, with special reference to glacial phenomena.
("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXI., pages 130, 133, 1865; Volume
XXIII., page 342, 1867.)
-on glacial deposits.
Habenaria, Azorean species (see also Peristylus viridis).
-course of vessels in flower.
-Lord Farrer on.
-morphology of flower.
-H. bifolia, flowers.
-a subspecies of H. chlorantha.
-H. chlorantha, considered by Bentham a var. of H. bifolia.
-structure of ovary.
Hackel, E., convert to Darwin's views.
-"Generelle Morphologie."
-Die Kalkschwamme.
-"Freedom in Science and Teaching."
-letters to.
-on pangenesis.
-proposed translation of his book.
-on reviews of "Origin" in Germany.
-on sponges.
-substitutes a molecular hypothesis for pangenesis.
-visits Down.
-on absence of colour-protection in lower animals.
-on change of species.
-on Linope.
-on medusae.
Haematoxylon, bloom-experiments on.
-sleep-movements.
Halictus, Fabre's paper on.
Halimeda, Darwin's description of.
Halleria, woody nature of.
Hallett, on varieties of wheat.
Hamilton, on fertilisation of Dampiera.
Hamilton, Sir W., on Law of Parsimony.
Hancock, Albany (1806-73): author of many zoological and palaeontological
papers. His best-known work, written in conjunction with Joshua Alder, and
published by the Ray Society is on the British Nudibranchiate Mollusca.
The Royal Medal was awarded to him in 1858.
-on British shells.
-and Royal medal.
Hanley, Dr., Darwin's visit to.
Harker, A., note on Darwin's work on cleavage and foliation.
Hartman, Dr., on Cicada septendecim.
"Harvesting Ants and Trap-door Spiders," Moggridge's.
Harvey, William Henry (1811-66): was the author of several botanical
works, principally on Algae; he held the botanical Professorship at
Trinity College, Dublin, and in 1857 succeeded Professor Allman in the
Chair of Botany in Dublin University. (See "Life and Letters," II.,
pages 274-75.)
-criticism of "Origin."
-Darwin's opinion of his book.
-letter to.
-mentioned.
-on variation in Fucus.
Haughton, Samuel (1821-97): author of "Animal Mechanics, a Manual of
Geology," and numerous papers on Physics, Mathematics, Geology, etc. In
November 1862 Darwin wrote to Sir J.D. Hooker: "Do you know whether
there are two Rev. Prof. Haughtons at Dublin? One of this name has made
a splendid medical discovery of nicotine counteracting strychnine and
tetanus? Can it be my dear friend? If so, he is at full liberty for
the future to sneer [at] and abuse me to his heart's content."
Unfortunately, Prof. Haughtons' discovery has not proved of more
permanent value than his criticism on the "Origin of Species."
-on Bees' cells.
-on depth of ocean.
-review by.
-mentioned.
Hawaiian Islands, Hillebrand's Flora.
-plants.
Hawks and owls as agents in seed-dispersal.
-bright colours in female.
Head, expression in movement of.
Hearne, on black bear.
Heat, action on rocks.
Heathcote, Miss.
Heaths, as examples of boreal plants in Azores.
-and climate.
Heberden, Dr., mentioned.
Hector.
Hedgehog, movements of spines.
Hedychium, Darwin's prediction as to fertilisation of.
-paraheliotropism.
Hedyotis, dimorphism of.
Hedysarum, Darwin's experiments on (see Desmodium gyrans).
Heer, Oswald (1809-83): was born at Niederutzwyl, in the Canton of St.
Gall, Switzerland, and for many years (1855-82) occupied the chair of
Botany in the University of Zurich. While eminent as an entomologist Heer
is chiefly known as a writer on Fossil Plants. He began to write on
palaeobotanical subjects in 1841; among his most important publications,
apart from the numerous papers contributed to scientific societies, the
following may be mentioned: "Flora Tertiaria Helvetiae," 1855-59; the
"Flora Fossilis Arctica," 7 volumes, 1869-83; "Die Urwelt der Schweiz,"
1865; "Flora Fossilis Helvetiae," 1876-7. He was awarded the Wollaston
medal of the Geological Society in 1874, and in 1878 he received a Royal
medal. (Oswald Heer, "Bibliographie et Tables Iconographiques," par G.
Malloizel, precede d'une Notice Biographique" par R. Zeiller; Stockholm.)
-on continental extension.
-on plants of Madeira.
-on origin of species from monstrosities.
-Darwin sends photograph to.
-"Flora fossilis arctica."
-letter to.
Heeria (see also Heterocentron).
-F. Muller on.
Heifers, and sterility.
Helianthemum, Baillon's observations on pollen.
Heligoland, birds alight on sea near.
Heliotropism, experiments on.
-of roots.
Hemsley, W.B., mentioned.
Hennessey.
Henry, I.A. (see Anderson-Henry)
-letter to.
Henslow, Prof. J.S., life of.
-Darwin's affection for.
-Darwin's Cambridge recollections of.
-death of.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
-on Mus messorius.
-visits Down.
-Darwin on his parish work.
-work on crossing.
Henslow, Miss, mentioned.
Herbaceous orders, in relation to trees.
Herbert, Dean, on heaths of S. Africa.
-on Polygala.
-on Cytisus Adami.
-on self-fertility of Hippeastrum.
-mentioned.
"Hereditary Genius," Francis Galton's.
Hereditary Improvement, Francis Galton on.
Heredity, Darwin's criticism of Galton's theory.
Hermaphroditism, in trees.
-Weir on Lepidoptera and.
-and nature of generative organs.
Herminium monorchis.
Heron, Sir R., on peacocks and colour.
Herons, as fruit-feeders.
Herschel, Sir J.F.W., edits "Manual of Scientific Enquiry."
-on Natural Selection.
-on the "Origin."
-"Physical Geography."
-on providential laws.
-on heating of rocks.
-on importance of generalising.
-on study of languages.
-versus Lyell on volcanic islands.
-mentioned.
Heteranthera, two kinds of stamens.
-H. reniformis.
Heterocentron, experiments on.
-seeds of.
-two kinds of stamens.
-H. roseum, fertilisation mechanism of.
Heterogeny, Owen on.
Heteromorphic, use of term.
Heterosmilax, de Candolle on.
Heterostylism, Darwin's experiments on.
-example in monocotyledons of.
Hewitt, on pheasant-hybrids.
-mentioned.
Hibiscus.
Hicks, H., on pre-Cambrian rocks.
Hieracium, American species.
-Nageli on.
-variability of.
Highness, lowness and.
Hilaire, A. St., see St. Hilaire.
Hildebrand, F., article in "Botanische Zeitung."
-experiments on direct action of pollen.
-"Die Lebensdauer der Pflanzen."
-letter to.
-crossing work by.
-on Delpino's work.
-on dispersal of seeds.
-self-sterility in Corydalis cava.
-"Geschlechter-Vertheilung bei den Pflanzen."
-on orchids.
-on ovules formed after pollination.
-experiment on potatoes.
-on Salvia.
-mentioned.
Hilgendorf, controversy with Sandberger.
Hillebrand's Flora of the Hawaiian Islands.
"Himalayan Journals," dedicated by Hooker to Darwin.
"Himalayan Plants, Illustrations of."
Himalayas, British plants in.
-commingling of temperate and tropical plants.
-tortoise of.
-ice-action in.
-mixed character of the vegetation.
Hinde, Dr., examination of Funafuti coral-reef cores by.
Hindmarsh, L., letter to.
Hippeastrum, Herbert on self-sterility of.
Hippopotamus, fossil in Madagascar.
Historic spirit, J. Morley's criticism of Darwin's lack of.
Hitcham, collection of Azorean plants made near.
Hobhouse, Sir A., Darwin meets.
Hochberg, K., letter to.
Hofmann, A.W., receives royal medal.
Holland, evolutionary opinions in.
-flora of.
Holland, Sir H., on pangenesis.
-mentioned.
-on influence of mind on circulation.
Holly, effective work of insects in fertilisation of.
Hollyhock, Darwin's crossing experiments.
Holmsdale.
Home, see Milne-Home.
Homing experiments.
Homo, Pithecus compared with.
Homology, analogy and.
-course of vessels in flowers as guide to.
Homomorphic, use of term.
Honeysuckle, oak-leaved variety.
Hooker, Mrs., assists Sir J.D. Hooker.
Hooker, Sir J.D., addresses at British Association meetings.
-on Arctic plants.
-Australian Flora by.
-botanical appointment.
-C.B. conferred upon.
-on coal plants and conditions of growth.
-criticism on Lyell's work.
-on Darwin's MS. on geographical distribution.
-Darwin's admiration for letters of.
-Darwin assisted in his work by.
-Darwin on good gained by "squabbles" with.
-Darwin on success of.
-enjoyment of correspondence with Darwin.
-expedition to Syria.
-extract from letter to.
-Falconer and.
-first meeting with Darwin.
-on Insular Floras.
-introductory essay to Flora of Tasmania.
-lecture at Royal Institution.
-letters to.
-letters to Darwin from.
-on new colonial flora.
-on New Zealand flora.
-on Natural Selection.
-on naturalised plants.
-on the "Origin."
-and Owen.
-on pangenesis.
-on plants of Fernando Po and Abyssinia.
-on preservation of tropical plants during cool period.
-and reviews.
-royal medal awarded to.
-and J. Scott.
-on species.
-on Torbitt's potato experiments.
-on use of terms centripetal and centrifugal.
-on variation in large and small genera.
-on Welwitschia.
-on Cameroon plants.
-Darwin on his address at Belfast.
-Darwin writes testimonial for.
-Darwin values scientific opinion of.
-Darwin receives encouragement from.
-Darwin's pleasure at visits from.
-on Glacial period.
-on Glacial deposits in India.
-on glaciers in Yorkshire.
-notice in "Gardeners' Chronicle" on.
-photograph by Mrs. Cameron.
-Primer of Botany by.
-review of Darwin's "Fertilisation of Orchids."
-scheme for Flora.
-represents "whole great public" to Darwin.
-use of structure in plants.
-visits Down.
-opinion of "Fur Darwin."
-mentioned.
Hooker, Sir William Jackson (1785-1865): was called to the Chair of Botany
at Glasgow in 1820, where by his success as a teacher he raised the annual
fees from 60 pounds to 700 pounds. In 1841 he became Director of the Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew, which under his administration increased enormously
in activity and importance. His private Herbarium, said to be "by far the
richest ever accumulated in one man's lifetime," formed the nucleus of the
present collection. He produced, as author or editor, about a hundred
volumes devoted to Botany ("Dict. of Nat. Biog.").
-Herbarium at Kew belonging to.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Hopkins, William, F.R.S. (1793-1866) entered Peterhouse, Cambridge, at
the age of thirty, and in 1827 took his degree as seventh wrangler. For
some years Hopkins was very successful as a mathematical tutor; about
1833 he began to take a keen interest in geological subjects, and
especially concerned himself with the effects of elevating forces acting
from below on the earth's crust. He was President of the Geological
Society in 1851 and 1852 ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXIII., page
xxix, 1867).
-Article in "Fraser's Magazine."
-on elevation and earthquakes.
-on mountain-building.
-researches in physical geology.
-mentioned.
Horner, Leonard, F.R.S. (1785-1862): was born in Edinburgh, at the age
of twenty-one he settled in London, and devoted himself more
particularly to Geology and Mineralogy, returning a few years later to
Edinburgh, where he took a prominent part in founding the School of Art
and other educational institutions. In 1827 Mr. Horner was invited to
occupy the post of Warden in the London University,a position which he
resigned in 1831; he also held for some years an Inspectorship of
Factories. As a Fellow of the Royal Society, Mr. Horner "took an active
part in bringing about certain changes in the management of the Society,
which resulted in limiting to fifteen the number of new members to be
annually elected..." In 1846 Horner was elected President of the
Geological Society; and in 1860 he again presided over the Society, to
the interests of which he had long devoted himself. His contributions
to the Society include papers on Stratigraphical Geology, Mineralogy,
and other subjects.--"Memoirs of Leonard Horner," edited by his
daughter, Katherine M. Lyell (privately printed, 1890).
-letters to.
-memoirs of.
-address to Geological Society.
-on coal.
-on Darwin's "Geological Observations."
-visits Down.
-mentioned.
Horner, Mrs. L.
Horse, ancestry.
-Arab-Turk and English race-.
-hybrids between Quagga and.
-in N. and S. America.
-equality of sexes in race-.
Horsfall, W., letter to.
Hottonia, dimorphism of.
Hounds, gestation of.
Howard, L.O.
Hoya carnosa, Darwin's work on.
Humble-bees, as agents of fertilisation of orchids.
Humboldt, Bates' description of tropical forests compared with that by.
-conversation with.
-on heath regions.
-on migration and double creation.
-"Personal Narrative."
-on violet of Teneriffe.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-on elevation and volcanic activity.
-mentioned.
Humboldt and Webb, on Zones on Teneriffe.
Hume, Darwin on Huxley's "Life" of.
Humming-birds, agents of fertilisation.
Hunger, expression by sheldrakes of.
Husbands, resemblance between wives and.
Hutton, Frederick Wollaston, F.R.S., formerly Curator of the Canterbury
Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand, author of "Darwinism and Lamarckism, Old
and New," London, 1899.
-letter to.
-review of "Origin."
Hutton, James, (1726-97): author of "Theory of the Earth."
Huxley, L., reference to his "Life of T.H. Huxley."
-information given by.
Huxley, Prof. T.H., biographical note, Volume I.
-Article in "Annals and Magazine" in reply to Falconer.
-on Aphis.
-on automatism.
-catalogue of collections in Museum of Practical Geology.
-comparative anatomy by.
-on Comte.
-on Cuvier's classification.
-Darwin's value of his opinion.
-election to the Athenaeum.
-friendship with Darwin.
-on growth of Darwin's views.
-lectures at the Royal Institution.
-lectures on evolution by.
-lectures to working men.
-legacy and gift to.
-letters to.
-"Life of Hume."
-"Man's Place in Nature."
-marriage.
-misrepresented by Owen.
-founds "Natural History Review."
-obituary notice of Darwin.
-on the "Origin of Species."
-on Owen's archetype book.
-president of the British Association meeting at Liverpool (1870).
-on Priestley.
-quoted by Lord Kelvin as an unbeliever in spontaneous generation.
-reviews by.
-review of "Vestiges of Creation" by.
-on Sabine's address.
-on saltus.
-prefatory note to Hackel's "Freedom in Science and Teaching."
-address to Geological Society (1869).
-on classification of man.
-on contemporaneity.
-on Catasetum.
-on deep-sea soundings.
-legacy from A. Rich.
-on Lyell's "Principles."
-on use of term physiological species.
-on vivisection.
-and H.N. Martin, "Elementary Biology" by.
-mentioned.
Huxley, Mrs. T.H., queries on expression sent by Darwin to.
-observations on child crying.
-mentioned.
Hyacinth, experiment on bulbs.
Hyatt, Alpheus (1838-1902): was a student under Louis Agassiz, to whose
Laboratory he returned after serving in the Civil War, and under whom he
began the researches on Fossil Cephalopods for which he is so widely known.
In 1867 he became one of the Curators of the Essex Institute of Salem,
Mass. In 1870 he was made Custodian, and in 1881 Curator of the Boston
Society of Natural History. He held professorial chairs in Boston
University and in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and "was at
one time or another officially connected with the Museum of Comparative
Zoology and the United States Geological Survey." See Mr. S. Henshaw
("Science," XV., page 300, February 1902), where a sketch of Mr. Hyatt's
estimable personal character is given. See also Prof. Dall in the "Popular
Science Monthly," February 1902.
-and Hilgendorf.
-letters to.
-letters to Darwin from.
-on tetrabranchiata.
Hyatt and Cope, theories of.
Hybridism, chapter in "Origin" on.
-Bentham's address on.
-treatment by Darwin in "Variation of Animals and Plants."
Hybrids, and adaptation.
-Darwin's views on.
-evidence in favour of pangenesis from.
-experiments on.
-fertility of.
-intermediate character of.
-primrose and cowslip.
-article in "Quarterly Review" on.
-sterility of.
-Max Wichura on.
-Bronn on.
-F. Muller's work on.
-and heterostyled plants.
-rarity of natural.
-J. Scott's work on.
-tendency to reversion.
Hydra, sexuality of.
Hydropathy, Darwin and.
Hydrozoa, alternation of generations in.
Hymenoptera, affinities of.
-H. Muller on.
Hypericum perforatum, a social plant in U.S.A.
Hyracotherium cuniculus, Owen on.
Iberis, mucus in seeds of.
Ice, as agent in dispersal of boulders.
-agent in dispersal of plants.
-Forbes on transport by.
-agent in lake-formation.
-cleavage in.
-work of, a new factor in geology.
Ice-action, on land and sea.
Icebergs, as factor in explaining European plants in Azores.
-Croll on action of.
-Darwin on.
-evidence in S. America of.
-Hopkins on action of.
Ice-cap, of Arctic regions.
Iceland, importance of records of volcanic phenomena in.
Ignorance, Darwin on immensity of man's.
Ilkley, Darwin's visit to.
Illegitimate offspring, need for repetition of Darwin's experiments on
plants'.
Imatophyllum.
Immortality, Darwin on.
Immutability of species.
-Falconer disbelieves in.
-Darwin on.
Imperfection of the Geological Record, see Geological Record.
Impotence in plants.
-see also Self-sterility.
India, British rule in.
-flora of.
-Hooker in.
-varieties of domestic animals in.
-H.F. Blanford on.
-Darwin on origin of lakes in.
-evidence of colder climate in.
-J. Scott accepts post in.
Infants, Mrs. E Talbot on development of mind in.
-observations on ears of.
Infusoria, possible occurrence in underclays of coal.
Inglis, Sir R., Darwin at breakfast party.
Inheritance, atavism and.
-conservative tendency of long.
-Hackel on.
-hypothesis on.
-Jager on.
-and Natural Selection.
-power of.
-J.C. Prichard on.
-and variability.
-Darwin on.
-Galton on.
Insanity, concealment of.
"Insect Life," Howard's.
Insectivorous plants, Darwin's work on.
Insects, alpine.
-Lord Avebury on.
-Bates on.
-fossil.
-luminous.
-of Madeira.
-F. Muller on metamorphosis of.
-Sharp's book on.
-study of habits more valuable than description of new species.
-wingless.
-Wollaston on.
-antiquity of stridulating organs in.
-colour and Sexual Selection.
-H. Muller's work on adaptation to fertilisation of flowers.
-metamorphosis of.
-music as attraction to.
-observation on fertilisation of flowers by.
