RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1856.05.08. [Notes on a conversation with Wollaston]. CUL-DAR197.2.5. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2022. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.
"Wollaston, Thomas Vernon, 1822-78. Naturalist. W wintered in Madeira and other Atlantic islands, due to ill-health, and was a specialist in their invertebrate fauna, especially beetles. CD discussed evolution with before Origin. 1847 FLS. 1855 CD to Hooker, "Wollaston's 'Insecta Maderensia': it is an admirable work". CCD5:279. W visited and stayed 4 days at Down House from Apr. 25-28 1856. CD also had the Huxleys, J. Lubbock and Hooker those same days. 1857 published descriptions of some beetles collected by CD during voyage of the Beagle. 1860 W wrote hostile review of Origin in Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 5: pp. 132-43. 1868 CD to Stainton, "I have been sincerely grieved to hear about poor Wollaston's affairs, in which, I am told, you have taken so kind an interest". CCD16:135. (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)" Wollaston dedicated his book 'On the variation of species' to Darwin in 1856.
[5]
May 8th 56
Wollaston tells me that Helix polymorpha has its vars. fossil generally where now f.─ Lyell is convinced that H. Wollastoni is only very slight var. of Sicilian shell.─ Says that number of species of land shell in Madeira & especially in P. Santo is wonderfully great individuals & species & seem to think at my suggestion that they must replace some things & perhaps the Elatricidæ & Thalerophages Lamellicorn in their larval condition
Balea perversa is f. at summit on height of P. Santo & in Europe, & not elsewhere in group.─
Madeira & P. Santo not different group of shells; indeed there are many representative forms.─
Some of the forms of Helix wonderfully distinct in Madeira: so that if intermedial species were destroyed, they cd be made into distinct genera ─ so again H. polymorpha & its vars. attrita are considered only as vars. (& were considered species by Mr Lowe) became intermedial vars exist.─
[5v]
P. Santo has more species than equal area of Madeira.─
It is most perplexing on any view that W. thinks that all the species, P. living & fossil, which have been vars. in living state, have vars in fossil ─ If this be f. on any number, it wd tend to show. (that like plants) they have varied at oncewhen put into new conditions, & have gone on varying, except in such cases, now called species, of which intermedial forms have died.─
There are many representative vars as well as species: a sort of instinct guides him to call which is which, & presence of intermedial forms.─
The introduced Linnæus is now f. on ledges where there are cascades & where neither Horses or man could go.─
There are Bones in shell Bed apparently of Lizard 1 or 2 recent species.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 December, 2022