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To the British Museum   21 February 1879

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.

Feb. 21st 1879

Having read many of Mr. R. Bowdler Sharp’s papers on Ornithology, & from several interviews with him at different times, I have been led to to form a high opinion of his knowledge of this branch of Natural History. I am further convinced that he is zealous to a quite unusual degree in the cause of Science.—1

Charles Darwin

1
This letter is a testimonial for Richard Bowdler Sharpe for the post of assistant keeper of Zoology at the British Museum; see letter to R. B. Sharpe, 21 February [1879]. Sharpe’s publications included a monograph on kingfishers and a catalogue of diurnal birds of prey (Sharpe 1868–71 and 1874). In 1868, he provided CD with information on kingfishers; see Correspondence vol. 18, Supplement, letter from Osbert Salvin, [1868?], and Correspondence vol. 16, letter from R. B. Sharpe, 5 August 1868. CD had supported a previous application by Sharpe for promotion at the British Museum; see Correspondence vol. 22, letter to R. B. Sharpe, 24 November [1874].

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-11893,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-11893