To J. J. Weir 18 April [1868]
Summary
Discusses rapid replacement of mates among birds. "I begin to think that the pairing of birds must be as delicate and tedious an operation as the pairing of young gentlemen and ladies. If I can convince myself that there are habitually many unpaired birds it will be a great aid to me in sexual selection". Notes rivalry of singing birds.
Heard from George Rolleston of the inherited effects of an eye injury.
Disagrees with A. R. Wallace’s idea "that birds learn to make their nests from having seen them whilst young" ["The philosophy of birds’ nests", Intellect. Obs. 11 (1867): 413–20].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 18 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | Duke University, Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RL.10387) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6128 |
To J. J. Weir 30 May [1868]
Summary
Glad to have JJW’s opinion on nest-building. Wallace’s view [that skill is learned] is opposed to many facts.
Asks JJW about birds and their behaviour.
Wants information on the first plumage of different breeds of canaries.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 30 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center (Joseph Halle Schaffner collection box 1, folder 2) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6215 |
To J. J. Weir 4 April [1868]
Summary
CD thanks JJW for the mine of information his last "ten!" letters contain. Comments on sexual display of pheasants and colour preferences of pigeons.
Asks about hens that pair earliest in spring and about possible existence of unpaired birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 4 Apr [1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6090 |
To J. J. Weir [6 March 1868]
Summary
Discusses beaks and relative numbers of the sexes of goldfinches.
Comments on sexual selection among butterflies.
Mentions Kerguelen moth collected by Hooker.
Comments on JJW’s observations on coloured birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | [6 Mar 1868] |
| Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.348) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5986 |
From J. J. Weir 18 May 1868
Summary
Answers CD’s question on whether any female birds regularly sing.
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 18 May 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 81–2, DAR 86: A37–8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6181 |
To J. J. Weir 1 September 1868
Summary
Invites JJW to visit Down. Will try to get A. R. Wallace and H. W. Bates also.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 1 Sept 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 148: 319 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6343 |
To J. J. Weir 22 March [1868]
Summary
Glad to hear about pigeons. Did not know some birds could win affections of females more than others, except among peacocks.
Comments on polygamy in birds.
Discusses sex ratios among birds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
| Date: | 22 Mar [1868] |
| Classmark: | Private collection |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6038 |
From J. J. Weir 3 June 1868
Summary
Plumage of canaries; changes in plumage with successive moults.
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 3 June 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 181: 78 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6226 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … R. L. Wallace [1889] , p. 253. ) Xanthism: a neologism based on the Greek xanthos , yellow, formed by analogy with albinism. See letter to J. J. Weir, 30 May [1868] . …
- … 1868). Mealy or buff canaries were pale yellow; jonques were bright yellow or orange. Lizard canaries, a variety with spangling on the body, could be mealies (silver spangled) or jonques (golden spangled). Pied canaries also existed. Lizards were devoid of spangles in their nestling plumage, acquired their ‘show’ plumage after the first moult, and thereafter became paler with each moult. (See Kidd [1854] and R. L. Wallace [ …
| letter | (8) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (6) |
| Weir, J. J. | (2) |
| Weir, J. J. | (6) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (8) |
| Weir, J. J. |
| 1868 | (8) |
