Charles Robert Darwin 



[born February 12th 1809, died April 19th 1882]. 



Complete Works. 



1. edition. 



17 volumes, in Octavo and Koyal-Octavo. London (Murray: and Smith Eider & Co.) 

 1839—1881. cloth. 



To which are added : 



6 Letters Iby Darwin to Dr. Adolf Ernst, Professor of Biology at 



the University of Caracas (Venezuela) 

 containing the whole of D.'s correspondance to that botanist which lasted through the 

 last 4 years of Darwin's life. They are dated : January 46 th 4878 — January 5 tb 4880 

 — April 4 th 1880 — September I1 th 4880— April 3 rd 1882 [All from Beckenham] — and 

 one whitout date from Cambridge. Wholly written by Darwin are 2 letters (viz. the 

 last two which bear a date: the one 4 pages, the other 2 pages), dictated and signed 

 by him are 4, one of which has a postscriptum by his hand. — 



That there was ever an exchange of letters between D. and Prof. E. seems to 

 be unknown to the scientific world as there is not the slightest allusion even to Prof. 

 E.'s name in the large work 'Life and Letters' (see below). The circumstance that 

 those 6 letters are Coming only now to Europe may aecount for that extraordinary 

 Omission. — 



Especially the letter dated April 3 rd 1882, written 16 days before 

 D.'s death and entirely by his hand is interesting in the highest degree 

 as to our belief itishis last letter known [For the collection 'Life and Letters' 

 closes with a letter written to Huxley on March 97 th 4 882]. 



As to the Contents of the letters its importance seems very high. For they consist 

 nearly wholly of questions, answers, observations on biological problems which E. had 

 the opportunity of studying on Central American plants, and on the activity of earth- 

 worms there [Whether more plants growing on the interior dry plains are glaueous than 

 in the humid districts. Whether the illegitimate seedlings when legitimately fertilised 

 are less fertile than the legitimate seedlings legitimately fertilised. On the frequency 

 of bloom-covered leaves on the dry plains. On the vermiform castings thrown up by 

 the earth- worms near Caracas. — The last letter closes: "Should you observe the 

 ledges on the mountains I should like much to hear the result, though I do not 

 suppose that I shall ever again publish on the subject. Since the appearance of 

 my work I have become doubtful whether I have not exaggerated the importance of 

 worms in the formations of the ledges. Perhaps they may be due to the sliding down 

 and horizontal cracking of whole of the surface soil. Pray excuse brevity as I am far 

 from well"]. — See also pages 124 and 4 22 of 'Formation of Vegetable Mould' containing 

 E r n s t's observations on the biology of earthworms. 



Price 280 Mark (= 14 £). 



The same: Gtood Library Edition 



[genuine, no reprints], with latest corrections and additions. 



15 volumes, in Octavo and Royal-Octavo. London (Murray: and Smith 

 Eider & Co.) 1862—90. cloth. 

 Price 4 40 Mark (- 7 Ig). 



589 



[20 



