Ɛpsilon

To [Mary Holland]   [April 1860]1

Down Bromley Kent

My dear Miss Holland—

About a year ago I heard indirectly from you about a Mountain-Ash, of which the berries were greedily sought by Birds.—2 I shd. be particularly obliged for more precise observations made this Autumn. Namely dates of how much sooner this tree is completely or almost completely stripped of berries before the other trees in same garden.—

What birds are the eaters? Is there any difference in appearance of tree or berries? Do the berries taste differently to us? Are the berries ripe earlier than in other trees.— And any other particulars

Perhaps you would be so kind as to keep this note & read over my queries at time.—3

Pray believe me | My dear Miss Holland | Yours very truly | Charles Darwin

1
The date is suggested by a note dated April 1859 in which CD recorded the information referred to in the letter (see n. 3, below).
2
A note by CD in DAR 46.1: 47 reads: Ap. 28/59/ Amy tells me that at Knutsford she saw in Miss Hollands Garden the thrushes eating the fruit of one particular Mountain-ash, before that of any other tree; & was assured that this happened every year: this tree being cleared of its fruit, which no doubt was better; this tree is largely sowed by Birds: & so wd be favoured by being devoured. CD refers to his niece Amy Wedgwood, the daughter of Francis (Frank) Wedgwood, and Frances Mosley Wedgwood.
3
CD used this, or very similar, information in Variation 2: 230, although Miss Holland was not cited.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 made] interl
1.4 before the] ‘the’ interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2395,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2395