RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Murray, Transactions Royal Society Edinburgh, 1861. CUL-DAR80.B57. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2021. 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 volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
Darwin cited this in Descent 1: 219-20. n8: "'Transact. R. Soc. of Edinburgh,' vol. xxii. 1861, p. 567."
Pediculus is a genus of sucking lice.
[B57]
Mr Andrew Murray in an excellent paper (Transact Royal Soc. Edinburgh. Vol XXII 1861. p. 567) clearly shows that the pediculi on various races of man differ not only in colour, but in the structure of the claws & limbs. He finds moreover in several cases in which he obtained numerous specimens, that these differences were constant. He describes 2 forms from N. America & 2 from S. America, (& 2 from Australia) 4 from Africa, on [illeg] lake & W. & E Negros — but as here we have 4 in same race of man, have become differentiated at quicker rate. Yet no doubt a distant species of Pediculus wd be used in other cases as argument of specific distinction
[over]
[B57v]
The crucial point is that, as far as observed, the same identical species, exists on the different varieties of the dog, fowl & pigeon. But probably foreign races of these animals have not been observed.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 10 October, 2022