-Ramsay on.
-Riley's work on.
-tropical climate and colours of.
Instinct, Darwin and.
-in nest-making.
-selection of varying.
Insular floras.
-Hooker's lecture on.
Insular forms, in Galapagos, Canaries and Madeira.
-beaten by continental forms.
Intelligence, meaning of.
-Romanes on Animal.
-in worms.
Intercrossing, in pigeons.
-Darwin on effects of.
-and sterility.
Interglacial periods, Darwin on evidence for.
Intermediate forms.
-Bates' paper on.
-S. American types as.
-crossing and frequent absence of.
-extinction of.
-Falconer on existence of.
-as fossils.
-Asa Gray on.
-Plagiaulax as evidence of.
-Wollaston on rarity in insects.
Introduced plants, Sonchus in New Zealand as example of.
-in N. America and Australia.
-variability of.
-Darwin on.
Introductory Essay to Tasmanian "Flora," Hooker's.
Ipswich, British Association meeting (1851).
Iquique, nitrate of soda beds at.
Ireland, Spanish plants in.
Iris, flowers of.
-nectar secretion of.
Islands, comparison between species of rising and sinking.
-fauna of.
-introduction of plants.
-products of.
-plants with irregular flowers on.
-subsidence of coral.
-survival of ancient forms in.
-volcanic.
-comparison of age of continents and.
-former greater extension of.
"Island Life," Darwin's criticism of Wallace's.
Isle of Wight, occurrence of Bee-orchis in.
Isnardia palustris, range of.
Isolation, Bentham underestimates importance of.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-importance of.
-Wagner exaggerates importance of.
-Weismann on effects of.
Itajahy, F. Muller's narrow escape from flood of.
Italy, flora of.
Ivy, difference in growth of flowering and creeping branches.
Jaeger, G., letter to.
-on pangenesis and inheritance.
James', Sir H., discussion in "Athenaeum" on change of climate.
-map of the world.
James Island, Darwin's plants from.
Jameson.
Jamieson, W., on S. America.
-Darwin converted to glacial theory of Glen Roy after publication of
paper by.
Janet, on Natural Selection.
Japan, American types in.
-flora of.
-Gray's work on plants of.
-progress of.
Java, botanical relation to Africa.
-Alpine plants of.
-Wallace on.
Jays, Crows and.
-repeated pairing of.
Jeffreys, Gwyn, shells sent by Darwin to.
Jenkin, Fleeming, review by.
Jenners, taste for natural history in the.
Jenyns (Blomefield), Rev. Leonard: The following sketch of the life of
Rev. Leonard Blomefield is taken from his "Chapters in my Life; Reprint
with Additions" (privately printed), Bath, 1889. He was born, as he states
with characteristic accuracy, at 10 p.m., May 25th, 1800; and died at Bath,
September 1st, 1893. His father--a second cousin of Soame Jenyns, from
whom he inherited Bottisham Hall, in Cambridgeshire--was a parson-squire of
the old type, a keen sportsman, and a good man of business. Leonard
Jenyns' mother was a daughter of the celebrated Dr. Heberden, in whose
house in Pall Mall he was born. Leonard was educated at Eton and
Cambridge, and became curate of Swaffham Bulbeck, a village close to his
father's property; he was afterwards presented to the Vicarage of the
parish, and held the living for nearly thirty years. The remainder of his
life he spent at Bath. He was an excellent field-naturalist and a minute
and careful observer. Among his writings may be mentioned the Fishes in
"Zoology of the Voyage of the 'Beagle,'" 1842, a "Manual of British
Vertebrate Animals," 1836, a "Memoir" of Professor Henslow,1862, to which
Darwin contributed recollections of his old master, "Observations in
Natural History," 1846 and "Observations in Meteorology," 1858, besides
numerous papers in scientific journals. In his "Chapters" he describes
himself as showing as a boy the silent and retiring nature, and also the
love of "order, method, and precision," which characterised him through
life; and he adds, "even to old age I have been often called a VERY
PARTICULAR GENTLEMAN." In a hitherto unpublished passage in his
autobiographical sketch, Darwin wrote, "At first I disliked him from his
somewhat grim and sarcastic expression; and it is not often that a first
impression is lost; but I was completely mistaken, and found him very kind-
hearted, pleasant, and with a good stock of humour." Mr. Jenyns records
that as a boy he was by a stranger taken for a son of his uncle, Dr.
Heberden (the younger), whom he closely resembled.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Jodrell Laboratory, Darwin's interest in.
-note on.
Jordanhill, Smith of, on Gibraltar.
"Journal of Researches," Darwin's.
Judd, Prof. J.W., letter to.
-recollections of Darwin.
-on Darwin's "Volcanic Islands."
-Darwin in praise of work of.
Jukes, on imperfection of the Geological Record.
-on changes of climate.
-on formation of river-valleys.
-over estimates sub-aerieal denudation.
Jumps, variation by.
Juncus, range of.
-J. bufonius.
-variation of.
-germination of seed from mud carried by woodcock.
Jura, Darwin on erratic blocks of.
Jussieu, A. de.
Kane's, E.K., "Arctic Explorations," use of foxtails by Esquimaux
referred to in.
Kelvin, Lord, Address at the British Association Meeting at Edinburgh
(1871).
-on geological time.
-on age of the earth.
-on origin of plant-life from meteorites.
Kemp, W., sends seeds to Darwin.
-on vitality of seeds.
Kensington, proposed removal of British Museum (Bloomsbury) collections
to.
Kerguelen cabbage, Chambers versus Hooker on the.
Kerguelen island, coal-beds of.
-relation of flora to that of Fuegia.
-similarity between plants of S. America and of.
-importance of collecting fossil plants on.
-moth from.
-sea-shells of.
-volcanic mountain on.
Kerner, A. von Marilaun, on Tubocytisus.
-"Pflanzenleben."
-"Schutzmittel des Pollens."
-on xenogamy and autogamy.
-mentioned.
Kerr, on frozen snow.
Kerr, Prof. Graham.
Kew, proposed consolidation of botanical collections at.
-rarity of insects and shells in Royal Garden.
-Darwin visits Garden.
-Darwin obtains plants from.
-Darwin sends seeds to.
-Jodrell, Laboratory at.
-struggle for existence at.
-suggestion that J. Scott should work in Garden.
Kilauea, lava in crater of.
Kilfinnin, shelves in valley of.
Kilima Njaro, plants of.
King, Captain, collection of plants by.
-"Voyages of the 'Adventure' and 'Beagle.'"
King, Sir George, reminiscences of J. Scott.
-Darwin receives seeds from.
King, Dr. Richard (1811?-1876): He was surgeon and naturalist to Sir
George Back's expedition (1833-5) to the mouth of the Great Fish River
in search of Captain Ross, of which he published an account. In 1850 he
accompanied Captain Horatio Austin's search expedition in the
"Resolute."
-Arctic expedition.
Kingfisher, sexual difference in.
Kingsley, C., quoted in the "Origin."
-story of a heathen Khan.
-reference to E. Forbes and P.H. Gosse.
Kini Balu, vegetation of.
Kirby and Spence.
Klebs, on use of mucus in seeds.
Knight, A., on crossing.
-hybrid experiments.
-on sports.
Knight's Law.
Knight-Darwin Law, F. Darwin on.
Knuth, on morphology of cruciferous flower.
Koch's "Flora Germanica."
Kolliker, visits Down.
Kollmann, Dr., on atavism.
Kolreuter, on Aquilegia.
-on hybrids.
-observations on pollen.
-on self-fertilisation.
-on varieties of tobacco.
"Kosmos," F. Muller's article on Crotolaria.
-F. Muller's paper on Phyllanthus in.
Krause, E., letter to.
-memoir of Erasmus Darwin.
-memoir of H. Muller.
Kroyer.
Kubanka, form of Russian wheat.
Kurr, on flowers of Canna.
La Plata, H.M.S. "Beagle's" visit to.
-Cervus of.
-Mylodon of.
-plants of.
-extinct animals from.
-slates and schists of.
Labellum, nature of.
Labiatae, large genera of.
Laboratory, Darwin on the instruments for botanical.
-founding of Jodrell.
Laburnum, peloric flowers of.
-Darwin on hybrid (see also Cytisus).
Ladizabala, crossing experiments on.
Lagerstraemia (Lagerstroemia), F. Muller on.
Lakes, Darwin on Ramsay's theory of.
-as agents in forming Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
-of Friesland.
-Geological action of.
-Ramsay on.
Lamarck, Darwin on views of.
-difference between views of Darwin and.
-"Hist. Zoolog." of.
-Hopkins on Darwin and.
-Packard's book on.
-quotation from.
Lamellicorns, F. Muller on sexes in.
-stridulating organs of.
Lamont, James, F.G.S., F.R.G.S.: author of "Seasons with the Sea-horses;
etc.; Yachting in the Arctic Seas, or Notes of Five Voyages of Sport and
Discovery in the Neighbourhood of Spitzbergen and Novaya Zemlya,"
London, 1876; and geological papers on Spitzbergen.
-letters to.
Lampyridae, luminous organs of.
Land, fauna of sea compared with that of.
-changes in level of sea the cause of those on.
Land-birds, resting on the sea.
Land-shells, dispersal of.
-of glacial period.
-modification of.
Land-surfaces, preservation for long periods.
Landois, reference to paper by.
Language, observations bearing on origin of.
-Sir J. Herschel on study of.
Lankester, E. Ray, letter to.
-drawing of earthworm used in Darwin's book.
Lankester, E. (Senior), speech at Manchester British Association meeting
(1861), on Darwin's theory.
Lantana, in Ceylon.
Lanugo, on human foetus.
Lapland, richness of flora.
Latania Lodigesii, peculiar to Round Island.
Latent characters, tendency to appear temporarily in youth.
Lathyrus aphaca.
-L. grandiflorus, fertilisation of.
-L. nissolia, evolution of.
-explanation of grass-like leaves.
-Darwin on.
-L. maritimus, bloom on.
-L. odoratus, fertilisation of.
-intercrossing of varieties.
Lauder-Dick, Sir Thomas, on Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
Laurel, extra-floral nectaries of.
Lava, Darwin and Scrope on separation of constituent minerals of.
-Elie de Beaumont's measurements of inclination of.
-fluidity of.
-junction between dykes and.
-and metamorphic schists.
-Scrope on basaltic and trachytic.
-subsidence due to outpouring of.
Law, of balancement.
-of growth.
-of higgledy-piggledy.
-of perfectibility by Nageli.
-of sterility.
-of succession.
-of variation.
Lawes, Sir J.B., and Sir J.H. Gilbert, Rothamsted experiments.
Laxton, T., close on the trail of Mendelian principle.
"Lay Sermons," Huxley's.
Leaves, movements of.
-used by worms in plugging burrows.
Lebanon, glacial action on.
-plants of.
-Hooker on Cedars of.
Lecky, Rt. Hon. W.E.H., Darwin's interest in book by.
-quoted in "Descent of Man."
Lecoq, "Geographie Botanique."
-on self-sterility.
-mentioned.
Lectures, Darwin on Edinburgh University, (see also Hooker and Huxley).
-Max Muller's, on Science of Language.
Ledebour, allusion to book by.
Leeds, address by Owen at.
Leersia oryzoides, cleistogamic flowers of.
Leggett, W.H., on Rhexia virginica.
Legitimate unions, heteromorphic or.
Leguminosae, absence in Greenland.
-absent in New Zealand.
-anomalous genera in.
-crossing in.
-scarcity in humid temporate regions.
-seeds of.
-example of inherited pelorism in.
-Lord Farrer's observations on fertilisation of.
-nectar-holders in flowers.
-reason for absence of.
Leibnitz, rejection of theory of gravity by.
Lemuria, continent of.
Lepadidae, Darwin's work on, (see also Barnacles).
-fossil.
Lepas, nomenclature of.
Lepidodendron.
Lepidoptera, Sexual Selection in.
-breeding in confinement.
-F. Muller on mimicry in.
-protection afforded by wings.
-want of colour-perception.
-Weir on apterous.
Lepidosiren, reason for preservation of.
Leptotes.
Leschenaultia, fertilisation mechanism.
-self-fertilisation of.
-L. biloba, fertilisation mechanism of.
-L. formosa, fertilisation mechanism of.
Lesquereux, Leo (1806-89): was born in Switzerland, but his most
important works were published after he settled in the United States in
1848. Beginning with researches on Mosses and Peat, he afterwards
devoted himself to the study of fossil plants. His best known
contributions to Palaeobotany are a series of monographs on Cretaceous
and Tertiary Floras (1878-83), and on the Coal-Flora of Pennsylvania and
the United States generally, published by the Second Geological Survey
of Pennsylvania between 1880 and 1884 (see L.F. Ward, Sketch of
Palaeobotany, "U.S. Geol. Surv., 5th Ann. Rep." 1883-4; also "Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XLVI., "Proc." page 53, 1890.
-convert to evolution.
-on Coal floras.
Leuckart, Rudolf (1822-98): Professor of Zoology at Leipzig.
-convert to Darwin's views.
Lewes, G.H., (1817-78): author of a "History of Philosophy," etc.
-letter to.
Lewy, Naphtali, letter to Darwin from.
Lias, cephalopods from the.
Life, Bastian's book on the beginnings of.
-mystery of,
-origin of.
-principle of.
-bearing of vitality of seeds on problem of.
Light, action on plants of flashing.
Lima, Darwin visits.
Limulus.
Linaria, peloria as reversions.
Lindley, John (1799-1865): was born at Catton, near Norwich. His first
appointment was that of Assistant Librarian to Sir Joseph Banks. He was
afterwards Assistant Secretary to the Horticultural Society, and during his
tenure of that office he organised the first fruit and flower shows held in
this country. In 1829 he was chosen to be the first Professor of Botany at
University College, London, and a few years later he became Lecturer to the
Apothecaries' Company. He is the author of a large number of botanical
books, of which the best known is the "Vegetable Kingdom," 1846. He was
one of the founders of the "Gardeners' Chronicle," and was its principal
editor up to the time of his death. He was endowed with great powers of
work and remarkable energy. He is said as a young man to have translated
Richard's "Analyse du Fruit" in a single sitting of three nights and two
days. (From the article on Lindley in the "Dictionary of National
Biography," which is founded on the "Gardeners' Chronicle," 1865, pages
1058, 1082.)
-Hooker's eloge of.
-and Royal Medal.
-"Vegetable Kingdom" by.
-on Acropera and Gongora.
-Darwin on his classification of orchids.
-letters to.
-on Melastomaceae.
-on orchids.
-Hooker reviews Darwin's Orchid book in style of.
-mentioned.
Lingula, persistence of.
-Silurian species.
Link, on Alpine and Arctic plants.
Linnaeus.
Linnean Society, Bentham's address.
-Collier's picture of Darwin in rooms of.
-Darwin's paper on Linum.
-Darwin advises Bates to give his views on species before.
-Wallace's paper on the Malayan papilionidae.
Linnet, a migratory bird.
Linope, E. Hackel on.
Linum, Darwin's work on.
-dimorphism of.
-interaction of pollen and stigma.
-mucus in seeds of.
Linum flavum.
-L. grandiflorum, two forms of.
-L. Lewisii, experiments on.
-L. trigynum.
-L. usitatissimum, circumnutation of.
Lister, Lord, on spines of Hedgehog.
Listera, fertilisation of.
-L. cordata, fertilisation of.
-L. ovata, fertilisation of.
Litchfield, Mrs. (see Darwin, Henrietta).
-criticism of Huxley.
Littoral shells, glacial period and.
Liverpool, British Association meeting at (1870).
Livingstone, D., on the distribution of thorny plants.
Lobelia, Darwin's experiments on.
-fertilisation mechanism of.
-fertility of.
-L. fulgens, Scott's experiments on.
Lochaber, Parallel Roads of (see also Glen Roy).
-evidence of ice-action.
Lochs, Laggan (Loggan), ice-action in.
-Roy, Darwin disbelieves in existence of.
-Spey, shelves of.
-Treig, ice-action in.
-Milne's account of.
Locust grass, germination of.
Locusts, blown out to sea.
-plants from dung of.
Logwood, leaf-movement of.
-See Haematoxylon.
Loiseleuria procumbens.
London clay, supposed germination of seeds from.
"London Review," Darwin's opinion of.
-correspondence between Owen and editor in reference to "Origin."
Longchamps, L. de, on crossing in Gramineae.
Longevity, Darwin on animals' and man's.
Lonsdale, William (1794-1871): obtained a commission in the 4th Regiment
at the age of sixteen, and served at Salamanca and Waterloo. From 1829
to 1842 he held the office of Assistant-Secretary and Curator of the
Geological Society. Mr. Lonsdale contributed important papers on the
Devonian System, the Oolitic Rocks, and on palaeontological subjects.
("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XXVIII., page xxxv., 1872.)
-mentioned.
Lopezia, fertilisation of.
Lophura viellottii, colour of.
Loss, nature of.
Love, evidence of existence low in scale.
Loven, S.L.: published numerous papers on Cirripedes and other
zoological subjects in the Stockholm "Ofversigt" and elsewhere between
1838 and 1882.
-translation of paper on Cirripedes.
-mentioned.
Lowe, R.T., on Madeira.
Lowell, Prof., on custom in Italy of shaking head in affirmation.
Lowland plants, ascending mountains.
Lowne, B.T., on anatomy of blowfly.
Lowness and highness.
Lubbock, Lady.
Lubbock, Sir J., see Lord Avebury.
Lucas, Dr. P., on tendency to vary independent of conditions.
Ludwig, F., letter to.
Lumbricus (see also Earthworms).
Luminosity in animals.
-result of external conditions.
Lupinus, Darwin's experiments on.
Luzula.
Lychnis dioica, structure of flower.
-sets seed without pollen.
Lycopodium, variation in.
Lyell, Sir Charles, Bart., F.R.S. (1797-1875): was born at Kinnordy, the
family home in central Forfarshire. At the age of seventeen he entered
at Exeter College, Oxford, and afterwards obtained a second class in the
final Honours School in Classics. As an undergraduate Lyell attended
Prof. Buckland's lectures on Geology. On leaving Oxford Lyell was
entered at Lincoln's Inn; a weakness of the eyes soon compelled him to
give up reading, and he travelled abroad, finding many opportunities for
field work. He was called to the Bar in 1825, and in the same year
published some papers on geological subjects. From 1823-26 Lyell filled
the post of Secretary to the Geological Society, and in 1826 was elected
into the Royal Society. In 1830 the first volume of the "Principles of
Geology" was published; the second volume appeared two years later.
