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From John Addison   6 July 1868

Maryport and Carlisle Railway | Secretary & General Manager’s Office | Maryport

July 6th 1868—

MARYPORT WEEKLY ADVERTISER,

JULY 3, 1868.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

FREAK OF NATURE.— In a thorn bush near Gilcrux,1 a nest was discovered with a brood of four young ones. The old ones flickering about were a cock goldfinch, and a hen green linnet. By means of a trap cage and bird lime the old birds were caught, and taken into the house. They are of undoubted plumage, and their young, now six weeks old, seem to partake of both, and they are carfully tended by the parent birds.2 They may be seen at George Hulmer’s, pitman, Tallentire Hill House.3

With the respects of Mr. Addison. Secy— M & C. Ry—4

To. Chas. R. Darwin Esq— | &c &c— &c—

1
Gilcrux is a village a few miles east of Maryport in Cumberland (now Cumbria).
2
CD discussed hybridism in wild birds (although he did not mention this case) in Descent 2: 113–15. The green linnet, or greenfinch, is Chloris chloris; the goldfinch is Carduelis carduelis. Green linnet is recorded as a name of the bird in Lancashire, Norfolk, and Scotland (Greenoak 1997, p. 203).
3
Tallentire is a village a few miles east of Maryport. George Hulmer has not been further identified.
4
This letter consists of a newspaper clipping pasted onto printed stationery; the valediction and part of the date are written by hand.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6268,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6268