Showing 1–20 of 197 items
European men choose partners for different reasons. Savages select more for bodily attraction than facial beauty.
He is not sure whether he has seen Subularia flowering above the water, but thinks it probably is an aerial flowerer, at least sometimes.
Has been unable to find an anonymous book on pigeons in the University Library.
Sends corrected list of Podophthalma. Discusses intended journey of ‘Lester’ to Egypt.
Regrets inability to find specimens for JSH as not in London and states that collection containing skeletons of a beaver and alpine hare are in Cambridge with William Clark. Discusses use of JSH’s name in lecture to be published in The Lancet.
Makes arrangements for Linnean Society meeting. Discusses local politics and ‘Memoranda’ written by JSH.
Sends thanks for receipt of papers and memoranda; praises JSH’s school sermon; regrets that archaeological digs during a recent visit to Derby area were unproductive.
Invites JSH to visit him in Derby area to investigate two sites of possible archaeological interest: potential Roman remains on the banks of the River Derwent opposite Little Chester; a barrow in Tugford that looks to be unopened.
Makes arrangements for a visit to see potential archaeological sites in Derby area discussed by Belper in previous letter: potential Roman remains on the banks of the River Derwent opposite Little Chester; a barrow in Tugford that looks to be unopened. Asks JSH to come early as barrow at Tugford is on a property up for auction.
Makes arrangements for a visit to see potential archaeological sites in Derby area discussed by Belper in previous letter: potential Roman remains on the banks of the River Derwent opposite Little Chester; a barrow in Tugford that looks to be unopened. Asks JSH to come early as barrow at Tugford is on a property up for auction and says preparations are being made for his arrival.
Cites cases of leguminous plants whose cleistogamic flowers produce more seed than perfect flowers. [See Forms of flowers, p. 326.]
Reports on breeding experiments with various seeds: corn, aubergine, kidney beans, sugar-peas. Speculates that cause of changes in seed colour in sugar-peas may be mere variation rather than result of impregnation.
Encloses "notes for Mr. D" [see 1818] and a memorandum on the wild cattle of southern India [see 1819].
Breeds of silky fowl of China and Malaya. Black-skinned fowl.
Doubts any breed of canary has siskin blood; all remain true to their type.
Wild canary and finch hybrids.
Hybrids between one- and two-humped camels.
Does not regard zebra markings on asses as an indication of interbreeding but as one of the many instances of markings in the young which more or less disappear in the adult.
Crossing of Coracias species at the edges of their ranges.
Regional variations and intergrading between species of pigeons.
Regards the differences in Treron as specific [see Natural selection, p. 115 n. 1].
Gives other instances of representative species or races differing only in certain details of colouring.
Believes the goldfish originates from a wild, gold variety of Chinese carp.
Gallinaceous birds.
Crested turkeys.
EB divides the gallinaceous birds into five families on anatomical distinctions.
Wild dog species of India and Asia; ranges of some species, specific identity of others.
The fauna of the Seychelles.
Breeding of fowls in India and Africa.
Occurrence of turkeys in Africa.
Refers to some of his own papers giving fuller details of points raised previously.
Opposition to EB within the Asiatic Society.
Possibility of establishment of a zoological garden at Calcutta.
Has seen Gallus varius alive for the first time.
Will procure domestic pigeons for CD; could CD pay for them by returning hardy creatures, such as macaws and marmosets, which EB can sell for a high price in India?
Does not recall his authority for genealogy of the asses of Oman. If a genuine wild ass exists EB believes it will be in south Arabia.
Infertility of Irish and Devon red deer.
Details of an unusual species of wild dog.
Fertility of canine hybrids. General tendency toward hybrid sterility.
Has skins of hybrid Coracias and the parent species.
Wide-ranging species; skua found in Europe and Australia, but not in the tropics.
There is a possibility of establishment of a Government Museum at Calcutta, with which the Asiatic Society Museum would be merged. EB would like the curatorship but fears other possible applicants. Asks CD to represent him to W. H. Sykes.
Discusses the ancients’ awareness of various cats as deduced from the etymology of their names.
Gives references to works on fowls and pigeons.
Observations on Gallinaceae.
Musk ox skull from southern England is additional evidence for Agassiz’s glacial period. Owen is mistaken in calling it a buffalo.
EB describes the buffalo proper.
Will send domestic pigeon specimens.
Believes pigeons were not bred in India before the Mohammedan conquest. Describes Indian breeds.
Believes the ass is an African rather than an Asian production. Discusses various species of ass and their distribution.
Wild horned cattle on borders of Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur.
[Notes received by CD on 6 May 1856.]
Reports observations on Indian pigeons from David Scott at Hansi. EB adds remarks on Indian breeds he has encountered. Suggests Egypt, Turkey, and Syria would be good places from which to obtain specimens. Believes domestic races are all descended from Columba livia; their calls are all similar and they pair indiscriminately.
Guinea-fowl.
Writes to assure JSH that all students taking the Cambridge medical examination should have already passed the botany examination.
Sends extract from a correspondent’s letter reporting birds carried to Mauritius from Madagascar by winds.
Explains lack of correspondence due to lumbago. Hopes to attend meeting with JSH and others if condition improves, bringing examples of Russian ammunition and black bread. This is probably Borodinsky bread, which uses coriander seeds to represent grapeshot.