Speaking of this greatest of Lyell's services to Geology, Huxley writes:
"I have recently read afresh the first edition of the "Principles of
Geology," and when I consider that this remarkable book had been nearly
thirty years in everybody's hands [in 1859], and that it brings home to
any reader of ordinary intelligence a great principle and a great fact--
the principle that the past must be explained by the present, unless
good cause be shown to the contrary; and the fact that, so far as our
knowledge of the past history of life on our globe goes, no such cause
can be shown--I cannot but believe that Lyell, for others, as for
myself, was the chief agent in smoothing the road for Darwin" (Huxley's
"Life and Letters," Volume II., page 190). As Professor of Geology in
King's College, London, Lyell delivered two courses of lectures in 1832-
33; in the latter year he received a Royal medal, and in 1858 he was the
recipient of the Copley medal of the Royal Society. The "Elements of
Geology" was published in 1833; this work is still used as a text-book,
a new edition having been lately (1896) brought out by Prof. Judd; in
1845 and in 1849 appeared the "Travels in North America" and "A Second
Visit to the United States of North America." The "Antiquity of Man"
was published in 1863. Lyell was knighted in 1848, and in 1864 was
raised to the rank of a Baronet. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Darwin wrote in his Autobiography: "The Science of Geology is enormously
indebted to Lyell, more so, as I believe, than to any other man who ever
lived" ("Life and Letters," Volume I., page 72). In a letter to Lyell--
November 23rd, 1859--Darwin wrote: "I rejoice profoundly that you intend
admitting the doctrine of modification in your new edition [a new edition
of the "Manual" published in 1865]; nothing, I am convinced, could be more
important for its success. I honour you most sincerely. To have
maintained, in the position of a master, one side of a question for thirty
years, and then deliberately give it up, is a fact to which I much doubt
whether the records of science offer a parallel" ("Life and Letters,"
Volume II., pages 229-30). See "Life, Letters, and Journals of Sir Charles
Lyell, Bart." edited by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Lyell, 2 Volumes, London,
1881. "Charles Lyell and Modern Geology," Prof. T.G. Bonney, London,
1895.)
-"Antiquity of Man."
-on Barrande.
-cautious attitude towards "Origin of Species."
-cautious judgment of.
-on Cetacea.
-Copley medal awarded to.
-on continental extension.
-controversy with Owen.
-Darwin's pleasure in reading his "Geology."
-on distribution.
-Falconer and.
-German opinion of.
-on immutability.
-interest in celts.
-letters to.
-letters to Darwin from.
-map of Tertiary geography by.
-on mutability.
-on pangenesis.
-"Principles of Geology."
-on Ramsay's theory of lakes.
-urges Darwin to publish his views with those of Wallace.
-visits Down.
-work in France.
-address to Geological Society.
-attacked by Owen in his "Anatomy of Vertebrata."
-criticism of Murchison.
-on craters of denudation.
-Darwin's indebtedness to.
-death of.
-death of his father.
-gives up opposition to Evolution.
-on glaciers of Forfarshire.
-on glacial period in S. hemisphere.
-versus Herschel on volcanic islands.
-on iceberg action.
-memorial in Westminster Abbey.
-on Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
-as founder of school of Geology.
-second visit to the United States.
-trip to Wales.
-mentioned.
Lyell, Lady, letter to.
-translation of paper for Darwin.
-visits Down.
-mentioned.
Lynch, R.I.
Lythraceae, dimorphism in.
Lythrum, cross-fertilisation of.
-Darwin's work on.
-trimorphism of.
-L. hyssopifolium, range of.
-L. salicaria, dimorphism of.
-Darwin's work on.
Macacas, Owen on.
-M. Silenus, mane as a protection.
Macalister, Prof. A.
Macarthur, Sir W., on Erythrina.
Macaw, beauty of plumage.
McClennan, on primitive man.
MacCulloch, on Glen Turret.
-on metamorphic rocks.
-on Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
M'Donnell, Darwin on work of.
Macgillivray, reference to his "History of British Birds."
Machetes pugnax, polygamy of.
Mackintosh, Daniel (1815-91): was well-known in the South of England as a
lecturer on scientific subjects. He contributed several papers to the
Geological Society on Surface Sculpture, Denudation, Drift Deposits, etc.
In 1869 he published a work "On the Scenery of England and Wales" (see
"Geol. Mag." 1891, page 432.
-on boulders of Ashley Heath.
-letters to.
-on Moel Tryfan.
-on sources of erratic blocks in England.
McNab, Prof., J. Scott and.
-mentioned.
Macrauchenia, skull of.
Madagascar, existence of insects capable of fertilising Angraecum in.
-fossil Hippopotamus of.
-Owen on fauna of.
-plants of.
-former extension of.
-as a geographical region.
-Viola of.
Madeira, birds of.
-British plants compared with those of.
-Canary Islands formerly connected with.
-flora of.
-insects of.
-land-extension, of.
-land-shells of.
-Lowe on.
-Tertiary plants of.
-elevation of.
Maer, the home of the Wedgwoods.
Magellan Straits, H.M.S. "Beagle" in.
Magnus, review by Krause of his work on colour.
Magpies, pairing of.
Mahon, Lord, compliment to Darwin.
Mahonia, natural crossing of.
Maillet, evolutionary views of.
Maize, hybrids of, see also Zea.
Malaxeae, and Epidendreae.
Malaxis, course of vessels in flower.
-fertilisation of.
Malaxis paludosa, epiphytic on Sphagnum.
Malay archipelago, Darwin on Wallace's book on.
-translation by Meyer of Wallace's book.
Malay region, glacial epoch and the.
-Wallace on butterflies and pigeons of.
Malpighiaceae, degraded flowers of.
-Erythroxylon included in.
Malta, Forbes on geology of.
Malthus, Darwin derives help from reading.
-Haughton sneers at.
-misunderstood.
Malva.
Mammae, as rudimentary organs in man.
Mammals, alteration in skulls of.
-Australian cave-.
-birds compared with.
-Dana's classification.
-distribution.
-as indices of climatic changes.
-as proof of union between England and Continent since Glacial period.
-Waterhouse's "Natural History" of.
-Glacial period and extinction of.
-Origin and migration.
Mammoth (Bog).
Mammoth, Darwin's eagerness to collect bones of.
-Falconer on the.
Man, antiquity of (see "Antiquity of Man," and Lyell, Sir C.).
-and apes.
-brain of.
-criticism of Lyell's chapter on.
-Huxley's book on.
-McClennan on primitive.
-and Natural Selection.
-origin of.
-races of.
-selection by Nature contrasted with selection by.
-slow progress of.
-Darwin on Wallace's paper on.
-descent of.
-ears of.
-geological age of.
-and geological classification.
-hairyness of.
-introduction of.
-rank in classification.
-Turner on evolution of.
-Wallace on evolution of.
Mankind, descent from single pair.
-early history of.
-progress of.
Mantell, Owen's attack on.
"Manual of Scientific Inquiry," Darwin's.
Manx cats.
Maranta, sleep-movements of.
Marble, MacCulloch on metamorphism of.
Marianne Islands, subsidence of.
-want of knowledge of flora.
Marion, "L'evolution du Regne vegetal," by Saporta and.
Marlatt, C.L., on Cicada.
Marquesas Islands, subsidence of.
Marr, J.E., on the rocks of Bohemia.
-mentioned.
Marriage, Darwin on.
-Galton's proposal to issue health-certificates for.
Marshall, W., on Elodea.
Marsupialia, compared with placentata.
-Darwin on nature of.
-evidence of antiquity.
-abundance in Secondary period.
Martens, see Martins.
Martha (=Posoqueria), F. Muller's paper on.
Martin, H.N., Darwin's opinion of "Elementary Biology" by Huxley and.
Martins, experiments on immersion of seeds in sea by.
Maruta cotula of N. America.
Masdevallia, Darwin's work on.
Massart, on regeneration after injury.
Masters, M., letters to.
-lecture at Royal Institution.
-"Vegetable Teratology."
Mastodon, Australian.
-extinction of.
-Falconer on.
-in Timor.
-migration into S. America.
-skeleton found by Darwin.
-M. andium, Falconer on intermediate character of.
"Materialism of the Present day," Janet's.
Matteucci on electric fishes.
Matthew, P., on forest trees in Scotland.
-quoted by Darwin as having enunciated principle of Natural Selection
before "Origin."
Maurienne, note on earthquake in province of.
Mauritius, craters of.
-elevation of.
-extinction of snakes of.
-oceanic character of.
Maury's map, as illustrating continental extension.
Maxillaria.
Maypu River, Darwin visits.
Mays, J.A., publishes lectures by Huxley.
Medals:
-(Copley), Darwin, Lyell.
-(Royal).
-(Wollaston), Darwin.
Medical Department of Army, statistics from Director-General of.
Meditation, expression of eyes in.
Mediterranean Islands, flora of.
Medusae, Romanes' work on.
Meehan, T., letter to.
Megalonyx.
Megatherium, Darwin collects bones of.
-Sir A. Carlisle on.
Melastoma, Darwin on.
Melastomaceae, Darwin on.
-crossing in.
-two kinds of stamens in.
Meldola, Prof. Raphael F.R.S.: Professor of Chemistry in Finsbury
Technical College (City and Guilds of London Institute), and a well-
known entomologist; translated and edited Weismann's "Studies in the
Theory of Descent," 1882-83.
-address to Entomological Society.
-letters to.
-translation of Weismann's "Studies in Descent" by.
-on Weismann and Darwin.
-mentioned.
Melipona.
Meloe, Lord Avebury on.
Melrose, seeds from sandpit near.
Memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mendel, G., W. Bateson on his "Principles of Heredity."
-Darwin ignorant of work of.
-Laxton and.
Mendoza, Darwin visits.
"Mental Evolution in Animals," Romanes'.
Mentha, of N. America.
-M. borealis, variety in N. America.
Menura superba, colour and nests of.
Menzies and Cumming, visit Galapagos Islands.
Mercurialis.
Mertensia, Darwin's experiments on.
Mesembryanthemum.
Mesotherium, Falconer on.
Metamorphic schists.
Metamorphism, Darwin on.
-heat and.
-Sorby on.
Metamorphosis, Lord Avebury on insects and.
-F. Muller on.
-Quatrefages on.
Meteorites, Lord Kelvin suggests their agency in introduction of plants.
"Methods of Study," Agassiz' book on.
Mexicans, explanation of natural affinities of Chinese and.
Meyen, on insectivorous plants.
Meyer, Dr., translator of Wallace's "Malay Archipelago."
Meyer and Doege, on plants of Cape of Good Hope.
Mica, in foliated rocks.
Mica-slate, clay-slate and.
Mice, ears of.
-experiments by Tait on.
Microscope, Darwin on convenient form of.
-indispensable in work on flowers.
-use of compound without simple, injurious to progress of Natural
History.
Migration of animals and plants.
-Darwin on plant-.
-of elephants.
-Glacial period and.
-of plants.
-in tropics.
-of birds.
Mikania, a leaf-climber.
-M. scandens, gradation between Mutisia and.
Mill, J.S., on Darwin's reasoning.
-on greatest happiness principle.
Miller, Hugh, "First Impressions of England and its People."
Miller, S.H., "Fenland Past and Present" by Skertchley and.
Miller, Prof. William Hallowes, F.R.S. (1801-80), held the Chair of
Mineralogy at Cambridge from 1832 to 1880 (see "Obituary Notices of
Fellows," "Proc. R. Soc." Volume XXXI., 1881). He is referred to in the
"Origin of Species" (Edition VI., page 221) as having verified Darwin's
statement as to the structure of the comb made by Melipona domestica, a
Mexican species of bee. The cells of Melipona occupy an intermediate
position between the perfect cells of the hive-bee and the much simpler
ones of the humble-bee; the comb consists "of cylindrical cells in which
the young are hatched, and, in addition, some large cells of wax for
holding honey. These latter cells are nearly spherical and of nearly equal
sizes, and are aggregated into an irregular mass. But the important point
to notice is that these cells are always made at that degree of nearness to
each other that they would have intersected or broken into each other if
the spheres had been completed; but this is never permitted, the bees
building perfectly flat walls of wax between the spheres which thus tend to
intersect." It occurred to Darwin that certain changes in the architecture
of the Melipona comb would produce a structure "as perfect as the comb of
the hive-bee." He made a calculation, therefore, to show how this
structural improvement might be effected, and submitted the statement to
Professor Miller. By a slight modification of the instincts possessed by
Melipona domestica, this bee would be able to build with as much
mathematical accuracy as the hive-bee; and by such modifications of
instincts Darwin believed that "the hive-bee has acquired, through natural
selection, her inimitable architectural powers" (loc. cit., page 222).
-letters to.
Million years, Darwin on meaning of a.
Milne-Edwards, Darwin's cirripede work and.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-on retrograde development.
Milne-Home, David (1805-90): was a country gentleman in Berwickshire who
became interested in geology at an early age. He wrote on the Midlothian
Coal-field, the Geology of Roxburghshire, the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy,
and compiled the Reports presented by a Committee appointed by the Royal
Society of Edinburgh to investigate the observation and registration of
boulders in Scotland ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume XLVII., 1891;
"Proc." page 59).
-believes in connection between state of weather and earthquakes.
-on Glen Roy.
-letters to.
-letter from R. Chambers to.
-on oscillation of sea.
Milton, quotation from.
Mimicry, Bates on.
-and dimorphism.
-Volucella as an example of.
-Wallace on.
-and colour.
-F. Muller on Lepidoptera and.
Mimosa, Darwin's experiments on.
-M. albida, Darwin on.
-M. sensitiva.
Mimoseae, F. Muller's account of seeds of.
Mimulus, Pfeffer on movement of stigma.
Mind, development of.
-evolution of.
-influence on nutrition.
Miocene land.
Miquel, F.A.W., on Flora of Holland.
-on distribution of the beech.
-on flora of Japan.
-mentioned.
Mirabilis.
Mirbel, G.F.B. de.
Miscellaneous letters, botanical.
-geological.
Miscellaneous subjects, letters on.
Mississippi, Lyell on pampas and deposits of the.
Mitchella.
Mivart, St. George F.R.S. (1827-1900): was educated at Harrow, King's
College, London, and St. Mary's College, Oscott. He was called to the Bar
in 1851; in 1862 he was appointed Lecturer in the Medical School of St.
Mary's Hospital. In the "Genesis of Species," published in 1871, Mivart
expressed his belief in the guiding action of Divine power as a factor in
Evolution.
-false reasoning of.
-"Genesis of Species."
Modification, Darwin's disbelief in sudden.
-explanation of.
-of insects.
-of jays and crows.
-of land and freshwater faunas.
-selection and.
-of species.
-Walsh on specific.
Moel Tryfan, Darwin on shells on.
-Mackintosh on shells on.
Moggridge, J. Traherne (1842-74): is described by a writer in "Nature"
Volume XI., 1874, page 114, as "one of our most promising young
naturalists." He published a work on "Harvesting Ants and Trap-door
Spiders," London, 1873, and wrote on the Flora of Mentone and on other
subjects. (See "The Descent of Man" Volume I., Edition II., page 104,
1888.)
-letters to.
-note on.
-experiments on ants and seeds.
Mohl, von, on climbing plants.
Mojsisovics, E. von: Vice-Director of the Imperial Geological Institute,
Vienna.
-letters to.
-work on Palaeontology and Evolution.
Molecular movement in foliated rocks.
Moller, "Brasilische Pilzblumen."
Molliard, on Les Cecidies florales.
Mollusca, distribution by birds.
-Huxley on.
-means of dispersal of.
-Morse on protective colours of.
-Wallace on distribution of.
Molothrus, occurrence in Brazil.
Monacanthus viridis, female form of Catasetum tridentatum.
Monkeys, distribution of birds affected by.
-range of.
-ears of.
-mane as protection.
-wrinkling of eyes during screaming.
Monochaetum (Monochoetum), absence of nectar in.
-experiments on.
-flowers of.
-neglected by bees.
-seeds of.
-M. ensiferum, two kinds of stamens.
Monocotyledons, range of.
-heterostylism in.
Monotremes, birds compared with.
-as remnant of ancient fauna.
Monotropa uniflora, in New Granada.
-in Himalayas.
-in separate areas in U.S.A.
Monotypic genera, variation of.
Monstrosities, Harvey on.
-Masters' work on.
-no sharp distinction between slight variations and.
-origin of species from.
-variations and.
Monte Video, Darwin visits.
-Darwin on cleavage at.
Moon, effect on earthquakes.
Moraines, glacial.
Moral sense, J. Morley on Darwin's treatment of.
Morality, foundation of.
More, Alexander Goodman (1830-95): botanist and zoologist, distinguished
chiefly by his researches on the distribution of Irish plants and animals.
He was born in London, and was educated at Rugby and Trinity College,
Cambridge. He became Assistant in the Natural History Museum at Dublin in
1867, and Curator in 1881. He was forced by ill-health to resign his post
in 1887, and died in 1895. He is best known for the Cybele Hibernica and
for various papers published in the "Ibis." He was also the author of
"Outlines of the Natural History of the Isle of Wight," of a "Supplement to
the Flora Vectensis," and innumerable shorter papers. His "Life and
Letters" has been edited by Mr. C.B. Moffat, with a preface by Miss Frances
More (1898). There is a good obituary notice by Mr. R. Barrington in the
"Irish Naturalist," May, 1895.
-letters to.
Morgan.
Morley, J., letters to.
Mormodes, labellum of.
-M. ignea, flower of.
Morphological, Hooker's criticism of term.
-sense in which used by Nageli.
Morphology, Darwin's explanation of.
-Kollmann on batrachian.
-of plants.
Morse, Prof. E.S.: of Salem, Mass.
-letters to.
-on shell-mounds of Omori.
Morton, Lord, his mare.
Moscow, opinion on Darwin's work from.
Moseley, Canon H., on glacier-motion.
Moseley, Prof. Henry Nottidge F.R.S. (1844-91): was an undergraduate of
Exeter College, Oxford, and afterwards studied medicine at University
College, London. In 1872 he was appointed one of the naturalists on the
scientific staff of the "Challenger," and in 1881 succeeded his friend and
teacher, Professor Rolleston, as Linacre Professor of Human and Comparative
Anatomy at Oxford. Moseley's "Notes by a Naturalist on the Challenger,"
London, 1879, was held in high estimation by Darwin, to whom it was
dedicated. (See "Life and Letters," III., pages 237-38.)
-letter to.
-proposal to examine Kerguelen Coal beds.
Moss-rose, sudden variation in.
Mostyn, Lord, horse and quagga belonging to.
Moths, hermaphroditism in hybrid.
