The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of ? animal sense of beauty. CUL-DAR88.150. 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 volumes CUL-DAR 87-90 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man 2d ed. (1874-1877).

[150]

Abstract Mag

Says Beauty with us implies a rational element & intellectual associations which we do not know that animals have (All I can do is to guard my expressions) Objects because others may assume as Spectator has done, that taste is a divine gift to man & animals & implies a certain absoluteness. Shows how necessary to argue this point. Taste for food any how acquired

Thinks taste of argus-pheasant & ours a coincidence! Plumes of Birds of Paradise must be so & of Egret - Doubts whether ♀ nightingale has sense of beauty gratified by song but then what word must be used?

[150v]

N. B. it is only cultivated men that use the word Beauty in a high & complex sense.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)