Ɛpsilon

To W. B. Tegetmeier   17 [March 1868]1

4 Chester Place | N.W.

17th

My dear Sir

From facts given me by Mr J. Jenner Weir & his Brother, it was stupid in me not to have suggested to you to colour the breast of the pigeon, where the metallic tints are displayed, instead of the wings or tail.—2 I certainly shd. be very much obliged if you would do this; & if in course of summer you have the opportunity it would be capital to place 2 males with one female, one of the males being coloured on breast.— You can have no spare time, otherwise I wd ask you to buy on my account a few young pigeons & keep them for me & try the colour.—

I was very glad to have the pleasure of seeing you yesterday.—

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin

Mr H. Weir says that some male pigeons, from playing antics & courting the female so well, are troublesome from causing paired females to be unfaithful to their mates; & that such “gay” males (as the fanciers call them) have sometimes to be shut up.—3 Have you ever heard of such specially amorous “gay” deceivers??

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. J. Weir, 16 March 1868.
2
John Jenner Weir and Harrison Weir had expressed the opinion that colour did not play a significant role in sexual selection in pigeons but noted that the iridescent neck was the only part of the body with brilliant colours and that males inflated their necks during courtship (see letter from J. J. Weir, 16 March 1868).

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.6 young] interl
4.2 paired] above del ‘the’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6017,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6017