-survival of distinct races.
-colours of.
-and Sexual Selection.
Mould, Darwin's opinion of his paper on.
Mountain-building, Rogers on.
Mountain-chains, Darwin on.
-and earthquakes.
-and elevation.
-false views of geologists on.
-Hopkins on.
-volcanic rocks in.
Movement, of land-areas.
-of plants, Darwin on.
-F. Muller on.
-Wiesner on Darwin's book on.
Mucus of seeds, significance of.
Mukkul, Pass of.
Mules, meaning of stripes of.
-J.J. Weir's observations on.
Muller, Ferd., on advance of European plants in Australia.
Muller, (Fritz) Dr. Johann Friedrich Theodor (1822-97): was born in
Thuringia, and left his native country at the age of thirty to take up his
residence at Blumenau, Sta Catharina, South Brazil, where he was appointed
teacher of mathematics at the Gymnasium of Desterro. He afterwards held a
natural history post, from which he was dismissed by the Brazilian
Government in 1891 on the ground of his refusal to take up his residence at
Rio de Janeiro ("Nature," December 17th, 1891, page 156). Muller published
a large number of papers on zoological and botanical subjects, and rendered
admirable service to the cause of evolution by his unrivalled powers of
observation and by the publication of a work entitled "Fur Darwin" (1865),
which was translated by Dallas under the title "Facts and Arguments for
Darwin" (London, 1869). The long series of letters between Darwin and
Muller bear testimony to the friendship and esteem which Darwin felt for
his co-worker in Brazil. In a letter to Dr. Hermann Muller (March 29th,
1867), Mr. Darwin wrote: "I sent you a few days ago a paper on climbing
plants by your brother, and I then knew for the first time that Fritz
Muller was your brother. I feel the greatest respect for him as one of the
most able naturalists living, and he has aided me in many ways with
extraordinary kindness." See "Life and Letters," III., page 37; "Nature,"
October 7th, 1897, Volume LVI., page 546.
-book by.
-convert to Darwin's views.
-Darwin's opinion of his book.
-friendship with Darwin.
-Hooker on.
-letters to.
-on Lord Morton's mare.
-on mutual specialisation of insects and plants.
-on prawns.
-reference to letter from.
-on sponges.
-on Cassia and caterpillars in S. Brazil.
-on climbing plants.
-on crossing plants.
-Darwin offers to make good loss by flood.
-Darwin's admiration of.
-on Darwin's work on lepidoptera.
-Darwin urges him to write Natural History book.
-explanation of two kinds of stamens in flowers.
-on fertilisation mechanisms.
-letter to Darwin from.
-narrow escape from flood.
-article in "Kosmos" on Phyllanthus.
-on Melastomaceae.
-on orchids.
-on stripes and spots in animals.
-on Termites.
-disinclined to publish.
-mentioned.
Muller, Hermann (1829-83): began his education in the village school of
Muhlberg, and afterwards studied in Halle and Berlin. From an early age he
was a keen naturalist, and began his scientific work as a collector in the
field. In 1855 he became Science teacher at Lippstadt, where he continued
to work during the last twenty-eight years of his life. Muller's greatest
contribution to Botany "Die Befruchtung der Blumen durch Insekten," was the
outcome to Charles Darwin's book on the "Fertilisation of Orchids." He was
a frequent contributor to "Kosmos" on subjects bearing on the origin of
species, the laws of variation, and kindred problems; like his brother,
Fritz, Hermann Muller was a zealous supporter of evolutionary views, and
contributed in no small degree to the spread of the new teaching. ("Prof.
Dr. Hermann Muller von Lippstadt: Ein Gedenkblatt," by Ernst Krause,
"Kosmos," Volume VII., page 393, 1883.)
-extract from letter to.
-Darwin's admiration for his book.
-on fertilisation of flowers.
-on clover and bees.
-on Epipactis and Platanthera.
-extract from Darwin's preface to his "Befruchtung der Blumen."
-letters to.
-on Melastoma.
-persecuted by Ultramontane party.
-review in "Kosmos" of "Forms of Flowers."
-mentioned.
Muller, Prof. Max, "Lectures on the Science of Language."
-letter to.
Muller, Rosa, observations on circumnutation.
Mummy wheat.
Mundane cold period, Darwin on supposed.
Mundane genera, distribution of.
Munro, Col., on Bermuda.
Munro, on eyes of parrots.
Murchison, Sir R.I., apotheosis of.
-Darwin's conversations with.
-letter to.
-address to Geological Society.
-on structure of Alps.
-Lyell's criticism of.
Murder, expression of man arrested for.
Murdoch, G.B., letter to.
Murray, A., address to Botanical Society of Edinburgh.
-criticism of Wallace's theory of nests.
-Darwin criticised by.
-Darwin's criticism of work of.
-on geological distribution of mammals.
-on leaves and CO2.
-review of "Origin" by.
-mentioned.
Murray, Sir J., Darwin on his theory of coral reefs.
Murray, J., Darwin's agreement with.
-"Journal of Researches" published by.
-MS. of "Origin" sent to.
-sale of "Origin."
-publication of "Fur Darwin."
Mus, range of.
Musca vomitoria, Lowne on.
Muscles, contraction in evacuation and in labour pains.
-in man and apes.
Museum (British), enquiry as to disposal of Natural History Collections
by Trustees of.
Music, birds and production of.
-insects, and.
-origin of taste for.
Musk-duck, hatching of eggs.
Musk-orchids, pollinia of.
Musk ox, as index of climate.
-found in gravel at Down.
Mussels, seize hold of fishing hooks.
Mutability of species, Lyell on.
Mutation, use of term.
Mutisia, a tendril-climber, compared with Mikania.
Myanthus barbatus, hermaphrodite form of Catasetum tridentatum.
Mylodon.
Myosotis, in N. America.
Myosurus, range of.
Mytilus, as fossil in the Andes.
Nageli, Carl Wilhelm von (1817-91): was born at Kilchberg, near Zurich. He
graduated at Zurich with a dissertation on the Swiss species of Cirsium.
At Jena he came under the influence of Schleiden, who taught him
microscopic work. He married in 1845, and on his wedding journey in
England, collected seaweeds for "Die neueren Algen-systeme." He was called
as Professor to Freiburg im Breisgau in 1852; and to Munich in 1857, where
he remained until his death on May 10th, 1891. In the "Zeitschrift fur
wiss. Botanik," 1844-46, edited by Nageli and Schleiden, and of which only
a single volume appeared, Nageli insists on the only sound basis for
classification being "development as a whole." The "Entstehung und
Begriff" (1865) was his first real evolutionary paper. He believed in a
tendency of organisms to vary towards perfection. His idea was that the
causes of variability are internal to the organism: see his work, "Ueber
den Einfluss ausserer Verhaltnisse auf die Varietatenbildung. Among his
other writings are the "Theorie der Bastardbildung," 1866, and "Die
Mechanisch-physiologische Theorie der Abstammungslehre," 1884. The chief
idea of the latter book is the existence of Idioplasm, a part of protoplasm
serving for hereditary transmission. (From Dr. D.H. Scott's article in
"Nature," October 15th, 1891, page 580.)
-Darwin on his work.
-Essay on Natural Selection.
-on Hieracium.
-"Ueber Entstehung und Begriff der naturhistoriscehn Art."
-Weismann on work of.
-on arrangement of leaves.
-criticism of Darwin.
-on innate principle of development.
-on physiological nature of useful adaptations in plants.
Napier, Rt. Hon. J.R., speech at British Association (1861) on Darwin's
work.
Naravelia.
Narborough, Sir J., description of W. coast of S. America by.
Nascent organs, rudimentary and.
-wing of Apteryx as.
Natural classification.
"Natural Conditions of Existence," Semper's.
Natural History, Darwin's taste for.
-Darwin's contributions to.
-accuracy the soul of.
-Darwin urges F. Muller to write book on.
Natural History Collections, enquiry as to disposal by British Museum
Trustees of.
"Natural History Review," Lord Avebury on Walsh's paper on dimorphism.
-Bentham in the.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-Darwin reviews Bates in.
-Falconer in the.
-founding of.
-Huxley and.
"Natural Inheritance," Galton's.
Natural preservation, as substitute for Natural Selection.
"Natural Science," A.S. Woodward on Neomylodon in.
Natural Selection, accumulation of varieties by.
-and adaptation in orchids.
-Allen on slowness of action.
-Angraecum in relation to.
-Ansted on.
-applied to politics.
-and artificial.
-Bates' belief in.
-Bronn on.
-comparison with architecture.
-with force and matter.
-with laws of gravity.
-conservative influence of.
-Cope's and Hyatt's views on.
-Darwin accused of making too much of a Deus of.
-Darwin's anxiety not to overestimate effect of.
-Darwin lays stress on importance of.
-Darwin on use of term.
-deification of.
-and direct action.
-Eocene or Secondary organisms would be beaten in competition with
recent on theory of.
-and external conditions.
-Falconer on.
-and fertility.
-Asa Gray on.
-Harvey misunderstands Darwin's meaning.
-Haughton partially admits.
-Hooker thinks Darwin probably rides too hard his hobby of.
-Hooker on supposed falling off in belief in.
-Hooker and Bates believe in.
-Huxley's belief in.
-Huxley gives in a lecture inadequate idea of.
-Hyatt and Cope on.
-importance of.
-Lamont on.
-Lyell on.
-and monstrosities.
-Nageli's Essay on.
-no limit to perfection of co-adaptations produced by.
-non-acceptance of.
-objections to.
-"plants are splendid for making one believe in."
-possibility of race of bears being rendered aquatic through.
-with the principle of divergence the keystone of "Origin."
-production of thorns through.
-tends to progression of organisation.
-providential arrangement and superfluity of.
-struggle between reversion, variability and.
-Scott on.
-slowness of action.
-and sterility.
-success of.
-tails of mice a difficulty as regards.
-Sir W. Thomson's misconception of.
-uses of.
-value of.
-and variation.
-variation of species sufficient for selection and accumulation of new
specific characters by.
-and useful characters.
-Wallace on.
-Watson on.
-applied to man and brutes.
-Australian savages and.
-beauty and.
-Darwin on action of.
-Darwin's historical sketch in "Origin" of.
-difficulties of.
-Donders nearly preceded Darwin in views on.
-evolution of man from point of view of.
-Owen's attitude towards.
-primogeniture destructive of.
-Sexual Selection less powerful than.
-Wallace attributes theory entirely to Darwin.
-Wallace on brain and.
Naturalisation, of European plants.
-of plants in India.
-of plants in islands.
Naturalised plants, Bentham on.
-comparison of variability of indigenous and.
-De Candolle on.
-variability of.
-fewness of American species of, in Britain.
"Naturalist in Nicaragua," Belt's.
-Belt's account of honey-glands of plants in.
"Naturalist on the Amazons," Bates'.
-Darwin's opinion of.
Naturalists, views on species held by.
-few care for philosophical experiments
Nature, Wallace on personification of.
-use of term.
"Nature not lying," principle of.
"Nature," Darwin's opinion of.
-letters or notes from Darwin in.
-Galton in.
-F. Muller in.
-Thiselton-Dyer in.
Naudin, C., on hybridism.
-on Melastomaceae.
Nauplius stages.
Nautilus, of Silurian age.
Necrophorus, Darwin's observations on.
Nectar, in leguminous flowers.
-Lord Farrer on secretion of, in Coronilla.
Nectaries, Belt on extra-floral.
Nectarines and peaches.
-Rivers on production from seed.
-variation in.
Negative geological evidence, Darwin and Lyell on.
Negro, resemblance between expression of Cebus and.
Nelumbium, as example of transport.
Neottia nidus-avis, fertilisation mechanism.
-pollen-tubes of.
Nepenthes, Hooker's work on.
-Thiselton-Dyer on.
Neptunia.
Nervous system, genesis of.
-influence on nutrition.
Nests, Wallace's theory, of.
-colour in relation to.
-instinct in making.
Neumann, on Catasetum.
Neumayr, Melchior (1845-90): passed his early life at Stuttgart, and
entered the University of Munich in 1863 with the object of studying law,
but he soon gave up legal studies for Geology and Palaeontology. In 1873
he was recalled from Heidelberg, where he held a post as Privatdocent, to
occupy the newly created Chair of Palaeontology in Vienna. Dr. Neumayr was
a successful and popular writer, as well as "one of the best and most
scientific palaeontologists"; he was an enthusiastic supporter of Darwin's
views, and he devoted himself "to tracing through the life of former times
the same law of evolution as Darwin inferred from that of the existing
world." (See Obit. Notice, by Dr. W.T. Blanford, "Quart. Journ. Geol.
Soc." Volume XLVI., page 54, 1890.)
-essay on descent theory.
-services to geology.
-"Die Stamme des Thierreichs."
Nevill, Lady Dorothy.
New Zealand, absence of leguminosae opposed to continental extension of.
-British plants in.
-clover never seeded before introduction of bees.
-comparison between flora of Tasmania and.
-elevation of mountains in.
-flora of.
-flora of Australia and.
-Flora of Raoul Island and.
-Hooker on flora of.
-Darwin's opinion of Hooker's "Flora."
-former connection of islands.
-former extension of.
-naturalised plants.
-peopling of mountains by plants.
-proportion of annuals.
-species of plants common to America, Chili and.
-stocked from Antarctic land.
-colonising of.
-glacial action in.
-mountain-rat of.
-trees of.
Newton, Prof. A., note on Strickland by.
-description of partridge as agent in dispersal of seeds.
Newton's law of gravity.
Niagara, Darwin on Lyell's work on.
Nightingale, Gould on the.
Noises, observations on children's.
Nolana prostrata, Darwin's experiments on.
Nomenclature, discussion on.
"North British Review," Fleeming Jenkin's review in.
-Tait in.
Norton, Professor Charles Elliot: of Harvard, the son of the late Dr.
Andrews Norton, Professor of Theology in the Harvard Divinity School.
-visits Down.
Norway, Von Buch's travels in.
-Blytt on flora of.
Norwich, Berkeley's address at British Association (1868) meeting at.
-Hooker's address.
Nottingham, British Association meeting (1866) at.
-Hooker's lecture on insular floras at.
Notylia, F. Muller on.
Nucula, a persistent type.
Nuneham, Darwin's recollection of trip to.
Nutrition, influence of mind on.
Nyctitropic movements, see Sleep-movements.
Observation, spirit of astronomers in.
-harder work than generalisation.
-pleasure of.
Observations, not to be trusted without repetition.
Observer, a good theoriser makes a good.
Oceanic islands, difference in floras and means of stocking.
-connection between continents and.
-former extension of.
-Reade on.
-volcanic nature of.
Oceans, age and depth of.
-permanence of.
-as sinking areas.
Ogle, W., on the sense of smell.
-letter to.
-translation of book by Kerner.
Ogleby, reference to his nomenclature scheme.
Oken, on Lepas.
-Owen on.
Old characters, reappearance of.
Oldenburgia.
Oldenlandia.
Olfers.
Oliver, D., Darwin indebted to for information.
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Olyra, sleep-movements of.
Omori, Morse on shell-mounds of.
Oncidium, J. Scott's work on.
-structure of labellum.
-O. flexuosum, observations by Muller and Scott on.
-self-sterility of.
-O. sphacelatum, Scott on fertilisation of.
Ophrys.
-O. apifera, fertilisation-mechanism.
-self-fertilisation of.
-O. arachnites, fertilisation of.
-habitat.
-O. aranifera.
-O. morio, fertilisation of.
-O. muscifera, Lord Farrer's observations on.
-O. scolopax.
Opossums.
Oppel, service to geology.
-mentioned.
Opuntia, Henslow describes new species from Galapagos.
Orang-utang, Rolleston on brain of.
-Wallace on.
Orange trees, grafting of.
d'Orbigny, on geology of S. America.
-theory of formation of Pampas mud.
-"Voyage dans l'Amerique meridionale.
-mentioned.
Orchids, adaptation in.
-Darwin's work on.
-Darwin's view that seedlings are parasitic on Cryptogams.
-Falconer's estimate of Darwin's work on.
-few species in humid temperate regions.
-flourish in cool temperate regions.
-illustrate diversity of means to same end.
-monstrous.
-quoted as argument against species arising from monstrosities.
-utility and.
-fertilisation mechanisms of.
-Brazilian.
-Darwin decides to publish his work in book-form.
-Darwin sends copy of his book to F. Muller.
-Darwin underrates power of producing seeds without insects.
-French translation of Darwin's book.
-germinative power of pollen.
-Hildebrand's paper on.
-Nectar not excreted in some English.
-and nectar secretion.
-formation of ovule after pollination.
-Scott points out error in Darwin's work.
-Scott on pollen-tubes of.
-Scott on self-sterility.
-self-fertilisation in.
-setting of seed in unopened flower.
-sterility of.
-course of vessels in flowers.
-wonderful contrivances intelligible.
Orchis, flowers of.
-nectaries of.
-pollinia of.
Orchis (Bee) (see also Ophrys apifera), Darwin's experiments on.
-O. pyramidalis, fertilisation mechanism.
-O. ustulata.
Order of Nature.
Ordination.
Organ mountains, Darwin on plants of.
-glacial action on.
Organisms, simultaneous change in.
-amount of change in fresh water and marine.
Organs, transition of
-use of.
"Origin of the Fittest," Cope's.
"Origin of Genera," Cope's work on.
Origin of life.
"Origin of Species," acceptance of doctrine of Evolution due to the.
-Darwin's belief in the permanence of the framework of the.
-Darwin's opinion of his book.
-Dawson's review of.
-direct action underestimated in the.
-editions of the.
-errors in.
-Falconer's estimate of.
-Huxley's Cambridge speech, and reference to the.
-Huxley's lecture on coming of age of.
-Huxley's review of.
-Lesquereux's articles in "Silliman" against the.
-publication of the Abstract of.
-publication by Murray of.
-sale of the.
-Seemann on the.
-translation of.
-Wallace's criticism of.
-Walsh on the.
-Darwin on necessity for modifications in the.
-review by Fleeming Jenkin.
-review by A. Murray.
-Owen's criticism of Darwin's Historical Sketch in 4th edition of.
-Owen's review of.
-study of natural history revolutionised by the.
-valueless criticism on.
Origin of species, Darwin's early views on.
-Darwin's views on.
-Falconer antagonistic to Darwin's views on.
-Oxford discussion (British Association, 1860) on the.
-spread of Darwin's views in America.
Origin of species and genera, Wallace in the "Nineteenth Century" on.
Original work, time taken up by, at expense of reading.
Ormerod's Index to the Geological Society's Journal.
Ornithorhynchus, aberrant nature of.
