RECORD: Darwin, Francis. 1877. Letter from Professor Darwin: He has no faith in the tailed men of Kalili. Auckland Star (1 March 1877): 2.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2023. RN1

NOTE: This letter was also published in Correspondence vol. 30, supplement.


[page] [2]

LETTER FROM PROFESSOR DARWIN.

HE HAS NO FAITH IN THE TAILED MEN OF KALILI.

We notice that our contemporary the "Herald," with its characteristic love of cheap notoriety, this morning, in making reference to the comments of the London press on the tailed men of Kalili, speaks of the information as having been drawn from the account in the "New Zealand Herald."

The fact is that the story was gathered by the London and american press from the detailed account in the STAR. The 'San Francisco Newsletter" supports the Rev. Mr Brown's statement with an affidavit from a miner, who says he saw the tailed men during a visit to New Guinea and adjoining islands in 1862. We have received by mail from Professor Darwin, through his son, a gratifying acknowledgment of the value of our report to science, and a proof of the interest which the subject has excited in England. As the letter contains an expression of the Professor's opinion of the bearing which such a discovery would have upon the doctrine of evolution, we give it publicity:—

"Down, Beckenham, Kent,

"Railway Station, Orpington, S.E.R.

"January 4, 1877.

"Dear Sir,—

"My father directs me to thank you for your account of the alleged discovery in New Ireland. My father does not believe in the existence of the tailed men, but even if it should prove true it would (as a mere inherited monstrosity) have no important bearing on evolution.

"Yours faithfully,

"FRANCIS DARWIN."


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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