Ɛpsilon

To J. J. Weir   30 April [1872]1

Down, Beckenham, Kent

April 30

My dear Sir

Many thanks for your note. I am not much surprised at incipient disease causing an alteration in the female, so that she would cease to be attractive to the male.2 I am sorry that your official duties have been of late so heavy; but I suppose it is the fate of all whose services become more valuable.3 I much hope, however, that your duties may not altogether interrupt your wonderful powers of observation in Natural History.

My dear Sir | yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin.

Copy

1
The text of the letter is taken from a copy made for Francis Darwin for his editions of CD’s letters (LL, ML), although Francis did not publish it. The year was supplied by the copyist.
2
The letter from Weir has not been found. In Descent 1: 262–3, CD discussed the preferences among animals for more vigorous and attractive members of the opposite sex, noting that it was usually females who exercised this choice.
3
Weir was employed in HM Customs, rising to the rank of accountant and controller-general in 1874 (ML 1: 319).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8303,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-8303