From Charles Dixon 19 January 1880
Albert Road | Heeley | near Sheffield
Jany 19. 80.
Sir
Some few days ago I happened to be dissecting a Common Heron, shot on one of the streams near this place. Upon examining its plumage I found the inclosed seed firmly fastened among the breast feathers. I consider this another instance as to how seeds are conveyed from one place to another. Doubtless when the bird preened its plumage the seed would have been cast forth, to germinate or not according to circumstances.1
There are many other seeds which depend upon animals and birds, too, for dispersal, by sticking firmly to the fur or feathers of a bird or animal walking amongst the plants.
I trust, sir, that you will excuse me troubling you on the matter, and let my enthusiastic desire for assisting in working out Nature’s problems, be my apology for bringing before your notice what seems such a trivial circumstance.
Believe me, Sir, | Very respcty yours | Charles Dixon
Charles Darwin Esq
CD annotations
Summary
Sends seed attached to breast feathers of a heron that had been shot.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12435
- From
- Charles Dixon
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Heeley
- Source of text
- DAR 205.2: 228
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12435,” accessed on 19 October 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12435.xml