On the Origin of Species more recent study by science historian John van Wyhe has determined that the idea that Darwin delayed publication only dates back to the 1940s, and Darwin's contemporaries thought the time he took was reasonable. Darwin always finished one book before starting another. While he was researching, he told many people about his interest in transmutation without causing outrage. He firmly intended to publish, but it was not until September 1854 that he could work on it full-time. His 1846 estimate that writing his "big book" would take five years proved optimistic. An 1855 paper on the "introduction" of species, written
Reactions to On the Origin of Species breeding that would eventually form part of "The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication". He wrote to Asa Gray and used the example of fantail pigeons to argue against Gray's belief "that variation has been led along certain beneficial lines", with the implication of Creationism rather than Natural Selection. Over the winter he organised a third edition of the "Origin", adding an introductory historical sketch. Asa Gray had published three supportive articles in the "Atlantic Monthly". Darwin persuaded Gray to publish them as a pamphlet, and was delighted when Gray came up with the title of "Natural Selection Not