-preservation of.
Orthoptera, auditory organs of.
Oscillariae, abundance in the ocean.
Oscillataria.
Oscillation of land, Darwin's views on.
Os coccyx, as rudimentary organ.
Ostrea.
Ostrich, modification of wings.
Outliers, plants as.
"Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy," Fiske's.
Ovary, abnormal structure in orchid.
Owen, Sir Richard (1804-92): was born at Lancaster, and educated at the
local Grammar School, where one of his schoolfellows was William Whewell,
afterwards Master of Trinity. He was subsequently apprenticed to a surgeon
and apothecary, and became deeply interested in the study of anatomy. He
continued his medical training in Edinburgh and at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital in London. In 1827 Owen became assistant to William Clift (whose
daughter Owen married in 1835), Conservator to the Hunterian Museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons. It was here that he became acquainted with
Cuvier, at whose invitation he visited Paris, and attended his lectures and
those of Geoffroy St. Hilaire. The publication, in 1832, of the "Memoir on
the Pearly Nautilus" placed the author "in the front rank of anatomical
monographers." On Clift's retirement, Owen became sole Conservator to the
Hunterian Museum, and was made first Hunterian Professor of Comparative
Anatomy and Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1856 he
accepted the post of Superintendent of the Natural History department of
the British Museum, and shortly after his appointment he strongly urged the
establishment of a National Museum of Natural History, a project which was
eventually carried into effect in 1875. In 1884 he was gazetted K.C.B.
Owen was a strong opponent of Darwin's views, and contributed a bitter and
anonymous article on the "Origin of Species" to the "Edinburgh Review" of
1860. The position of Owen in the history of anatomical science has been
dealt with by Huxley in an essay incorporated in the "Life of Richard
Owen," by his grandson, the Rev. Richard Owen (2 volumes, London, 1894).
Huxley pays a high tribute to Owen's industry and ability: "During more
than half a century Owen's industry remained unabated; and whether we
consider the quality or the quantity of the work done, or the wide range of
his labours, I doubt if, in the long annals of anatomy, more is to be
placed to the credit of any single worker." The record of his work is
"enough, and more than enough, to justify the high place in the scientific
world which Owen so long occupied. If I mistake not, the historian of
comparative anatomy and palaeontology will always assign to Owen a place
next to, and hardly lower than, that of Cuvier, who was practically the
creator of those sciences in their modern shape, and whose works must
always remain models of excellence in their kind." On the other hand,
Owen's contributions to philosophical anatomy are on a much lower plane;
hardly any of his speculations in this field have stood the test of
investigation: "...I am not sure that any one but the historian of
anatomical science is ever likely to recur to them, and considering Owen's
great capacity, extensive learning, and tireless industry, that seems a
singular result of years of strenuous labour."
-address at Leeds (British Association, 1858) by.
-admission of descent of species.
-articles by.
-on a badger of Pliocene age.
-on the brain.
-Mrs. Carlyle's impression of.
-and Hooker.
-conduct towards Huxley.
-Darwin abused by.
-on Darwin and Maillet.
-and Darwinism.
-on ephemeral influence of the "Origin."
-Falconer and.
-Huxley on.
-on Huxley's election to the Athenaeum.
-ignores Darwin's work.
-influence of.
-isolation among scientific men.
-lecture on birds by.
-letters to.
-letter to the "Athenaeum."
-"Life of."
-on lowness of animals.
-on Macacus.
-on mammals of Old World.
-on morphology of vertebrata.
-review in the "Quarterly" of the "Origin."
-"Palaeontology" by.
-on parthenogenesis.
-review in the "Edinburgh Review" by.
-on simple and multiple organs.
-on use and disuse.
-and Bishop Wilberforce's review.
-visits Down.
-attack on Darwin in his "Anatomy of Vertebrata."
-attitude towards Natural Selection.
-mentioned.
Owls and hawks, as agents in seed-dispersal.
Oxalis, bulbils of.
-cleistogamic flowers of.
-dimorphism of.
-pollen-tubes of.
-seeds of.
-trimorphism of.
-O. acetosella, sensitive leaves of.
-variation in length of pistil and stamens.
-O. sensitiva, Darwin's work on.
-O. corniculata, variation of.
Oxford, meeting of the British Association at (1847).
-Tuckwell's reminiscences of.
Oxlips, Darwin's experiment on cowslips, primroses, and.
-Darwin on hybrid character of.
-scarcity of.
Oxyspora paniculata, Wallich on.
Pachira, inequality of cotyledons.
-P. aquatica.
Pacific Ocean, Darwin wishes Hooker to investigate floras of.
-islands of the.
-coral reefs of.
Packard's "Lamarck the Founder of Evolution."
Paget, Sir J., on regeneration.
-address on elemental pathology.
-illness of.
-on influence of mind on nutrition.
-"Lectures on Surgical Pathology."
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Pairing, in birds.
-vigour of birds and effect on time of.
Palaeolithic flints, in gravels near Southampton.
Palaeontology, rapid progress of.
Palaeozoic period.
Paley, idea of interference of Creator in construction of each species
due to.
"Pall Mall," article on "Dr. Hooker on Religion and Science" in.
-letter to editor of.
Pallas, Darwin's conviction of truth of doctrine of.
-doctrine of.
-on hybrids and fertility.
Palm, Malayan climbing.
Palm, L.H., work on climbing plants by.
Palma, crater of.
Pampas, geology of the.
-formation of.
-Lyell on Mississippi beds and.
-D'Orbigny's theory of formation of.
-thistle of the.
Pangenesis, adverse opinion on.
-Bentham on.
-Berkeley on.
-bud-propagation and.
-Darwin on.
-Darwin's suggestion as to term.
-difference between Galton's theory of heredity and.
-evidence from hybridisation in favour of.
-Hooker on.
-Huxley's views on.
-Jager on.
-Lyell on.
-and molecular hypothesis of Hackel.
-Ranyard on.
-Romanes on.
-self-fertilisation and.
-Wallace on.
-the idea a relief to Darwin as connecting facts.
-F. Muller and.
-bearing on regeneration.
-"will turn out true some day."
-mentioned.
Panmixia.
Panniculus carnosus in man.
Papilio Memnon, Wallace on.
-P. nireus, Mrs. Barber on.
-P. pammon, Wallace on.
Papilionaceaous flowers, absence in New Zealand.
-and hermaphroditism.
Papilionidae, Wallace on Malayan.
Paraheliotropism, Muller's observations on.
-in Phyllanthus.
Parallel Roads of Glen Roy (see Glen Roy).
Parana, Darwin finds Mastodon at.
Pararge, breeding in confinement.
Parasites, and degeneration.
-extermination of game by.
-bloom as protection against.
-and galls.
Parietaria, explosive stamens of.
Parrots, as agents in seed-dispersal.
Parsimony, Hamilton's law of.
Parthenogenesis, Darwin on.
-Owen's Hunterian lecture on.
-in Primula.
-J. Scott's work on.
Partridges, as agents of seed-dispersal.
-rudimentary spurs on legs of.
Parus caeruleus, protective colouring of.
Passiflora, bloom experiments on.
-Lord Farrer's work on.
-position of flowers of.
-Muller assists Lord Farrer in work on.
-Scott's work on.
-self-sterility of.
-Sprengel on.
-visited by humming-birds.
-P. gracilis, dispersal of seeds.
-P. princeps, adapted to humming birds.
Patagonia, L. Agassiz on elevation of.
-Darwin on geology of.
-gigantic land-sloth of.
-Admiral Sulivan on.
Pathology, Paget's lectures on.
Pattison, Mark.
Pavo nigripennis.
Payne, on effect of rain on plants.
-observations by.
Peaches, bud-variation in.
-raised from seed.
Peacock, evolution and Sexual Selection of.
-experiments on cutting tail of male.
-muscles of tail of.
Pearson, H.H.W., on the botany of Ceylon patanas.
Peas, course of vessels in ovary of sweet-.
-crossing in.
-fertilisation of.
-waxy secretion in.
Pecten, P. latissimus.
Pelargonium, peloric.
-Beaton on.
-Darwin's experiments on.
-flowers of.
-P. multiflora alba, Darwin's experiments on crossing.
Pelobius, Darwin on.
Peloria, effect of pollen on regular flowers.
-Darwin suggests experiments on.
-Masters on.
-in Pelargonium.
-inheritance of.
Peneus, F. Muller on.
Pentateuch, N. Lewy on.
Periodicals, Darwin's opinion of scientific.
-foreign compared with English.
Peripatus, Moseley's work on.
Peristylus viridis, Lord Farrer's observations on.
Permanence of ocean basins.
Permian period, glacial action during.
-freshwater beds in India.
"Personal Narrative," Humboldt's.
Peru, anarchy in.
-Darwin on terraces in.
-D. Forbes on geology of.
Peuquenes Pass, Darwin visits.
Pfeffer, Prof., on chemotaxis.
-considers Wiesner wrong in some of his interpretations.
-on Drosera.
-"Periodische Bewegungen."
Pfitzer, on classification of orchids.
Pfluger.
Phalaenopsis.
Phanerogams, comparison with one class of animals rather than with one
kingdom.
Phaseoli, crossing in.
Phaseolus vulgaris, sleep-movements of.
Pheasants, display of colour by golden.
-Hewitt on hybrids of.
-hybrids between fowls and.
-protective colouring.
Phillips, J., defines species.
-evolutionary views.
-"Life on the Earth."
-mentioned.
Phillips-Jodrell, T.T., founder of Jodrell Laboratory at Kew.
Philosophical Club.
Philosophical experiments, few naturalists care for.
Philosophising, means and laws of.
Phlox, Darwin's observations on flowers of.
-heterostylism of.
-P. Drummondii.
-P. subulata.
Phyllanthus, F. Muller's paper in "Kosmos" on.
-sleep-movements of.
-P. Niruri, sleep-movements of.
Phryma, de Candolle on.
-occurrence in N. America.
Phyllotaxis, Darwin and Falconer on.
Physical conditions, effect of.
"Physical Geography," Herschel's.
Physicists, disagree as to rate of cooling of earth's crust.
"Physiological Aesthetics," Grant Allen's.
Physiological germs.
Physiological selection, Romanes'.
Physiological species, Huxley's term.
Physiological units, Herbert Spencer's.
Physiological variations.
"Physiology," Huxley's "Elementary Lessons in."
-Darwin on difficulty of.
-Darwin's want of knowledge of.
-Darwin's work on plant-.
-England behind in vegetable.
-small knowledge of ordinary doctors of.
-and vivisection.
Phytophagic varieties, Walsh on.
Phytophthora, potatoes and.
"Pickwick," quotation from.
Pictet, on the succession of forms.
-mentioned.
Pictet and Humbert, on fossil fishes of Lebanon.
Pieris, breeding in confinement.
-colour the result of mimicry.
-protective colouring.
-P. napi.
-Weismann on.
Pigeons, breeding of.
-drawings of.
-experiments on crossing.
-experiments bearing on direct action.
-production of varieties.
-reduction of wings.
-and sterility.
-Tegetmeier's work on.
-Wallace on Malayan.
-Darwin's work on.
-experiments in painting.
-Flourens' experiments on.
-gay deceiver.
-pairing for whole life.
(Barbs.)
(Carriers.)
(Fantails.)
(Laugher.)
(Pouters.)
(Rock.)
(Runts.)
(Tumblers.)
Pigs, crossing of.
"Pikermi," Gaudry's "Animaux fossiles de."
Pinguicula, Darwin's observations on.
Pistyll Rhiadr.
Pisum, cross-fertilisation of.
-P. sativum, visited by Bombus.
Pithecoid man, Huxley's term.
Pithecus, Owen on Homo and.
Placentata.
Plagiaulax, Falconer on.
Planaria.
Planorbis, Hyatt on genesis of species of.
-P. multiformis, graduated forms of.
Plantago, Ludwig's observations on.
-Darwin on.
Plants, change in animals compared with change in.
-comparison between high and low as regards resistance to injurious
conditions.
-contractility of.
-difference between animals and.
-distribution of.
-fossil.
-of Madeira.
-morphological characters.
-resemblance to animals.
-Saporta's work on fossil.
-small proportion preserved as fossils.
-splendid for helping belief in Natural Selection.
-thorns in.
-wide range as compared with animals.
-Darwin's interest in movements of.
-Darwin on physiology of.
-disease in.
-effect of stimuli on.
Plas Edwards.
Plasmodiophora, action on cruciferous roots.
Platanthera, H. Muller on.
Plato, comparison between plants and man in his "Timaeus."
Platysma myoides, contraction during terror.
-Darwin's error concerning.
Playfair, Lord.
Pleistocene Antarctic land, plants derived from.
Pliocene, Falconer on mammal from the.
Plovers, protective colouring of.
Plumage, immature and adult.
Plumbago, Darwin's experiments on.
-said to be dimorphic.
Podostemaceae, fertilisation of.
Poisons, natives of Australia injured by vegetable.
-absorption by roots of.
-effect of injection into plants.
Polar bear, modification of.
Polar ice-cap, Darwin on the.
Polarity, E. Forbes' theory of.
Pollen, direct action of.
-experiments on.
-time of maturity in Eucalyptus and Mimosa.
-mechanism for distribution in Martha.
-Miyoshi's experiments on tubes of.
Polyanthus, crossing in.
Polyborus Novae Zelandiae, in Falkland Islands.
Polydactylism, and inheritance.
Polyembryony, in Coffea and Pachira.
Polygala.
-P. vulgaris, variation of.
Polygamy, in birds.
-in Machetes.
Polygonum, germination of seeds found in sandpit.
Polymorphism, Darwin and Hooker on.
-Wallace on.
Polytypic genera, variation of.
Pontederia, heterostylism of.
Pontodrilus, Lankester on.
Poplar, Heer on fossil species.
Popper, J., letter to.
Poppig, on civilisation and savagery.
Poppy (corn-), indigenous in Sicily.
Porpoises, Flower on.
-freshwater.
-Murray on.
Portillo Pass.
Porto-Santo, land-snails of.
-plants of.
Positivism, Huxley's article in "Fortnightly Review" on.
Posoqueria, F. Muller's paper on.
Potatoes, crossing experiments.
-cultivated and wild.
-disease of.
-experiments suggested.
-graft-hybrids.
-sterility and variability in.
-Torbitt's experiments on.
-Traill's experiments.
-varieties of.
-Darwin's work on varieties of.
-Hildebrand's experiments on.
Poulton, Prof., on Prichard as an evolutionist.
-"Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection."
Poultry, skulls of.
-Tegetmeier's book on.
-experiments on colour and sexual selection.
Powell, Prof. Baden.
"Power of Movement in Plants," Darwin's account of capacity of revolving
in plants, in his book.
-Continental opinion of.
-Wiesner's criticism of.
Prawns, F. Muller on metamorphosis of.
Prayer, Galton's article on.
Pre-Cambrian rocks, Hicks on.
Predominant forms.
"Prehistoric Europe," J. Geikie's.
"Prehistoric Times," Lord Avebury's.
Preordination, speculation as to.
Prepotency of pollen.
Prescott, reference to work by.
Preservation, suggested as an alternative term for Natural Selection.
Pressure, effect on liquefaction by heat.
Preston, S. Tolver, letter to.
Prestwich, Prof. J., letter to.
-on Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
-on superficial deposits of S. England.
-work on Tertiaries.
-mentioned.
Prevost, C., as candidate for Royal Society Foreign List.
-mentioned.
Price, J., extract from letter from Darwin to.
Prichard, James Cowles (1786-1848): He came on both sides from Quaker
families, but, according to the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," he
ultimately joined the Church of England. He was a M.D. of Edinburgh,
and by diploma of Oxford. He was for a year at Trinity College,
Cambridge, and afterwards at St. John's and New College, Oxford, but did
not graduate at either University. He practised medicine, and was
Physician to the Infirmary at Bristol. Three years before his death he
was made a Commissioner in Lunacy. He not only wrote much on Ethnology,
but also made sound contributions to the science of language and on
medical subjects. His treatise on insanity was remarkable for his
advanced views on "moral insanity."
-on immutability.
-quotations from his "Physical History of Mankind."
Priestley, "Green matter" of.
-Huxley's essay on.
Primogeniture, antagonistic to Natural Selection.
Primrose (see also Primula), Darwin's experiments on cowslip and.
-dimorphism of.
-J. Scott on.
Primula, Darwin's work on.
-difficulty of experimenting with.
-dimorphism of.
-dimorphism lost by variation.
-entrance of pollen-tubes at chalaza.
-varying fertility of.
-fertilisation of.
-homomorphic unions and.
-ovules of.
-J. Scott's work on.
-stamens of.
-P. elatior.
-P. longiflora, non-dimorphism of.
-Treviranus on.
-P. mollis.
-P. scotica.
-P. sinensis.
-fertility of.
-legitimate and illegitimate unions.
-movement of cotyledons.
Principle of divergence.
"Principles of Biology," Spencer's.
"Principles of Geology," Lyell's.
-Darwin on.
-Wallace's review of.
Pringlea antiscorbutica (Kerguelen cabbage).
Priority, Falconer and Owen on.
Proboscidean group, extinction of.
Progress, in forms of life and organisation.
Progression, tendency in organisms towards.
Progressive development.
Pronuba, the Yucca moth, Riley on.
Proteaceae, former extension of.
Protean genera, list of N. American.
Protection, colour in butterflies and.
-thorns as.
-Wallace on.
-colour and.
-colour of birds and.
-colour of caterpillars and.
-colour of shells and.
-Darwin's views on Sexual Selection and.
-evolution of colour and.
-mimicry and.
-monkeys' manes as.
-Wallace on colour and.
-Wallace on wings of lepidoptera and.
Protective resemblance, Wallace on.
Proterogyny, in Plantago.
Prothero, G.W.
Protococcus.
Protozoa.
Providential arrangement.
Prunus laurocerasus, extra-floral nectaries visited by ants.
Psithyrus.
Psychology, Delboeuf on.
-Romanes' work on comparative.
Ptarmigan, protective colouring of.
Pterophorus periscelidactylus.
Publishing, over-readiness of most men in.
Pumilio argyrolepis, Darwin on seeds of.
Purbeck, Plagiaulax from the.
Purpose, Darwin on use of term.
Pyrola, fertilisation mechanism in.
Quagga, hybrid between horse and.
Quails, seed-dispersal by migratory.
"Quarterly Journal of Science," article on Darwin and his teaching in.
-review by Wallace of the Duke of Argyll's "Reign of Law."
"Quarterly Review," Mivart's article.
-Bishop Wilberforce's review of "Origin" in.
-article on zebras, horses, and hybrids.
