Showing 1–20 of 32 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.
Aggressive behaviour of a bullfinch toward new arrival in JJW’s aviary.
Sexual differences in goldfinches: size of beaks.
Sexual selection in Lepidoptera.
Thinks Dr Alex Wallace’s observations on Bombyx not conclusive in proving that no preference is shown by females.
Sexual behaviour of chaffinches.
Numbers of female linnets in September.
His experiments on brightly coloured larvae [as food], testing A. R. Wallace’s theory.
His observations of a rookery make him wonder whether it may not be more difficult than we think for birds to pair.
Proportion of sexes in chaffinches.
Pugnacity of blackbirds and robins.
Harrison Weir reports up to nine eggs in starling nests.
Newspaper report of a sheep born with its owner’s brand.
Describes a curious litter of rabbits.
Pairing of rooks, courtship of golden pheasant.
Behaviour of finch hybrids.
Seasonal coloration of birds; bright plumage results from sexual selection.
Proportion of sexes in ruffs [see Descent 1: 306].
Colour display in linnets, songbirds. Courtship display of Australian pigeon at zoo.
Answers CD’s question on whether any female birds regularly sing.
Both sexes of Crossoptilon auritum (eared pheasant) obtained the red cheeks the first year.
Coloration of the linnet.
Migratory male nightingales and blackcaps arrive before females [see Descent 1: 259].
Discusses chaffinch "Peggers".
Disagrees with CD’s opinion that canary mules are fertile.
Display of colour of greenfinches in courtship.
Comments on paper by JJW ["On insects and insectivorous birds", Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (1869): 21–6]. JJW’s verification of A. R. Wallace’s suggestion regarding inheritance is quite a discovery.
Asks for information about male birds migrating before females.
Thanks for information about bird migration.
Comments on canary hybridisation.
"My health got so bad I could do nothing at Down".
Gives information about migration of male and female birds.
Sorry JJW cannot visit.
Will go to sea-side for five weeks at end of July.
Does Vidua have double annual moult? [See Descent 2: 181.]
Invites JJW to visit Down. Will try to get A. R. Wallace and H. W. Bates also.
Enjoyed JJW’s visit.
Interested in changes in plumage of pheasants.
Still at work on sexual selection in birds.
Reversion of tamed animals to wild behaviour.
Trusts his paper ["Apterous Lepidoptera" (1867), printed for the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical, and Photographic Society] showed that he is thoroughly a disciple of CD.
Cites evidence that birds undoubtedly distinguish colours. [see Descent 2: 110.]
Does not think females give preference to any males. Coloration, pugnacity; cases of use of colour in struggle for existence. [see Descent 1: 395.]
Various facts about birds: pairing, finding new mates, protective coloration, polygamy, sexual differences.
Courtship of goldfinches. Male display. [See Descent 2: 95.]
