Showing 1–19 of 19 items
The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Thanks FBG for his offer [of geese for breeding experiments] but cannot undertake anything. Suggests FBG or any friend cross half-bred birds for a few generations; it would be a valuable contribution to science.
Has changed his mind and would like some of FBG’s hybrids to breed from. Feels he should not lose the chance of perhaps recording the fertility of hybrids of two distinct species.
The geese have arrived. Does not think FBG’s view that the two forms are domestic varieties will hold good. Many ornithologists put them in different genera, and the wild type of each is known.
Reports the results of breeding from FBG’s hybrid geese. The hybrids are fertile inter se. Would FBG like the geese back? If CD publishes his observations may he use FBG’s results?
What should CD do with the geese? One gander chases and frightens his grandchild. Does FBG intend to publish his results?
Will do nothing with the geese until he hears from FBG. Is glad FBG intends to publish his results.
Has sent some geese.
Were the hybrid geese FBG sent to CD brother and sister from the same hatch? CD intends to send a letter on their breeding to Nature [Collected papers 2: 219–20].
Thinks FBG’s idea of a room at the British Museum of domestic birds and animals an excellent one, but a collection of plants would be much more difficult.
CD would be pleased to have FBG’s essay dedicated to him but fears that he will be unable to give any assistance towards FBG’s ‘excellent scheme’.
Thanks FBG for his essay. Thinks FBG’s planned collection would be very useful but is ‘not sanguine of success’. Most naturalists do not care about domesticated productions. ‘A strong remnant of the feeling yet survives that there is a marked distinction between varieties & species, & naturalists regard only the latter.’
Crossing experiments with common and Chinese geese. Offers CD geese if he wishes to repeat experiments.
Sends geese to CD.
Crossbreeding of Chinese and common geese; believes they may be same species.
Crossbreeding experiments with geese.
Would like CD to write a paper on the results of geese experiments; hopes CD will not object to his doing the same despite the variance of their conclusions [see F. B. Goodacre, "Question of identity of Chinese and domestic goose", Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. (1879): 710–12 and CD’s "Fertility of hybrids from the Chinese and common goose", Collected papers 2: 219–20].
Can dispose of CD’s geese if he wishes.
The hybrid geese FBG sent to CD were brother and sister from the same hatch. Would greatly value a copy of Nature containing CD’s letter.
FBG greatly interested in CD’s article ["Fertility of hybrids from the Chinese and common goose"] but has not altered his opinion on the matter.
Would like a museum set up illustrating origins, varieties, and uses of domestic animals; seeks CD’s approval of the idea.
