Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural SelectionPoulton, Edward Bagnall, Sir
Science
Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection
Poulton, Edward Bagnall, Sir
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882; Natural selection
The clichés were obtained and Meldola’s translation published in the
Proceedings of the Entomological Society for 1879, p. 20. The new
contribution to the theory of mimicry was at first somewhat severely
criticised, even Bates being adverse to it. Subsequent work has
abundantly justified it as by far the most important addition to the
subject since Bates’s original paper. In fact, many cases which have
been up to the present explained under the theory of true (Batesian)
mimicry are now believed to come under that which we owe to F.
Müller--viz. convergence between specially protected forms for mutual
benefit.
An interesting paper by Dr. F. A. Dixey, published in the Transactions
of the Entomological Society for the present year (1896), contains
convincing arguments in favour of this view as regards some of the
_Pieridæ_ of South America in relation to the _Heliconidæ_ and
_Papilionidæ_ which they resemble.
It is of the highest interest to learn that the first introduction
of this new and most suggestive hypothesis into this country was due
to the direct influence of Darwin himself, who brought it before the
notice of the one man who was likely to appreciate it at its true value
and to find the means for its presentation to English naturalists.
In the next year Meldola wished to translate further papers of Fritz
Müller’s, and received the following letter on the subject:--
“_Nov. 25/80._
“Down.
“MY DEAR SIR,--I can well believe that your labour must have been
great, and everyone is bound to aid you in any way.
“No. I. of F. Müller’s paper is in the August no. for 1877.
“No. II.--is in the October no. for 1877.
“Both these articles I remember thinking excellent.
“I am not one of the editors of Kosmos, only a kind of patron(!)
and therefore cannot give permission; but when you write to the
editors you can say that I have expressed a hope that permission
would be granted, you acknowledging source of papers.
“Heartily wishing you success and in haste to catch first post, I
remain yours very faithfully,
“CH. DARWIN.”
Shortly after the date of the last letter Professor Meldola came across
a copy of Thomson’s “Annals of Philosophy” on a bookstall. It bore the
name “Erasmus Darwin” on the first page, and Meldola offered it to
Charles Darwin, thinking it might have belonged to his grandfather.
“_March 12th, 1881_ [The date was evidently May, and not March].
“Down.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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