RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1868-1869]. Abstract of Vinson, Aranéides des Iles de la Réunion, Maurice et Madagascar. CUL-DAR81.151. 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 2.2022. 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 volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
John Blackwall (1790-1881) Zoologist who specialised in spiders. Author of the History of the spiders of Great Britain and Ireland (1861-1864).
[151]
Mr Blackwall refers me for striking sexual differences in colour & number to Aug. Vinson Aranéides des Iles de la Réunion, Maurice &c
Pl. V. 1 & 2 - Pl. VI. fig 1. & 2
-> Epeira nigra wonderful difference in size: ♀ black with legs banded with red - ♂ wonderfully small & testaceous.
Auguste Vinson. 1863. Aranéides des îles de la Réunion, Maurice et Madagascar. Paris. See CUL-DAR84.1.168-169. Darwin cited this in Descent 1: 338, n14: "Aug. Vinson ('Aranéides des Iles de la Réunion,' pl. vi. figs. 1 and 2) gives a good instance of the small size of the male in Epeira nigra. In this species, as I may add, the male is testaceous and the female black with legs banded with red. Other even more striking cases of inequality in size between the sexes have been recorded ('Quarterly Journal of Science,' 1868, July, p. 429); but I have not seen the original accounts."
[Pickard-Cambridge, Octavius] 1868. Sexes of spiders. Quarterly Journal of Science (July):
429-430. CUL-DAR85.B147 Image
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 17 September, 2025