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Letter from Charles Darwin to [H. W. Bates] 3100

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Darwin writes about variations in species, particularly commenting on the female variety. Also acknowledges his belief in the glacial period and its a
Show moreDarwin writes about variations in species, particularly commenting on the female variety. Also acknowledges his belief in the glacial period and its affects on the tropics, though he does not agree with H. W. Bates arguments on the subject. Darwin also poses questions concerning natural selection towards the end of the letter. Transcription: "March 26 1861 Down [] [Have you [united] copy of his edit of Origin?] Dear Sir. I have read your papers with extreme interest + I have carefully read every word of them. They seem to me to be far richer in facts or variation, + especially on the distribution of varieties + subspecies, than anything which I have read. Hereafter I shall reread them, + hope in my future work to [] them + make use of them. The amount of variation has much [] me. The analogous variation of distinct species in the [] region strikes me as particularly curious. The [quota?] variability of female sex is new to me. Your Guiana case seems in some degree analogous, as far as plants are concerned, with the modern [] of La Plata, which seems to have been colonized from the north, but the species have been hardly mobilized. I have been particularly struck with you remarks on the Glacial period. You seem to me to have put the case with [] [] clearly + with everything [force?]. I am quite staggered with the [] + do not know what to think. Of late several facts have turned up leading me to believe more living that the glacial period did affect the [] []; but I can make no answer to your argument; + am completely in a [] []. By an odd chance I had only a few days [] been discussing this subject. in relation to plants, with Dr. [Hooke] who believes to a certain extent; but [] [] the [] apparent [] in the [] regions. I state in a letter some days ago to him that the [] of S. America seems to have suffered less than the Old World. There are very perplexing points, [] plants seem to have migrated far more than animals. [] species may have been formed more [] within [] than one would have expected. I freely confess that you have confounded me: but I cannot yet give up my belief that the glacial period did to certain extent affect the []. [Would] you kindly answer me 2 or 3 questions if in your power.- Where species (A) becomes modified in another region into a wide marked form (C). but is connected with it by one(or more) [] forms(B), inhabiting an intermediate region: does this form (B) generally [] in equal numbers with (A) + (C), [+] inhabit an equally large area?- The probability is that you cannot answer this question: things are of your cases seem to bear in it. Has [] Baby [] [] []: if 10 ,or when he does, would you give him [reference] to his paper? [] Butterflies, in which the sexes are differently colored, is the male or female most beautiful in our eyes? Do you know in [] any strictly nocturnal moths with gaudy colours? As with birds, have you ever noticed the female butterflies make any selection of the male which they copulate? Do several males pursue same female? Are butterflies attracted by gay colours, as it has been [] Dragon-flies are. Any authentic facts on the [] of Butterflies would be most thankfully [received] + [] by []. But I can see how [] [] if is that anything [] have been observed. You will, I think, be glad to hear that I now often hear of naturalists accepting my views more or less fully; but some are curiously cautious in [] milk of any [] [] in [] their belief. [] [candid?] [] + [perfect?] My dear sir [] yours truly C. Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Down House, near Beckenham, Kent, England.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Creator

Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

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http://hdl.handle.net/2186/ksl:ditalldar00035