Quartz, segregation in foliated rocks.
Quatrefages, Jean Louis Armand de, de Breau (1810-92): was a scion of an
ancient family originally settled at Breau, in the Cevennes. His work was
largely anthropological, and in his writings and lectures he always
combated evolutionary ideas. Nevertheless he had a strong personal respect
for Darwin, and was active in obtaining his election at the Institut. For
details of his life and work see "A la Memoire de J.L.A. de Quatrefages de
Breau," 4o, Paris (privately printed); also "L'Anthropologie," III., 1892,
page 2.
-letters to.
-translation of paper by.
-on proportion of sexes in Bombyx.
Quenstedt, work on the Lias by.
Queries on expression.
Rabbits, Angora, skeletons of.
-Darwin's work on.
Race, nature's regard for.
Racehorse, selection by man.
-Wallace on fleetness of.
-equality of sexes in.
Races of man.
-causes of difference in.
-Wallace on.
Rafflesia, parasites allied to.
Rain, effect on leaves.
-movements of leaves as means of shooting off.
Ramsay, Sir A.C., on origin of lakes.
-Geological Society hesitates to publish his paper on Lakes.
-on ice-action.
-on insects in tropics.
-memoir by Geikie of.
-on denudation and earth-movements.
-overestimates subaerial denudation.
-on Parallel Roads of Glen Roy.
-on Permian glaciers.
-proposal that he should investigate glacial deposits in S. America.
-mentioned.
Range, De Candolle on large families and their.
-coleoptera and restricted.
-of genera.
-of shells.
-size of genera in relation to species and their.
-of species.
Ranunculaceae, evidence of highness in.
Ranunculus auricomus.
Ranyard, A.C., letter to "Nature" on pangenesis.
Raoul Island, Hooker on.
Raphael's Madonna, referred to by Darwin.
Raspberry, germination of seeds from a barrow.
-waxy secretion of.
Rattlesnake, Wright on uses of rattle of.
Raven, said to pair for whole life.
Ray Society, work of.
Raymond, Du Bois, work on plants.
Reade, T.M., letters to.
-on age of the world.
"Reader," sold to the Anthropological Society.
Reading, Darwin complains of lack of time for.
-little time given by scientific workers to.
Reciprocal crosses, half-sterility of.
Rede Lecture, by Phillips (1860).
Reduction, cessation of selection as cause of.
-organs of flight and.
-wings of ostrich and.
References, Darwin on importance of giving.
-Wallace on.
Regeneration, power of.
-reference in "Variation of Animals and Plants" to.
"Reign of Law," the Duke of Argyll's.
-reviewed by Wallace.
Reindeer, of Spitzbergen.
-horns of.
Religion and science.
Representative species.
-in floras of Japan and N. America.
-in Galapagos Islands.
Reproduction, difference in amount of energy expended by male and female
in.
Reproductive organs, St.-Hilaire's view of affaiblissement and
development of.
-in relation to theoretical questions.
Research, Huxley and.
-justification of.
Reseda lutea, sterile with own pollen.
-R. odorata, experiment on cross-and self-fertilisation.
Resemblance, mimetic.
Resignation, expression in.
Restiaceae, former extension of.
Restricted distribution.
Retardation, Cope on.
Retrogression.
Reversion, in ammonites.
-Darwin on.
-and degeneration of characters.
-factors causing.
-hybridism and.
-Lord Morton's mare and.
-stripes of mules due to.
-struggle between Natural Selection and.
-and crossing.
-peloria and.
Review of the "Descent of Man," by J. Morley.
Reviews, Darwin on an author writing his own.
-on the "Origin of Species," by Asa Gray.
-Haughton.
-Hopkins.
-Hutton.
-Huxley.
-F. Jenkin.
-Owen.
-Wilberforce.
Rhamnus.
Rhexia, flowers of.
-R. virginica, W.H. Leggett on anthers.
Rhinoceros.
Rhinochetus.
Rhizocephala, retrograde development in.
Rhododendron Boothii.
Rhopalocera, breeding in confinement.
Rhynchoea, colour of.
Rich, Anthony (1804?-1891): Educated at Caius College, Cambridge, of
which he was afterwards an Honorary Fellow. Author of "Illustrated
Companion to the Latin Dictionary and Greek Lexicon," 1849, said to be a
useful book on classical antiquities. Mr. Darwin made his acquaintance
in a curious way--namely, by Mr. Rich writing to inform him that he
intended to leave him his fortune, in token of his admiration for his
work. Mr. Rich was the survivor, but left his property to Mr. Darwin's
children, with the exception of his house at Worthing, bequeathed to Mr.
Huxley.
-legacy to Huxley.
-letter to.
-leaves his fortune to Darwin.
Rich, Mrs., mentioned.
Richardson, R., on tablet to commemorate Darwin's lodgings at 11,
Lothian Street, Edinburgh.
Richardson, Darwin on merits of.
Rigaud, on formation of coal.
Riley, Charles Valentine (1843-95): was born in England: at the age of
seventeen he ran away from home and settled in Illinois, where at first
he supported himself as a labourer; but he soon took to science, and his
first contributions to Entomology appeared in 1863. He became
entomological editor of the "Prairie Farmer" (Chicago), and came under
the influence of B.D. Walsh. In 1868 Riley became State Entomologist of
Missouri, and in 1878 Entomologist to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, a post he resigned in 1894 owing to ill-health; his death
was the result of a bicycle accident. (Taken principally from the
"Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington," Volume III.,
1893-6, page 293.)
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Rio Janeiro, absence of erratic boulders near.
-Agassiz on drift-formation near.
Rio Negro.
Rio Plata.
Ritchie, Mrs., visit to Down.
Rivers, The late Mr. Thomas: of Sawbridgeworth, was an eminent
horticulturist and writer on horticulture.
-letters to.
Robin, attracted by colour of Triphaena (Triphoea).
Robinia, insect visitors of.
Rocks, bending when heated.
-condition in interior of earth.
-fluidity of.
-metamorphism of (see also Metamorphism).
Rocky Mountains, wingless insects of the.
Rogers, W.B. and H.D., on cleavage.
-on coalfields of N. America.
-on parallelism of axis-planes of elevation and cleavage.
Rolleston, George (1829-81): obtained a first-class in Classics at
Oxford in 1850; he was elected Fellow of Pembroke College in 1851, and
in the same year he entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Towards the
close of the Crimean War, Rolleston was appointed one of the Physicians
to the British civil hospital at Smyrna. In 1860 he was elected the
first Linacre Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, a post which he held
until his death. "He was perhaps the last of a school of English
natural historians or biologists in the widest sense of the term." In
1862 he gave the results of his work on the classification of brains in
a lecture delivered at the Royal Institution, and in 1870 published his
best known book, "Forms of Animal Life (Dict. Nat. Biography).
-address in "Nature" by.
-on the orang-utang.
-adhesion to Darwin's views.
-letter to.
-letter to Darwin from.
-mentioned.
Rollisson.
Roman villa at Abinger.
Romanes, G.J. (1848-94): was one of Mr. Darwin's most devoted disciples.
The letters published in Mrs. Romanes' interesting "Life and Letters" of
her husband (1896) make clear the warm feelings of regard and respect
which Darwin entertained for his correspondent.
-Darwin on controversy between Duke of Argyll and.
-on graft-hybrids.
-letters to.
-letter to Darwin from.
-letter to "Nature" in reply to the Duke of Argyll.
-on physiological selection.
-review of Roux's book.
-on heliotropism.
-lecture on animal intelligence by.
-lecture on evolution of nerves.
-letter to "Times" from.
-"Life and Letters" of.
-on minds of animals.
Roots, heliotropism of.
-sensitive tip of.
Roses, N. American species.
-bud-variation.
-raising from seed.
-resemblance of seedling moss-rose to Scotch.
-varieties of.
Ross, Sir J.
Rosse, Lord.
Round Island, fauna and flora of.
Roux's "Struggle of Parts in the Organism."
Royal Commission on Vivisection.
Royal Institution, lectures at.
Royal medals.
Royal Society, council meeting of.
Royer, Mdlle., translatress of the "Origin."
Royle, John Forbes (1800-58): was originally a surgeon in the H.E.I.C.
Medical Service, and was for some years Curator at Saharunpur. From 1837-
56 he was Professor of Materia Medica at King's College, London. He wrote
principally on economic and Indian botany. One of his chief works was
"Illustrations of the Botany and other branches of the Natural History of
the Himalayan Mountains and of the Flora of Cashmere." (London, 1839.)
-letters to.
-mentioned.
Rubiaceae, dimorphism in.
-fertilisation in.
Rubus, N. American species.
-variation in.
-F. Darwin on roots of.
Rubus and Hieracium, comparison of variability of N. American and
European species.
Rucker.
Rudimentary organs.
-in frogs.
-nascent and.
-variation of.
-in man.
-use in classification.
Rudinger, Dr., on regeneration.
Rue, flowers of.
Ruffs, polygamy of.
Rumex, germination of old seeds.
Russia, forms of wheat cultivated in.
Rutaceae, A. St.-Hilaire on difference in ovary of same plants of.
Sabine, General Sir E. Sabine (1788-1883): President of the Royal
Society 1861-71. (See "Life and Letters," III., page 28.)
-address to Royal Society.
-award of Copley medal to Darwin during presidency of.
-recognition by Government.
-mentioned.
Sabrina, elevation of.
Sagitta.
St. Dabeoc's heath, in Azores.
St. Helena, Darwin suggests possibility of finding lost plants in earth
from.
-extinction in.
-Hooker on flora of.
-land-birds of.
-plants of.
-trees of.
-Darwin on craters of.
-geology of.
-subsidence in.
-White on hemiptera of.
St.-Hilaire, A.F.C.P. de, on affaiblissement.
-erect and suspended ovules in same ovary.
-"Lecons de Botanique."
-Life of.
St.-Hilaire, J.G., on monstrosities.
-author of "Life of A.F.C.P. de St.-Hilaire."
St. Jago, Darwin on craters of.
-elevation of.
St. Paul's rocks, plants of.
-geological structure.
Saintpaulia, dimorphic flowers.
St. Ventanao, conglomerates of.
Salicaceae.
Salicornia, bloom on.
Salix, varieties of.
Salsola Kali, bloom on.
Salt water, effect on plants.
Salter, on vitality of seeds after immersion in the sea.
Saltus, Darwin's views on.
Salvages, flora of the.
Salvia, Hildebrand's paper on.
Samara, Russian wheat sent to Darwin from.
Samoyedes, power of finding their way in fog.
Sandberger, controversy with Hilgendorf.
Sanderson, Sir J.B., electrical experiments on plants.
-letters to.
-on vivisection.
Sandwich Islands, absence of Alpine floras.
-flora of.
-Geranium of.
-Dana on valleys and craters.
-Galapagos and.
Sanicula, occurrence of species in Azores.
-range of.
Santa Cruz.
Santorin, crater of.
-linear vent in.
-Lyell's account of.
Saporta, Marquis de, (1823-95): devoted himself to the study of fossil
plants, and by his untiring energy and broad scientific treatment of the
subject he will always rank as one of the pioneers of Vegetable
Palaeontology. In addition to many important monographs on Tertiary and
Jurassic floras, he published several books and papers in which Darwin's
views are applied to the investigation of the records of plant-life
furnished by rocks of all ages. ("Le Marquis G. de Saporta, sa Vie et
ses Travaux," by R. Zeiller. "Bull. Soc. Geol. France," Volume XXIV.,
page 197, 1896.)
-letters to.
-on rapid development of higher plants.
Sargassum, Forbes on.
Sarracenia.
Savages, civilisation of.
-comparison between animals and.
-decrease of.
-Selection among.
Saxifrages, destruction in Ireland of Spanish.
-formation of hairs in.
Saxonika, form of Russian wheat.
Scaevola, fertilisation mechanism of.
-S. microcarpa, fertilisation mechanism of.
Scalesia.
Scandinavia, Hooker on potency of flora.
-Blytt on distribution of plants of.
-elevation of.
Scarlet fever, Darwin's dread of.
"Scenery of Scotland," Sir A. Geikie's.
Scepticism, Darwin on.
Schimper, review by Hooker of "Paleontologie Vegetale" by.
Schlagintweit.
Schleiden, convert to Darwin's views.
Schmankewitsch, experiments on Artemia by.
Schobl, J., on ears of mice.
Schoenherr, C.J.
Schomburgk, Sir R., on Catasetum, Monacanthus, and Myanthus.
School, Darwin at Mr. Case's.
-of Mines.
Schrankia, a sensitive species of.
Schultze, Max.
Science, and superstition.
-progresses at railroad speed.
Science Defence Association, Darwin asked to be president of.
Scientific men, attributes of.
-domestic ties and work of.
-article in "Reader" on.
Scientific periodicals, Darwin's opinion of.
Scotland, forest trees of.
-comparison between flora of T. del Fuego and that of.
-elevation of.
-frequency of earthquakes in.
-land-glaciation of.
-tails of diluvium in.
"Scotsman," Forbes' lecture published in.
-Darwin's letter on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy in the.
Scott, D.H., obituary notice of Nageli by.
Scott, John (1838-80): Short obituary notices of Scott appeared in the
"Journal of Botany," 1880, page 224, and in the "Transactions of the Bot.
Soc. of Edinburgh" Volume XIV., November 11th, 1880, page 160; but the
materials for a biographical sketch are unfortunately scanty. He was the
son of a farmer, and was born at Denholm (the birthplace the poet Leiden,
to whom a monument has been erected in the public square of the village),
in Roxburghshire. At four years of age he was left an orphan, and was
brought up in his aunt's household.
He early showed a love of plants, and this was encouraged by his cousin,
the Rev. James Duncan. Scott told Darwin that he chose a gardening life as
the best way of following science; and this is the more remarkable inasmuch
as he was apprenticed at fourteen years of age. He afterwards (apparently
in 1859) entered the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh, and became head of
the propagating department under Mr. McNab. His earliest publication, as
far as we are aware, is a paper on Fern-spores, read before the Bot. Soc.,
Edinburgh, on June 12th, 1862. In the same year he was at work on orchids,
and this led to his connection with Darwin, to whom he wrote in November
1862. In 1864 he got an appointment at the Calcutta Botanic Garden, a
position he owed to Sir J.D. Hooker, who was doubtless influenced by
Darwin's high opinion of Scott. It was on his way to India that Scott had,
we believe, his only personal interview with Darwin.
We are indebted to Sir George King for the interesting notes given below,
which enable us to form an estimate of Scott's personality. He was
evidently of a proud and sensitive nature, and that his manner was pleasing
and dignified appears from Darwin's brief mention of the interview. He
must have been almost morbidly modest, for Darwin wrote to Hooker (January
24th, 1864): "Remember my URGENT wish to be able to send the poor fellow a
word of praise from any one. I have had hard work to get him to allow me
to send the [Primula] paper to the Linn. Soc., even after it was written
out!" And this was after the obviously genuine appreciation of the paper
given in Darwin's letters. Sir George King writes:--
"He had taught himself a little Latin and a good deal of French, and he had
read a good deal of English literature. He was certainly one of the most
remarkable self-taught men I ever met, and I often regret that I did not
see more of him...Scott's manner was shy and modest almost to being
apologetic; and the condition of nervous tension in which he seemed to live
was indicated by frequent nervous gestures with his hands and by the
restless twisting of his long beard in which he continuously indulged. He
was grave and reserved; but when he became interested in any matter he
talked freely, although always deliberately, and he was always ready to
deafen his opinions with much spirit. He had, moreover, a considerable
sense of humour. What struck me most about Scott was the great acuteness
of his powers of observing natural phenomena, and especially of such as had
any bearing on variation, natural selection or hybridity. While most
attentive to the ordinary duties of the chief of a large garden, Scott
always continued to find leisure for private study, and especially for the
conduct of experiments in hybridization. For the latter his position in
the Calcutta garden afforded him many facilities.
After obtaining a post in the Calcutta Botanic Gardens, Scott continued to
work and to correspond with Darwin, but his work was hardly on a level with
the promise of his earlier years. According to the "Journal of Botany," he
was attacked by an affection of the spleen at Darjeeling, where he had been
sent to report on the coffee disease. He returned to Edinburgh in the
spring of 1880, and died in the June of that year.
At the time of his death many experiments were in hand, but his records of
these were too imperfect to admit of their being taken up and continued
after his death. In temper Scott was most gentle and loveable, and to his
friends he was loyal almost to a fault. He was quite without ambition to
'get on' in the world; he had no low or mean motives; and than John Scott,
Natural Science probably had no more earnest and single-minded devotee."
-correspondence with.
-criticism on the "Origin" by.
-letters to.
-on Natural Selection.
-on a red cowslip.
-confirms Darwin's work, also points out error.
-Darwin assists financially.
-Darwin's opinion of.
-Darwin offers to present books to.
-Darwin writes to Hooker about Indian appointment for.
-Darwin's proposal that he should work at Down as his assistant.
-Darwin suggests that he should work at Kew.
-on dispersal of seed of Adenanthera by parrots.
-on fertilisation of Acropera.
-a good observer and experimentalist.
-a lover of Natural History.
-observations on acclimatisation of seeds.
-on Oncidium flexuosum.
-letter to Darwin from.
-offered associateship of Linnean Society.
-on Imatophyllum.
-on self-sterility in Passiflora.
-on Primula.
-on sexes in Zea.
-mentioned.
Scrope, P., on volcanic rocks.
Scrophularineae.
Scudder, on fossil insects.
Sea, Dana underestimates power of.
-changes in level of land due to those of.
-marks left on land by action of.
Seakale, bloom on.
Seashore plants, use of bloom on.
Sea-sickness, Darwin suffers from.
"Seasons with the Sea Horses," Lamont's.
Secondary period, abundance of Araucarias and Marsupials during.
-equality of elevation in British rocks of.
-insects prior to.
Sections of earth's crust, need for accurate.
Sedgwick, Prof. A., extract from letter to Owen from.
-letter to Darwin from.
-on the "Vestiges of Creation."
-and the Philosophical Society's meeting at Cambridge.
-and the "Spectator."
-Darwin's visit to.
-Feelings towards Darwin.
-on the structure of large mineral masses.
-proposes Forbes for Royal medal.
-quotation from letter to Darwin from.
-suggested as candidate for Royal medal.
-mentioned.
Sedgwick, A., address at the British Association (1899).
Sedimentary strata, conversion into schists.
Sedimentation, connection with elevation and subsidence.
-near coast-lines.
Seedlings, sensitiveness to light.
Seeds, collected by girls in Prof. Henslow's parish.
-dispersal of.
-effect of immersion on.
