From E. A. Floyer [after 22 September 1878?]1
Translation2
Waterbuffalo eating indian corn drowned by inundation nose below water to within an inch of his eye.
| Consecutive seconds | ||
| Underwater | above | |
| 10 | 15 | |
| 15 | 17 | |
| 20 | 15 | |
| 15 | 10 | |
| 60 | Men went away | 57 |
In 1 min 57 sec he was 1 min under water.
corn is under water two months3
That which shews above the surface is eagerly eaten by the cows and donkeys.
The land shelves down gradually so that the Buffalo who had the longest nose or who could hold his breath longest would get most food. In a time of starvation, as when all their land is under water this would be all important
[Ennery Esq]
[Enclosure]4
ر س طلع / شرق
١ ٠
طلع / شرق / طلع / شرق / طلع
شرق / طلع / شرق / طلع
شر طلع
٢ ٠
٣ ٤٣
Footnotes
Bibliography
EB: The Encyclopædia Britannica. A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. 11th edition. 29 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1910–11.
Translation
From E. A. Floyer [after 22 September 1878?]1
[Enclosure]2
R S rise / East
1 0
Rise / East / Rise / East / Rise
East / Rise / East / Rise
Ea Rise
2 0
3 34
Footnotes
Bibliography
EB: The Encyclopædia Britannica. A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information. 11th edition. 29 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1910–11.
Summary
Sends an example of natural selection: survival of water-buffalo eating Indian corn submerged by flooding might depend on how long animal could keep nose under water. Encloses measurements of this behaviour.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11703
- From
- Ernest Ayscoghe Floyer
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Egypt
- Source of text
- DAR 194: 41
- Physical description
- ALS 1p † encl
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11703,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11703.xml
