RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1838-1839]. Notebook E: 103, 104, 119, 120, 121, 122 (excised pages). CUL-DAR208.51. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Text prepared and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2025. 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. The volume CUL-DAR208 contains notebook leaves excised by Darwin.

Notebook E: Transmutation. Text & image CUL-DAR124.-


103

Sr C Bell1 has some account of wolf in Zoolog. Gardens which brought its puppies to be fondled. — and we see in the Australian dog an instance of a half reclaimed animal. — the dogs, which have been wild here, have done so in hot countries. One ought to be able to hybridise the camel. Camel does not vary like ass & horse in lesser degree, how different to dog! — (Hybrids of Calceolaria.) —

Same way some plants vary more than others: Does the Power of easily making tolerably fertile hybrids bear relation to capability of Variation? my theory says so. —

1 Sir Charles Bell, Anatomy and Philosophy of Expression, London, 1806.

104

20

March 6th. Mr Bentham1 says in Sandwich Isld he believes there are many cases of genera peculiar to the group having species peculiar to the separate islands. In his work on the Labiatae some of these species are described. — capital case. — for Sandwich Isld are very similar to Galapagos — study Flora, what general forms. — are the Labiatae nearest to American or Indian groups? = Believe some Mediterranean, but chiefly mountainous — this is very important (Sicily exception) — see if this can be generalized — islds have peculiar

1 George Bentham, Labiatarum genera et species, London, 1832-6.

119

Examine list of St Helena Plants & see whether those which grow in low ground are those, which are common & nearest being common to other parts of the world. —

March 16th Mr Lonsdale showed me two specimens of an Inoceramus from the Gault of Folkestone, which is exactly intermediate between I. concentricus & I. sulcatus. — the beak of this one has concentric striae, all the lower part rayed longitudinally (give woodcut) like I. sulcatus. — Both species are

120

found at Folkestone. — it is unnamed this intermediate one. — Mr Lonsdale evidently inclines to think it Hybrid!!! Ask Woodward1

21

Mr Lonsdale says Trigonia costata & elongata though considerably different in proportional dimensions must almost be considered merely varieties & even Mr Sowerby is coming to this conclusion, from specimens in grades, now L. says that T. costatus

1 Samuel Pickworth Woodward (1821-1865) was 18 years old in 1839 which shows that this pencil note was added at a date later than that at which the Notebook was written.

121

is in England found in the Inferior Oolite, & the T. elongata in the Upper formation Portland Stones &c. &c. — if so it is good case: — In Sowerby1 Min. Conch. it is however, said they have been found together in coast of France. — L. doubts. — Lonsdale thinks Ammonites would afford instance of such facts. — Ask Phillips.2

1 James Sowerby, Mineral Conchology of Great Britain, London, 1812-46.

2 John Phillips, author of A Treatise on Geology. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopaedia, London 1837.

122

The more I think, the more convinced I am, that extinction plays greater part than transmutation. — Do species migrate & die out? —

March 20th . Phillips in Lecture in Royal Institution says shells become less in number (?species or individuals) the deeper one goes — surely is this true? — most strange. —

In the place where any species is most common, we need not look for change, because its numbers show it is perfectly adapted; if where few stray ones are that change may be anticipated, & thus fresh creation. the gardener separates a plant he wishes to vary — domesticated animals tend to vary.


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

File last updated 1 July, 2025