RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1877.11.26. Canary grass. / Draft of Descent, vol. 1. CUL-DAR209.4.327. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by John van Wyhe 9.2022. RN2
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-DAR209.4 contains materials for Darwin's book Movement in plants (1880).
Draft of Descent in the hand of Ebenezer Norman with corrections by Darwin.
[327]
Nov 26th.
Canary grass— Horizontal protected from lateral light
Left Hand Right Hand
when tip near
a little more magnified than left
8° 35 8. 35 8. 35
9. 40 9' 40 9. 40
10. 25 same course 10' 25 same course 10. 25 come back??
11. 31 same direction 11. 30 same course 11. 30 off glass same course
12 1 gong back 12' 1 angular bend 12'. 1 do
12. 40 same course 12. 40 back parallel to old line 12° 40' nearer glass
1 43 to right & up 1. 43 same course 1. 43 on glass again
2. 50 to left 2. 50 to right 2. 50 to right
4 51 back & parallel & from light 4. 51 back to light & parallel 4. 51 back & to left
4. 24 4. 24 4. 24
5 58. 5. 58 5. 58
8. 43 P.m. 8.43 8.43.
7. 25 a.m (more magnified by mark being nearer)
8. 45 red a.m do Right-Hand Plant do
13 6/8 inches distance 8 45 P.m
⨀ Left ⨀ (Used)
⨀ ⨀ 8° 45 Pm
32°
almost 1 1/2 high of differ heights 67°
Neptunia oleracea 2°. 45' 12° Nov 26 — no bloom
79°
Lathyrus not nissolia
[327v]
36
Chap VII
inheritance from progenitors in common. These was thus gain some insight into the state of man, before he had spread step by step over the whole face of the earth. The spreading of man to widely separated regions no doubt occurred before the races had preceded any considerable amount of divergence in of character; to their present full amount ; for otherwise should sometimes, have met, & this moreover the case, meet meet with the same races in distinct areas, not only separated not only by wide distances, but by physical obstacles barriers; & this is never the case. Sir J. Lubbock after comparing the arts now practised by savages in all parts of the world, specifies those which could not have been known whom to man, when he first wandered from his original birth-place; for if once learnt they would assuredly 27*(27) never have been forgotten. He thus shows that "the spear, which is but a development
[Descent 1: 233-4: "As it is improbable that the numerous and unimportant points of resemblance between the several races of man in bodily structure and mental faculties (I do not here refer to similar customs) should all have been independently acquired, they must have been inherited from progenitors who were thus characterised. We thus gain some insight into the early state of man, before he had spread step by step over the face of the earth. The spreading of man to regions widely separated by the sea, no doubt, preceded any considerable amount of divergence of character in the several races; for otherwise we should sometimes meet with the same race in distinct continents; and this is never the case. Sir J. Lubbock, after comparing the arts now practised by savages in all parts of the world, specifies those which man could not have known, when he first wandered from his original birth-place; for if once learnt they would never have been forgotten.27 He thus shews that "the spear, which is but a development of the knife-point, and the club, which is but a long hammer, are the only things left."
27 'Prehistoric Times,' 1869, p. 574."]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 19 December, 2025