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Darwin Correspondence Project

From S. O. Glenie   27 November 1868

Trincomale

27: Novr: 1868.

Dear Sir

Mrs. Glenie and I were much gratified by the receipt of your kind letter of 2: Sept: last, and still more so to learn that you had found our observations worthy of your attention—1 We shall not fail to give you, whenever we feel certain of the facts, any information we may obtain either in direct answer to your question or bearing upon the subjects to which they refer⁠⟨⁠.⁠⟩⁠

Our friend, Mr. Thwaites, tells me that he has sent you my observations, and the result of enquiries in many quarters, upon Elephants and the black-boned variety of fowl.2 I have a hen & cock isolated, and trust ere very long to answer your queries as to the first plumage of the chickens— There is no doubt, for both my wife and I have had them in our poultry yard and on our table, that the adult bird has in many instances the same plumage as the ordinary fowl, though the greatest number when full grown are white.— I shall for the future pay more attention to this curious variety, and let know what I may remark—3 The natives consider the flesh medicinal, and their doctors prescribe its flesh for internal pains & epileptic and hysteric fits, but their practice is founded on no principles being purely empirical.—

On any subject on which I may be of service let me beg of you to command me, and to be assured that I will always do my best to meet your wishes

Believe me | Yours Sincerely | S. O. Glenie

Footnotes

CD’s letter has not been found, but see the letter to G. H. K. Thwaites, 2 September 1868. Glenie had answered CD’s queries on expression (see letter from G. H. K. Thwaites, 22 July 1868 and enclosure; for the text of the queries, see Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix V). Glennie refers to Mary Louisa Elizabeth Glennie.
Glenie later sent information on the black-boned fowl he raised (Correspondence vol. 17, letter from S. O. Glenie, 20 March 1869).

Bibliography

Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.

Summary

He and Mrs G pleased to receive CD’s letter indicating that he found their observations worthy of attention.

Hopes soon to be able to answer CD’s queries on first plumage of chickens of black-boned variety of fowl.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-6482
From
Samuel Owen Glenie
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Trincomalee, Ceylon
Source of text
DAR 165: 54
Physical description
ALS 4pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 6482,” accessed on 20 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-6482.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 16

letter