RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of American Journal of Science and Arts, 1850-1851. CUL-DAR74.128-129. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2021, 9.2025. 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 volumes CUL-DAR 72-75 contain Darwin's abstracts of scientific books and journals.
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N. American Journal Vol XI. p. 127. N. Ser
Agassiz on the Blind Fish in the Mammoth Cave. references to all Papers on subject. An Astacus eyeless - 2 spiders eyeless - Flies — [insertion: has eye peduncle] a shrimp. 2 Beetles Infusoria - A Blind Fish, Agassiz thinks perhaps an abnormal form of his Cyprinodonts.
Agassiz, Louis. 1851. Observations on the blind fish of the mammoth cave. American Journal of Science and Arts 2d ser. 11: 127-128. PDF
Vol XI. p. 336. Prof. Silliman on same cave
The cricket has enormously large long antennae. A second Fish has eyes, but is blind - Other Fish & otter Astacus sometimes get into Cave from the Green River. A rat, blueish with immense eyes (soft fur) without iris long feelers (odd on my theory) When first caught entirely blind "By keeping them, however, in captivity & diffuse light, they gradually appeared to attain some power of vision" How beautiful
Silliman, Benjamin jr. 1851. On the mammoth cave of Kentucky. American Journal of Science and Arts 2d ser. 11: 332-339. [Darwin Pamphlet Collection 197] PDF
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a series with regard to eyes. These large eyes "of the size of a rabbit's eyes"
Vol. XI. p. 275. Leidy on new Fossil Mammal: on the Missouri only a list. Palæotherium Baerdii Rhinoceros nebraskensis - Merycoidodon & Agriochoerus. Palaeotherium Prontis is the name of species before mentioned in this Journal.
Leidy, Joseph. 1850. Zoological researches. American Journal of Science and Arts 2d ser. 11: 274-275.
p. 275. Dr. Morton "On value of word species in Zoology" The fact of the succession, therefore, & of the constant succession, constitutes alone the validity of the species" This is Cuvier. Morton gives "a primordial organic form" I agree with him Creation is implied
p.276. believes Dog to have descended from several primitive Forms - Admits some naturalists wd call his species, primitive varieties - a difference, he observes only of name.
Morton, Samuel George. 1850. Value of the word species in zoology. American Journal of Science and Arts 2d ser. 11: 275-276.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 10 September, 2025