RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1880. [Letter to A. S. Packard, 23 November 1879]. The Botanical Gazette, vol. 5, no. 2 (February): 19.
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe. 7.2021. RN2
NOTE: Alpheus Spring Packard (1839-1905), American zoologist, entomologist and founder of the American Naturalist, 1867.
[page] 19
We have also received the following letter from Mr. Darwin, dated Down, Beckenham, Kent, Nov. 23d.
"I never heard of bees being in any way carnivorous, and the fact is to me incredible. Is it possible that the bees opened the bodies of the Plusia to suck the nectar contained in their stomachs? Such a degree of reason would require repeated confirmation and would be very wonderful. I hope that you or some one will attend to this subject."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022