-of furze.
-Asa Gray on Darwin's salt-water experiments.
-germination after 21 1/2 hours in owl's stomach.
-moss-roses raised from.
-peaches from.
-variation in.
-bright colours of fruits and.
-difficulty of finding in samples of earth.
-dormant state of.
-germination from pond mud.
-Hildebrand on dispersal of.
-mucus emitted by.
-stored by ants.
-supposed vivification of fossil.
-vitality of.
Seeley, Prof.
Seemann, on commingling of temperate and tropical plants in mountains of
Panama.
-on the "Origin" in Germany.
-mentioned.
Segregation of minerals in foliated rocks.
Selaginella, foot of, compared with organ in Welwitschia seedling.
Selection, a misleading term.
-artificial.
-as means of improving breeds.
-importance of.
-influence of speedy.
-utilised by pigeon-fanciers.
-Sexual (see Sexual Selection).
-sterility and.
-unconscious.
-and variation.
-voluntary.
-and inheritance.
Self-fertilisation, abundance of seeds from.
-Darwin's experiments on cross- and.
-evil results of.
-comparison between seeds from cross- and.
-in Goodeniaceae.
-in Orchids.
Self-interest, Preston on.
Self-sterility, in Eschscholtzia.
-in plants.
-connection with unnatural conditions.
Selliera, Hamilton on fertilisation-mechanism.
Semper, Karl (1832-93): Professor of Zoology at Wurzburg. He is known
for his book of travels in the Philippine and Pelew Islands, for his
work in comparative embryology, and for the work mentioned in the above
letter. See an obituary notice in "Nature," July 20th, 1893, page 271.
-letter to.
Senecio.
-S. vulgaris, profits by cross-fertilisation.
Sensitive plants, Darwin's work on.
Sensitiveness, diversified kinds in allied plants.
Separate creations, Darwin on.
Sequoia.
Seringe, on Aconitum flowers.
Sertularia.
Sethia, dimorphism of.
Settegast, H., letter to.
Severn, Darwin on floods of.
Seward, A.C., "Fossil Plants as Tests of Climate."
Sexes, colour, and difference in.
-proportion at birth.
-proportion in animals.
Sexual likeness, secondary.
Sexual organs, as collectors of generative elements.
-appendages in insects complemental to.
Sexual reproduction, Galton on.
-bearing of F. Muller's work on essence of.
Sexual Selection, Bates on.
-Darwin on.
-article in "Kosmos" on.
-colour and.
-man and.
-in moths and butterflies.
-subordinate to Natural Selection.
-Wallace on colour and.
-Wallace on difficulties of.
Sexuality, Bentham on.
-in lower forms.
-origin of.
Shanghai, tooth of Mastodon from.
Sharp, David, on Bombus.
-on Volucella.
-"Insects."
Sharpe, Daniel (1806-56): left school at the age of sixteen, and became
a clerk in the service of a Portuguese merchant. At the age of
twenty-four he went for a year to Portugal, and afterwards spent a
considerable amount of time in that country. The results of his
geological work, carried out in the intervals of business, were
published in the Journal of the Geological Society of London ("Quart.
Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume V., page 142; Volume VI., page 135). Although
actively engaged in business all his life, Sharpe communicated several
papers to the Geological Society, his researches into the origin of
slaty cleavage being among the ablest and most important of his
contributions to geology ("Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume III., page
74; Volume V., page 111). A full account of Sharpe's work is given in
an abituary notice published in the "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc." Volume
XIII., page xlv.
-on elevation.
-Darwin meets.
-letters to.
-on cleavage and foliation.
Sharpey, W., letter from Falconer to.
-Honorary member of Physiological Society.
Shaw, J., letter to.
Sheep, varieties of.
Sheldrake, dancing on sand to make sea-worms come out.
Shells, Forbes and Hancock on British.
-distorted by cleavage.
-means of dispersal.
-protective colour of.
Sherborn, C.D., "Catalogue of Mammalia" by A.S. Woodward and.
Shetland, comparison between flora of T. del Fuego and that of.
Shrewsbury, school.
Siberia, Rhinoceros and steppes of central.
Sicily, elephants of.
-flora of.
Sidgwick, Prof. H.
Siebold, von.
Sigillaria, an aquatic plant.
Silene, Gartner's crossing-experiments on.
Silurian, comparison between recent organisms and.
-life of.
-Lingula from the.
-corals.
-volcanic strata.
Simon, Sir John: he was for many years medical officer of the Privy
Council, and in that capacity issued a well-known series of Reports.
-reports by.
Simple forms, existence of.
-survival of.
Simpson, Sir J., on regeneration in womb.
Siphocampylus.
Sitaris, Lord Avebury on Meloe and.
Siwalik hills.
Skertchley, S.B.J., on palaeolithic flints in boulder-clay of E. Anglia.
-letter to.
Skin, influence of mind on eruptions of.
Slate, cleavage of schists and.
Slave-ants, account in the "Origin" of.
Sleep, plants' so-called.
Sleep-movements, in plants.
-of cotyledons.
Slime of seeds.
Sloths.
Smell, Ogle's work on sense of.
Smerinthus populi-ocellatus, Weir on hybrid.
Smilaceae, reference to genera of.
Smilax, De Candolle on flower of.
Smith, Goldwin.
Smith, J., note on.
Snails of Porto Santo.
Snipe, protective colour of.
Snow, red.
-geological action of frozen.
Snowdon, elevation in recent times.
Social instincts, actions as result of.
Social plants, De Candolle on.
-in the U.S.A.
"Sociology," H. Spencer's.
Soda, nitrate beds.
Soil, in relation to plant distribution.
Solanaceae.
Solanum rostratum, Todd on stamens of.
Solenhofen, bird-creature from.
Sollas, Prof., director of the Funafuti boring expedition.
-account of the boring operations by.
Sonchus, introduced into New Zealand.
Song, importance in animal kingdom.
Sophocles, Prof., on expression of affirmation by Turks.
Sorby, on metamorphism.
Sound, and music.
Southampton, British Association meeting (1846).
-Darwin on gravel deposits at.
-Darwin's visits to.
Spanish chesnut, variation in leaf divergence.
Spanish plants in Ireland.
-in La Plata.
Spawn, dispersal of frogs'.
Spean, terraces in valley of.
Special ordination.
Specialisation.
Species, antiquity of plant-.
-belief in evolution of.
-changing into one another.
-creation of.
-Darwin recognises difficulties in and objections to his views on.
-definition of.
-descriptive work influenced by Darwin's views on.
-facts from Hooker bearing on.
-food as important factor in keeping up number of.
-frequency of.
-Asa Gray on.
-Hooker on.
-intermediate forms absent in close.
-little tendency during migration to form new.
-modification of.
-and monstrosities.
-mutability of.
-Nageli's views on.
-origin of (see Origin of Species).
-permanence of.
-Prichard on meaning of term.
-range of.
-representative.
-separate creation of.
-spreading of.
-sterility between allied.
-and sterility.
-time necessary to change.
-time of creation of new.
-variation of.
-Wallace on origin of.
-Walsh on modification of.
-Weismann on.
-Gaudry on affiliation of.
-Hackel on change of.
-isolation of.
-value of careful discrimination of.
"Species not transmutable," Bree's book on.
Specific character, Falconer on persistence of.
Speculation, Darwin on.
Spencer, H., Darwin on the advantage of his expression "survival of the
fittest."
-letter to.
-on electric organs.
-on genesis of nervous system.
-on survival of the fittest.
-Romanes on his theory of nerve-genesis.
-Wallace's admiration for.
-Darwin on his work.
-extract from letter to.
-mentioned.
Spermacoce.
Spey, terraces of.
Sphagnum, parasitism of orchids on.
Spiders, mental powers of.
-Moggridge on.
Spiranthes, fertilisation of.
Spiritualism, Darwin on.
Sptizbergen, Lamont's book on.
-reindeer of.
Sponges, Clark on classification of.
-Hackel's work on.
-F. Muller on.
Spontaneous generation.
-Darwin's disbelief in.
-Huxley's disbelief in.
Sports.
Sprengel, (C.C.) Christian Konrad (1750-1816): was for a time Rector of
Spandau, near Berlin; but his enthusiasm for Botany led to neglect of
parochial duties, and to dismissal from his living. His well-known
work, "Das Entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur," was published in 1793. An
account of Sprengel was published in "Flora," 1819, by one of his old
pupils. See also "Life and Letters," I., page 90, and an article in
"Natural Science," Volume II., 1893, by J.C. Willis.
-on Passion-flowers.
Stag-beetle, forms of.
Stahl, Prof., on Desmodium.
-on transpiration.
Stainton.
Stanhope, Lord.
Stanhopea, fertilisation of.
Stapelia, fertilisation of.
Starling, paired three times in one day.
State-entomologist, appointment of in America, not likely to occur in
England.
Statistics, of births and deaths.
-Asa Gray's N. American plant-.
Steinheim, Lias rocks of.
Stellaria media, cross-fertilisation of.
Stephens, Miss Catherine: was born in 1794, and died, as the Countess of
Essex, in 1882.
Sterile, use of term.
Sterility, accumulation through Natural Selection.
-arguments relating to.
-artificial production of.
-between allied species aided by Natural Selection.
-connection with sexual differentiation.
-and crossing.
-domestication and loss of.
-experiments on.
-of hybrids.
-in human beings.
-Huxley on.
-increase of races and.
-laws governing.
-Natural Selection and.
-in pigeons.
-in plants (see also self-sterility).
-reciprocal crosses and unequal.
-selection and.
-variations in amount of.
-varieties and.
Stirling, and Huxley.
Stokes, Sir G.
Strasburger, on fertilisation of grasses.
Stratification, and cleavage.
Strephium, vertical position of leaves.
Strezlecki.
Strickland, H., letters to.
-on zoological nomenclature.
Stripes, loss and significance of.
Structural dissimilarity, and sterility.
Structure, external conditions in relation to.
Struggle for existence.
-and crossing.
-factors concerned in.
-and hybrids.
-J. Scott on.
Strychnos, F. Muller on.
Student, Darwin as an Edinburgh.
Studer, Bernhard: Several of Studer's papers were translated and published
in the "Edinburgh New Phil. Journ." See Volume XLII., 1847; Volume XLIV.,
1848, etc.
-on cleavage and foliation.
"Studien zur Descendenz-Theorie," Weismann's.
"Studies in the Theory of Descent," Meldola's translation of Weismann's
book.
"Study of Sociology," H. Spencer's.
Stur, Dionys (1827-93): Director of the Austrian Geological Survey from
1885 to 1892; author of many important memoirs on palaeobotanical subjects.
Style, Darwin on.
-Darwin on Huxley's.
-effect of controversy on.
Suaeda, bloom on.
Submergence.
Subsidence, evidence of.
-coral reefs and.
-and elevation.
-equable nature of.
-large areas simultaneously affected by.
-in oceans.
-and sedimentation.
-volcanic action.
Subterranean animal, existence in Patagonia of supposed.
Subularia, fertilisation of.
Succession of types.
Sudden appearance of organisms, due to absence of fossils in pre-
Cambrian rocks.
Sudden jumps, modification by.
-Darwin's disbelief in.
Suess, "Antlitz der Erde."
Suffolk Crag, comparison with recent strata.
Sugar-cane, Barber on hybrids of.
-new varieties of.
Sulivan, Admiral, on Patagonia.
Superficial deposits, geological nature of.
Supernumerary members.
-amputation followed by regeneration of.
"Survival of the fittest," Darwin on use of the expression.
-Wallace on the expression.
-sharpness of thorns the result of.
-colour of birds and.
Swainson, on wide range of genera.
Switzerland, Tyndall on valleys of.
Sydney.
Symonds, William Samuel (1818-87): a member of an old West-country
family, was an undergraduate of Christ's College, Cambridge, and in 1845
became Rector of Pendock, Worcestershire. He published in 1858 a book
entitled "Stones of the Valley;" in 1859 "Old Bones, or Notes for Young
Naturalists;" and in 1872 his best-known work, "Records of the Rocks."
Mr. Symonds passed the later years of his life at Sunningdale, the house
of his son-in-law, Sir Joseph Hooker. (See "Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc."
Volume XLIV., page xliii.)
-on imperfection of geological record.
Tacsonia, Darwin on flowers of.
-fertilisation by humming-birds.
-Scott's work on.
Tahiti, coral reefs of.
-Darwin on.
Tails of diluvium, in Scotland.
Tait, Prof. P.G., article in "North British Review."
-on age of world.
Tait, L., letters to.
Tait, W.C., letter to.
-on rudimentary tails in dogs and Manx cats.
-sends Drosophyllum to Darwin.
Talbot, Mrs. E., letter to.
Tandon, Moquin, "Elements de Teratologie Vegetale."
Tankerville, Lord.
Tasmania, comparison between floras of New Zealand and.
-Hooker's Flora of.
-trees of.
Taylor, W., "Life and Correspondence" of.
Tears, and muscular contraction.
Tees, Hooker on glacial moraines in valley of.
Tegetmeier, W.B., assistance rendered to Darwin by.
-letters to.
Telegraph-plant (see also Desmodium).
"Telliamed" (de Maillet), evolutionary views of.
Tendrils, morphology of.
Teneriffe, flora of.
-violet of Peak of.
-Webb and Humboldt on zones of.
Tennent, Sir J.E., on elephants' tears.
-on Utricularia.
Tentacles, aggregation of protoplasm in cells of plant-.
Teodoresco, on effect of excess of CO2 on vegetation.
Teratology, Masters on vegetable.
-Moquin Tandon on.
Terebratula.
Termites compared with cleistogamic flowers.
-F. Muller's paper on.
Terraces, Darwin on Patagonian.
Tertiary, Antarctic continent, Darwin on existence of.
-Mastodon from Shanghai.
-flora in Madeira.
Tertiary period, action of sea and earth-movement.
-island floras of the.
-Saporta's work on plants.
-succession of types during the.
-Prestwich's work on.
Testimonials, Darwin on.
Tetrabranchiata, Hyatt on the.
Thayer's "Letters of Chauncey Wright."
Theologians, Huxley on.
Theological articles, by Asa Gray.
Theology, Darwin's opinion on.
Theorising, observing and.
Theory, Darwin's advice to Scott to be sparing in use of.
Thibet, Hooker prohibited crossing into.
Thierzucht, Settegast's.
Thiselton-Dyer, Lady.
Thiselton-Dyer, Sir W., assists Darwin in bloom-experiments.
-Darwin signs his certificate for Royal Society.
-lecture on plant distribution as field for geographical research.
-letter to "Nature" from.
-notes on letter from Darwin to Bentham.
-on partial submergence of Australia.
-letters to.
-extract from letter to.
-on Darwin.
Thiselton-Dyer, Sir W., and Prof. Dewar, on immersion of seeds in liquid
hydrogen.
Thlaspi alpestre, range of.
Thompson, Prof. D'Arcy, prefatory note by Darwin to his translation of
H. Muller's book.
Thompson, W., natural-historian of Ireland.
Thomson, Sir W., see Kelvin, Lord.
Thomson, Sir Wyville, on Natural Selection.
-mentioned.
Thomson, review of Jordan's "Diagnoses d'especes" by.
Thorns, forms of.
"Three Barriers," theological hash of old abuse of Darwin.
Thury on sex.
Thwaites, Dr. G.H.K. (1811-82): held for some years the post of Director of
the Botanic Gardens at Peradenyia, Ceylon; and in 1864 published an
important work on the flora of the island, entitled "Enumeratio Plantarum
Zeylaniae."
-on Ceylon plants.
-letters to.
-on the "Origin."
Thymus.
Tieghem, Prof. van, on course of vessels in orchid flowers.
-on effect of flashing light on plants.
Tierra del Fuego, flora of.
-comparison with Glen Roy.
-evidence of glaciers in.
-micaschists of.
Time, and evolutionary changes.
-geological.
-meaning of millions of years.
-Niagara as measure of geological.
-rate of deposition as measure of.
-Wallace on geological.
"Times," article by Huxley in.
-letter by Fitz-Roy in.
Timiriazeff, Prof.
Timor, Mastodon from.
Toad, power of Indian species to resist sea-water.
Tobacco, Kolreuter on varieties of.
Todd, on Solanum rostratum.
"Toledoth Adam," title of book on evolution by N. Lewy.
Torbitt, J., experiments on potatoes, and letter to.
Torquay, Darwin's visit to.
Tortoises, conversion of turtles into land-.
Tortugas, A. Agassiz on reefs of.
Toryism, defence of.
Toucans, colour of beaks in breeding season.
Trachyte, separation of basalt and.
Tragopan.
Traill, experiments on grafting.
Transfusion experiments, by Galton.
Translations of Darwin's books.
Transplanting, effect on Alpine plants.
Transport, occasional means of.
Travels, Bates' book of.
-Humboldt's.
-Wallace's.
Travers, H.H., on Chatham Islands.
Trecul, on Drosera.
Trees, herbaceous orders and.
-occurrence in islands.
-older forms more likely to develop into.
-Asa Gray on.
-conditions in New Zealand favourable to development of.
-crossing in.
-separate sexes in.
Treub, M., on Chalazogamy.
Treviranus, Prof., on Primula longiflora.
Trifolium resupinatum, Darwin's observations on bloom on leaflets.
Trigonecephalus.
Trilobites, change of genera and species of.
Trimen, on painting butterflies.
Trimorphism, in plants.
Trinidad, Catasetum of.
-Cruger on caprification in.
Triphaena (Triphoea) pronuba, robin attracted by colour of.
Tristan d'Acunha, Carmichael on.
-vegetation of.
Triticum repens var. littorum, bloom-experiments on.
Trollope, A., quotation by Darwin from.
Tropaeolum, Darwin's experiments on.
-peloric variety of.
-waxy secretion on leaves.
Tropical climate, in relation to colouring of insects.
Tropical plants, possible existence during cooler period.
-retreat of.
Tropics, climatic changes in.
-description of forests in.
-similarity of orders in.
Tubocytisus, Kerner on.
Tuckwell, on the Oxford British Association meeting (1860).
Tucotuco.
Tuke, D.H., on influence of mind on body.
-letter to.
Tulips.
Turkey, colour of wings, and courtship.
-muscles of tail of.
Turner, Sir W., Darwin receives assistance from.
-on Darwin's methods of correspondence.
-letters to.
Turratella.
Turtles, conversion into land-tortoises.
Tussilago, Darwin on seeds of groundsel and.
Twins, Galton's article on.
Tylor, article in "Journal of the Royal Institution" by.
-on "Early History of Mankind."
Tyndall, lack of caution.
-lecture by.
