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.