To F. B. Goodacre 3 September [1878]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
Sept. 3d.
Dear Sir
The geese arrived late last night. in excellent condition.2
They were very clamorous when turned out into a loose box & ate a good supper. This morning they seem as vigorous & hearty as any geese in the world.— I do not think your view of the two forms being domestic varieties will hold good;— Not only many ornithologists put them in distinct genera, but the wild type of each is known.3 If they are called wild varieties of the same species, the terms “varieties” & “species” become utterly vague & useless.— It was the fact that the two forms must be considered, in my opinion, as good species as any in the world, which makes it so important to ascertain the fertility of the hybrids.
A very few such cases (mentioned in my Origin of Species & some subsequently recorded) are on record, & these perhaps are not fully established.—4
I thank you very sincerely for your great kindness & remain, Dear Sir, | Yours faithfully, | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Gray, George Robert. 1869–71. Handlist of genera and species of birds: distinguishing those contained in the British Museum. 3 vols. London: the Trustees.
Origin 6th ed.: The origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. 6th edition, with additions and corrections. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1872.
Summary
The geese have arrived. Does not think FBG’s view that the two forms are domestic varieties will hold good. Many ornithologists put them in different genera, and the wild type of each is known.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11686
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Francis Burges Goodacre
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Dr John Goodacre (private collection)
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11686,” accessed on 28 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11686.xml