-on the Alps.
-review in the "Athenaeum" of.
-on valleys due to glaciers.
-work of.
-dogmatism of.
-on glaciers.
-on Sorby's work on cleavage.
-mentioned.
Typhlops.
Typical forms, difficult to select.
-vagueness of phrase.
Typotherium, Falconer on.
Tyrol, Mojsisovics on the Dolomites of the.
Umbelliferae, morphological characters of.
-difference in seeds from the same flower.
Undulation of light, comparison between Darwin's views and the theory
of.
Ungulates, development in N. America during Tertiary period.
United States, flora of.
-spread of Darwin's views in.
Unity of coloration, Walsh on.
Uredo, on Haematoxylon.
Ursus arctos, Lamont on.
-U. maritimus, Lamont on.
Urticaceae.
Uruguay.
D'Urville, on Canary Islands.
Use and disuse.
-in plants.
Uses, Natural Selection and.
Uspallata.
Utilitarianism, Darwin on.
Utility and inheritance.
Utopian "Flora," Darwin's idea of.
Utricularia, Darwin's work on.
-U. stellaris, Sir E. Tennent on.
Vaginulus, Darwin finds new species of.
Valeriana, two forms of.
Valleys, action of ice in formation of.
-Dana on Australian.
-Darwin on origin of.
Valparaiso.
Van Diemen's Land, flora of, in relation to New Zealand.
Vanda.
Vandeae, structure of ovary.
Vanessa, two sexual forms of.
-breeding in confinement.
-colour of.
Vanilla.
Variability, backward tendency of.
-Bentham on.
-causes of.
-De Candolle on.
-dependent more on nature of organism than on environment.
-Huxley and Scott on.
-importance of subject of cause of.
-Natural Selection and.
-in oaks.
-greater in bisexual than in unisexual plants.
-of ferns "passes all bounds."
-greater in male than female.
-in ovaries of flowers.
-tendency of genera at different periods towards.
Variation.
-an innate principle.
-Bates on.
-in blackbirds.
-causes of.
-centrifugal nature of.
-checked by Natural Selection.
-climate and.
-Darwin attaches importance to useless.
-Darwin on favourable.
-divergence of.
-and external conditions.
-in elephants.
-in Fucus.
-of large genera.
-laws of.
-of monotypic and polytypic genera.
-and monstrosities.
-and Natural Selection.
-ordination and.
-in peaches.
-in plants.
-produced by crossing.
-rate of action of.
-of small genera.
-sterility advantageous to.
-Weismann on.
-galls as cause of.
-and loss of dimorphism in Primula and Auricula.
-Sexual Selection and minute.
-transmission to sexes.
-Verlot on.
-Wallace on.
"Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication," completion of.
-delay in publication.
-Lyell on.
-translation of.
-Wallace's opinion of.
-Darwin at work on.
Varieties, accumulation of.
-distinction between species and.
-fertility of.
-in insects.
-in large genera.
-of molluscs.
-production of.
-species the product of long series of.
-use of.
-Wallace on.
-elimination by crossing.
-zoologists neglect study of.
Vaucher, "Plantes d'Europe."
"Vegetable Teratology," Masters'.
Vegetative reproduction, Darwin on.
Veitch, J.
Velleia, fertilisation mechanism of.
Verbascum, crossing and varieties in.
-Scott's work on.
Verbenaceae.
Verlot, on variation in flowers.
Veronica, Antarctic species of.
Vessels, course of, as guide to morphology of flowers.
"Vestiges of Creation," Huxley's review of.
-the "Origin of Species" and.
-Vetch, extra-floral nectaries of.
Vetter, editor of "Kosmos."
Viburnum lantanoides, in Japan and east U.S.A.
Victoria Street Society for Protection of Animals against Vivisection,
charge brought against Dr. Ferrier by.
Villa Franca, Baron de, on varieties of sugar-cane.
Villarsia.
Vine, graft-hybrids of.
-varieties of.
-morphology of tendrils.
Viola, ancestral form of.
-cleistogamic flowers of.
-pollen-tubes of.
-Madagascan.
-Pyrenean.
-on Peak of Teneriffe.
-V. canina, fertilisation of.
-V. nana.
-V. odorata, floral biology of.
Virchow, Huxley's criticism of.
-publication by Hackel of Darwin's criticism of.
Viscum.
Vitality of seeds, in salt-water experiments.
Viti group of islands, effect of subsidence.
Vivisection.
Vochting, H., "Bewegung der Bluthen und Fruchte."
-letter to.
-"Organbildung im Pflanzenreich."
"Volcanic Geology," Dana's.
Volcanic islands, polymorphic species in.
-Darwin's geological observations on.
-Darwin's opinion of his book on.
-Lyell and Herschel on.
-relation to continents.
Volcanic phenomena, cause of.
-Darwin on.
-and elevation.
-as mere accidents in swelling up of dome of plutonic rocks.
-and subsidence.
Volcanic rocks.
Volcano, in interior of Asia.
Volcanoes, in S. America.
-compared with boilers.
-maritime position of.
-of St. Jago, Mauritius, and St. Helena.
-simultaneous activity of.
-and subsidence.
Volucella, as example of mimicry.
Vries, H. de, on plant-movements.
Vulcanicity.
Wagner, M., attacks Darwin.
-essay by.
-mentioned.
"Wahl der Lebens-Weise."
Wahlenberg, on variation of species in U.S.A.
Wales, Darwin's visit to.
-comparison of valleys of Lochaber and.
-Darwin on glaciers of.
-elevation of land in Scotland and.
-Murchison sees no trace of glaciers in.
-Ramsay on denudation of S.
Wallace, A.R., on beauty.
-criticises the expression, "Natural Selection."
-Darwin on cleverness of.
-letters to.
-letters to Darwin from.
-on Mastodon from Timor.
-notes by.
-on pangenesis.
-review of Bastian's "Beginnings of Life."
-on sterility.
-on success of Natural Selection.
-attributes Natural Selection to Darwin.
-on colour and birds' nests.
-Darwin's criticism of his "Geographical Distribution of Animals."
-differs from Darwin.
-on evolution of man.
-"Island Life."
-on wings of lepidoptera.
-review of Darwin's book on Expression.
-review of Lyell's "Principles of Geology."
-on Round Island.
-same ideas hit on by Darwin and.
-supplies information to Darwin on Sexual Selection.
-on variation.
-at work on narrative of travels.
Wallace, Dr., on sexes in Bombyx.
-on caterpillars.
Wallich, on Oxyspora paniculata.
Wallis, H.M., on ears.
-letters to.
Walpole.
Walsh, Benjamin Dann: was born at Frome, in England, in 1808, and died in
America in 1869, from the result of a railway accident. He entered at
Trinity College, Cambridge, and obtained a fellowship there after being
fifth classic in 1831. He was therefore a contemporary of Darwin's at the
University, though not a "schoolmate," as the "American Entomologist" puts
it. He was the author of "A Historical Account of the University of
Cambridge and its Colleges," London, 2nd edition, 1837; also of a
translation of part of "Aristophanes," 1837: from the dedication of this
book it seems that he was at St. Paul's School, London. He settled in
America in 1838, but only began serious Entomology about 1858. He never
returned to England.
In a letter to Mr. Darwin, November 7th, 1864, he gives a curious account
of the solitary laborious life he led for many years. "When I left England
in 1838," he writes, "I was possessed with an absurd notion that I would
live a perfectly natural life, independent of the whole world--in me ipso
totus teres atque rotundus. So I bought several hundred acres of wild land
in the wilderness, twenty miles from any settlement that you would call
even a village, and with only a single neighbor. There I gradually opened
a farm, working myself like a horse, raising great quantities of hogs and
bullocks...I did all kinds of jobs for myself, from mending a pair of boots
to hooping a barrel." After nearly dying of malaria, he sold his land at a
great loss, and found that after twelve years' work he was just 1000
dollars poorer than when he began. He then went into the lumber business
at Rock Island, Illinois. After seven years he invested most of his
savings in building "ten two-storey brick houses for rent." He states that
the repairs of the houses occupied about one-fourth of his time, and the
remainder he was able to devote to entomology. He afterwards edited the
"Practical Entomologist." In regard to this work he wrote (February 25th,
1867):--"Editing the 'Practical Entomologist' does undoubtedly take up a
good deal of my time, but I also pick up a good deal of information of real
scientific value from its correspondents. Besides, this great American
nation has hitherto had a supreme contempt for Natural History, because
they have hitherto believed that it has nothing to do with the dollars and
cents. After hammering away at them for a year or two, I have at last
succeeded in touching the 'pocket nerve' in Uncle Sam's body, and he is
gradually being galvanised into the conviction that science has the power
to make him richer." It is difficult to realise that even forty years ago
the position of science in Illinois was what Mr. Walsh describes it to be:
"You cannot have the remotest conception of the ideas of even our best-
educated Americans as to the pursuit of science. I never yet met with a
single one who could be brought to understand how or why a man should
pursue science for its own pure and holy sake."
Mr. L.O. Howard ("Insect Life," Volume VII., 1895, page 59) says that
Harris received from the State of Massachusetts only 175 dollars for his
classical report on injurious insects which appeared in 1841 and was
reprinted in 1842 and 1852. It would seem that in these times
Massachusetts was in much the same state of darkness as Illinois. In the
winter of 1868-9 Walsh was, however, appointed State Entomologist of
Illinois. He made but one report before his death. He was a man of
liberal ideas, hating oppression and wrong in all its forms. On one
occasion his life was threatened for an attempt to purify the town council.
As an instance of "hereditary genius" it may be mentioned that his brother
was a well-known writer on natural history and sporting subjects, under the
pseudonym "Stonehenge." The facts here given are chiefly taken from the
"American Entomologist" (St. Louis, Mo.), Volume II., page 65.
-as entomologist.
-letters to.
-letter to Darwin from.
-death of.
-and C.V. Riley.
Warming, E., "Lehrbuch der okologischen Pflanzengeographie."
Washingtonia.
Wasps, power of building cells.
Water, effect on leaves (see also Rain).
Water-weed, Marshall on.
Waterhouse, George Robert (1810-88): held the post of Keeper of the
Department of Geology in the British Museum from 1851 to 1880.
-review by Darwin of his book on Mammalia.
-on skeletons of rabbits.
-on wide range of genera.
-mentioned.
Waterloo, Darwin's recollections of.
Waterton.
Watson, H.C., alluded to.
-on the Azores.
-on British agrarian plants.
-on northward range of plants common to Britain and America.
-objection to Darwin's views.
-on Natural Selection.
-mentioned.
Waves, depth of action of.
Wax, secretion on leaves (see also Bloom).
Wealden period.
Weale, J.P.M., sends locust dung from Natal to Darwin.
Webb, on flora of Teneriffe.
Wedgwood, Elizabeth.
Wedgwood, Emma (Mrs. Darwin), letter to.
Wedgwood, Hensleigh: brother-in-law to Charles Darwin.
-Darwin visits.
-influenced by Lyell's book on America.
-on Tyndall.
Wedgwood, Josiah, letter to.
Weeds, adaptation to cultivated ground.
-English versus American.
-Asa Gray on pertinacity of.
Weeping, physiology of.
Weir, H.W., on Cytisus.
Weir, Mr. John Jenner (1822-94): came of a family of Scotch descent; in
1839 he entered the service of the Custom House, and during the final
eleven years of his service, i.e. from 1874 to 1885, held the position
of Accountant and Controller-General. He was a born naturalist, and his
"aptitude for exact observation was of the highest order" (Mr. M'Lachlan
in the "Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," May 1894). He is chiefly
known as an entomologist, but he had also extensive knowledge of
Ornithology, Horticulture, and of the breeds of various domestic animals
and cage-birds. His personal qualities made him many friends, and he
was especially kind to beginners in the numerous subjects on which he
was an authority ("Science Gossip," May 1894).
-experiments on caterpillars.
-letters to.
-extract from letter to Darwin from.
-on birds.
-invited to Down.
-value of his letters to Darwin.
-mentioned.
Weismann, A., Darwin asked to point out how far his work follows same
lines as that of.
-on dimorphism.
-"Einfluss der Isolirung."
-letters to.
-Meldola's translation of "Studies in Descent."
-"Studies in Theory of Descent."
-faith in Sexual Selection.
Wellingtonia.
Wells, Dr., essay on dew.
-quoted by Darwin as having enunciated principle of Natural Selection
before publication of "Origin."
Welwitschia, Hooker's work on.
-Darwin on.
-a "vegetable Ornithorhynchus."
Welwitschia mirabilis, seedlings of.
Wenlock, coral limestone of.
West Indies, plants of.
-coral reefs.
-elevation and subsidence of.
-orchids of.
Westminster Abbey, memorial to Lyell.
"Westminster Review," Huxley's review of the "Origin" in.
-Wallace's article.
Westwood, J.O. (1805-93): Professor of Entomology at Oxford. The Royal
medal was awarded to him in 1855. He was educated at a Friends' School
at Sheffield, and subsequently articled to a solicitor in London; he was
for a short time a partner in the firm, but he never really practised,
and devoted himself to science. He is the author of between 350 and 400
papers, chiefly on entomological and archaeological subjects, besides
some twenty books. To naturalists he is known by his writings on
insects, but he was also "one of the greatest living authorities on
Anglo-Saxon and mediaeval manuscripts" ("Dictionary of National
Biography").
-on range of genera.
-and Royal medal.
-mentioned.
Whales, Flower on.
Wheat, mummy.
-fertilisation of.
-forms of Russian.
Whewell, W.
Whiston.
Whitaker, W., on escarpments.
White, F.B., letter to.
-on hemiptera of St. Helena.
White, Gilbert, Darwin writes an account of Down in the manner of.
White, on regeneration.
Whiteman, R.G., letter to.
Whitney, on origin of language.
Wichura, Max, on hybrid willows.
-on hybridisation.
Widow-bird, experiments on.
Wiegmann.
Wiesner, Prof. J., disagrees with Darwin's views on plant movement.
"Das Bewegungsvermogen der Pflanzen."
-on heliotropism.
-letter to.
Wigand, A., "Der Darwinismus..."
-Jager's work contra.
Wight, Dr., on Cucurbitaceae.
Wilberforce, Bishop, review in the "Quarterly."
Wildness of game.
Wilkes' exploring expedition, Dana's volume in reports of.
Williamson, Prof. W.C.
Willis, J.C., reference to his "Flowering Plants and Ferns."
Willows, Walsh on galls of.
-Wichura on hybrid.
Wilson, A.S., letters to.
-on Russian wheat.
Wind-fertilised trees and plants, abundant in humid and temperate
regions.
Wingless birds, transport of.
Wings of ostrich.
Wire-bird, of St. Helena.
Witches' brooms.
Wives, resemblance to husbands.
Wollaston, Thomas Vernon (1821-78): Wollaston was an under-graduate at
Jesus College, Cambridge, and in late life published several books on
the coleopterous insects of Madeira, the Canaries, the Cape Verde
Islands, and other regions. He is referred to in the "Origin of
Species" (Edition VI page 109) as having discovered "the remarkable fact
that 200 beetles, out of the 550 species (but more are now known)
inhabiting Madeira, are so far deficient in wings that they cannot fly;
and that, of the twenty-nine endemic genera, no less than twenty-three
have all their species in this condition!" See Obituary Notice in
"Nature," Volume XVII., page 210, 1878, and "Trans. Entom. Soc." 1877,
page xxxviii.) "Catalogue" (Probably the "Catalogue of the Coleopterous
Insects of the Canaries in the British Museum," 1864.)
-catalogue of insects of Canary Islands.
-Darwin and Royal medal.
-in agreement with Falconer in opposition to Darwin's views on species.
-"Insecta Maderensia."
-on rarity of intermediate varieties in insects.
-review on the "Origin" by.
-on varieties.
-mentioned.
Wolverhampton, abrupt termination of boulders near.
Wood, fossil.
Wood, T.W., drawings by.
Woodcock, germination of seeds carried by.
-protective colouring of.
Woodd, C.H.L., letter to.
Woodpecker, adaptation in.
-and direct action.
-form of tail of.
Woodward, A.S., on Neomylodon.
-and C.D. Sherborn, "Catalogue of British Fossil Vertebrata."
Woodward, Samuel Pickworth (1821-65): held an appointment in the British
Museum Library for a short time, and then became Sub-Curator to the
Geological Society (1839). In 1845 he was appointed Professor of Geology
and Natural History in the recently founded Royal Agricultural College,
Cirencester; he afterwards obtained a post as first-class assistant in the
Department of Geology and Mineralogy in the British Museum. Woodward's
chief work, "The Manual of Mollusca," was published in 1851-56. ("A Memoir
of Dr. S.P. Woodward," "Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society,"
Volume III., page 279, 1882. By H.B. Woodward.)
-letters to.
World, age of the.
Worms, Darwin's work on.
-destruction by rain of.
-intelligence of.
Wrangel's "Travels in Siberia."
"Wreck of the 'Favourite'," Clarke's.
Wright, C., on bees' cells.
-letters to.
-review by.
Wright, G.F., extract from letter from Asa Gray, to.
Wydler, on morphology of cruciferous flower.
Wyman, Jeffries (1814-74): graduated at Harvard in 1833, and afterwards
entered the Medical College at Boston, receiving the M.D. degree in
1837. In 1847 Wyman was appointed Hervey Professor of Anatomy at
Harvard, which position he held up to the time of his death. His
contributions to zoological science numbered over a hundred papers.
(See "Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sciences," Volume II., 1874-75, pages
496-505.)
-letter from.
-on spontaneous generation.
-mentioned.
Xenogamy, term suggested by Kerner.
Xenoneura antiquorum, Devonian insect.
Xerophytic characters, not confined to dry-climate plants.
Yangma Valley, Hooker's account of dam in.
Yeo, Prof. Gerald.
Yew, origin of Irish.
York, British Association meeting (1881), (1844).
-Dallas in charge of museum.
Yorkshire, Hooker on glaciers in.
Yucca, fertilisation by moths.
Zacharias, Otto, letter to.
Zante, colour of Polygala flowers in.
Zea, Gartner's work on.
-hermaphrodite and female flowers on a male panicle.
-varieties received from Asa Gray.
Zeiller, R., "Le Marquis G. de Saporta, sa Vie..."
Zinziberaceae.
Zittel, Karl A. von, "Handbuch der Palaeontologie."
Zoea stage, in life-history of decapods.
Zoological Gardens, dangerous to suggest subsidising.
Zoological nomenclature.
Zoologist, Darwin as.
"Zoonomia," Erasmus Darwin's.
Zygaena (Burnet-moth), mentioned by Darwin in his early recollections.
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