Ɛpsilon

To T. C. Eyton   6 May [1861]1

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

May 6th

Dear Eyton

Very many thanks for so promptly & kindly answering my queries.—2 No doubt the skeleton was the Duckwing Game, & the wild Gallus G. Bankiva,—at least every bone agrees.—

As I have two good skeletons of Dorking it will not be worth while to trouble you to send yours (if found), or that of G. varius. On no account would I have the mounted Skeletons sent, though I cordially thank you for the offer.

I have now examined 25 skeletons & about 55 skulls.—3 In the skulls I find some differences characteristic of the breeds; in the other Bones much fluctuating variability.

My impression, though rather vague, from what little I have seen & read is that the skeletons of species of the same restricted genus or sub-genus do not commonly differ but very slightly. I do not at all like to trouble you, but I certainly should much like to quote your opinion how far as a general rule, the skeletons (excepting the head) differ in allied species.— One fact has surprised me (& on this too I shd. like to have your opinion), namely that though some parts of the skeleton besides the skull present plain differences, yet that all the bones of the wing & leg in all the Breeds are identically similar in configuration, though not in relative lengths & thickness.4

With best thanks Dear Eyton | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

P.S. | As I shall not come to the Ducks for a few weeks, I will venture to keep your specimens for that time.—

Heaven forgive me; I have just thought of another question, which I much wish answered. viz, whether the skulls of any Birds which have a large top-knot, like the Curassows have any protuberance, to support the top-knot?

Can you forgive me?

1
Dated by the relationship to the letter to T. C. Eyton, 3 May [1861].
2
Eyton’s letter has not been found, but see the letter to T. C. Eyton, 3 May [1861].
3
For CD’s analysis of the osteological differences between various breeds of fowl, see Variation 1: 260–70. He states that he examined 27 skeletons and 53 skulls, three of which belonged to Eyton (ibid., p. 260).
4
CD reported this observation in Variation 1: 268–9, stating: ‘it was truly surprising to see how absolutely every process, articulation, and pore agreed, though the bones differed greatly in size.’ (ibid., p. 269).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.2 yours (if found)] interl above del ‘it’
3.2 other Bones] above del ‘skeletons’
4.6 besides the skull 4.7] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3140,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3140