Encloses feathers from a diseased hen which has assumed cock plumage.
Forwards proofs of the engravings for Variation.
Encloses feathers from a diseased hen which has assumed cock plumage.
Forwards proofs of the engravings for Variation.
Alterations to the woodcuts of poultry for Variation.
Has had the blocks cut as requested and forwards the proofs.
Encloses article on habits of jungle fowl.
The blocks [for Variation] have been forwarded to Murray.
WBT has been corresponding with Prof. Newton.
WBT interested in ancestors of domestic guinea-fowl, ducks, and geese.
Egg colours in fowls.
Thanks for information. Sclater was source of statement about Numida ptiloryncha [as origin of guinea-fowl] in The poultry book [pt 12 (Dec 1866): 288].
Answers CD’s queries about polygamous birds. Does not think appearance of cock makes any difference to female. Dyeing the male has no effect on female.
Agrees to help determine the sex ratios in domestic animals.
Encloses information on sex ratios in thoroughbred horses.
On proportion of sexes in birds.
Describes change of plumage in chickens in order to be sure he is clear about the age of chickens on which CD wants information. Encloses feathers to illustrate changes.
Numerical proportion of males to females in greyhound puppies.
Forwards a basket of eggs of pile game fowl.
Sends C. M. Browne’s notes on transmission of colour in greyhounds [see Variation, 2d ed., 2: 40]
and a letter from Major Holland.
WBT to visit America.
Sends a letter by Mr Teebay on variation in wild ducks.
Offers to lend Dr Cooper’s book on game fowls.
Is preparing a new edition [1873] of his Poultry book.
Points out errata in Descent.
WBT’s beard exceptional in that it is darker than his hair [see Descent 2: 319].
Sends Field with an account of the cat show; examples of cats with three extra toes.
Sexual preference of a blue turbit.
CD did not return skull of the horned cock figured in Variation [1: 265].
Has found the skull of the horned cock.
With regard to CD’s suggestion about the possibility of producing a pigeon breed with differently coloured sexes, WBT reports the results of crossing blue and silver dragons; the silver offspring are almost always hens.
Would like the latest edition of the Origin.
Encloses notes on volume one [of Descent].
Encloses a photograph showing the bleaching effect of the sun’s rays on dun feathers in pigeons.
Gives the answers of two of the best dog breeders to CD’s queries.