Darwin wrote extensively to other scientists while he was collecting
evidence and developing his theory of evolution. Review Darwin's
letters to understand the evidence he collected and the processes he used to develop
his theory.
Even Darwin had bad days. In a letter to his cousin, he expressed his
frustration:
My Dear Fox: I am rather low today about all my experiments --
everything has been going wrong -- the fan-tails have picked the feathers out of the
Pouters in their Journey home -- the fish at the Zoological Gardens after eating seeds
would spit them all out again -- Seeds will sink in saltwater -- all nature is perverse
& will not do as I wish it, & just at present I wish I had the old Barnacles to
work at & nothing new.
(From Burkhardt, Frederick, ed. Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection
1825-1859. [Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1998] p.139)
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