RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Helmholtz 'Théorie physiologique de la musique', 1868. CUL-DAR48.A54. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. 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-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.
Hermann von Helmholtz. 1868. Théorie physiologique de la musique: fondée sur l'étude des sensations auditives. Paris: Victor Masson Et Fils.[A54]
Keep for Gradation - I have wondered how ear cd be formed in tail of Mysis - like eyes in different parts of body in lower animals.
Helmholtz Théorie Physiologique de la Musique 1868 p. 187 - quotes from V. Hensen (in Bd. XIII in Siebold & Kollikers Journal de Zoolog. Scientifique) that auditory hairs are scattered over body of Crustaceans. These vibrate when certain musical tones are produced. As Crust. do not emit themselves sound, these must subserve som common good. Can they thus hear very distant or gentler sounds of danger thus? - Ask Helmholtz - Anyhow it makes less wonderful the astonishing structure of the fibre of Corti (see Huxley) in man some 3000 fibres.
When I discuss music with man - say that we have seen under Birds & Mammals,
[54v]
See in V. Carus for Hensen's papers perhaps translated somewhere in Zoolog Record.
Birds have not the fibres of Corti, but they have hairs of the proper nature.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 July, 2023