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 |
Matches: 11 hits
- … this letter and the letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 . See letters from J. J. …
- … to W. D. Fox, 25 February [1868] , the letter to J. J. Weir, 29 February [1868] , and …
- … missing part of the letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 , or the letter from J. J. …
- … 5 April 1868 , [14 April 1868] , and 16 April 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, [14 …
- … before 3] March 1868 and [before 5] March 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, 16 …
- … J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 and n. 6. See letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 . Belief …
- … 1868] . For earlier discussion of bullfinch behaviour, see the letters from J. J. Weir, [ …
- … April [1868] and n. 4. See letter from J. J. Weir, 16 April 1868 . In a note dated 22 …
- … blood (DAR 85: B103). See letter from J. J. Weir, 5 April 1868 . CD refers to Edward …
- … April 1868 and n. 9. CD refers to Abraham Dee Bartlett ; see letter to J. J. Weir, 4 …
- … letter of 16 April 1868 , Weir had mentioned unpaired birds and also expressed the belief that all vivid colours in birds were the result of sexual selection. See letter from J. J. …
To J. J. Weir 7 May [1868]
Summary
Thanks JJW for his great assistance.
Discusses sexual selection in birds.
Sends queries on secondary sexual characteristics of birds.
Has often marvelled at the different growth of the flowering and creeping branches of ivy.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 7 May [1868] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6165 |
Matches: 11 hits
- … letter from J. J. Weir, [4–7] May 1868 . Weir had written four letters to CD since CD’s …
- … February [1868] and 29 February [1868] , and letter from J. J. Weir, [before 5] March …
- … Weir’s reply is in his letter to CD of 20 April 1868. See letter from J. J. Weir, [4– …
- … on the section on birds for Descent on 17 May 1868. See letter from J. J. Weir, [4– …
- … 7] May 1868 . See letter to J. J. Weir, 4 …
- … 4–7] May 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, 20 …
- … April 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, [before 28 April] 1868 . The Gardeners’ …
- … 1861] and n. 6. See letter from J. J. Weir, 28 April – 4 May 1868 . CD probably refers …
- … 7] May 1868 and n. 4. See letters to J. J. Weir, 27 …
- … in Descent 1: 417 (see letter from J. J. Weir, 24 March 1868 ). In Descent 1: 395, CD …
- … 1868] and n. 4. The letter to Abraham Dee Bartlett has not been found. See letter from J. J. Weir, [ …
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 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … and n. 7). See also letter to J. J. Weir, 18 April [1868] , and letter from J. J. …
- … 21 May [1868] . Weir apparently did not visit Down in June (see letter to J. J. Weir, 5 …
- … from Edward Blyth, 18 May 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, [before 30 May 1868] ; …
- … Weir, 20 April 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, 18 …
- … 2: 138–238). See letter from J. J. Weir, [14 April 1868] . CD discussed the relation …
- … 1868 , and letter from Edward Blyth, 18 May 1868 and nn. 4 and 5. Blyth actually wrote to CD about Pavo spiciferus. See also letter from J. J. Weir, …
To J. J. Weir 27 March [1868]
Summary
Thanks for information [about sex ratios] received from bird-catchers.
"Can you form any theory about all the many cases which you have given me and others which have been published, of when one pair is killed, another soon appearing?"
Facts about gay-coloured caterpillars very satisfactory.
Comments on Pangenesis.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 27 Mar [1868] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Quentin Keynes Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6059 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … his letter of 24 February 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, 23 March 1868 and n. 2. …
- … this letter and the letter from J. J. Weir, [26] March 1868 . See letters from J. J. …
- … 23 March 1868 , 24 March 1868 , and [26] March 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, [26] …
- … March 1868 and n. 7. See letter from J. J. Weir, 23 March 1868 . …
- … to Alfred Russel Wallace . See letter from J. J. Weir, 23 March 1868 and n. 6. Weir’s …
- … 1868 (DAR 86: C18), CD wrote, ‘Gould believes strongly that males in excess is usual rule with Birds. — When the bird-catchers first catch nightingales for first fortnight all are males, so severe contest when
♀ first arrives. ’ Another note suggests that CD had met John Gould at the British Museum on 23 March 1868 (DAR 84.2: 209). In Descent 1: 259, CD mentioned the information on nightingales. See letter from J. J. Weir, …
From J. J. Weir 7 March 1868
Summary
Various facts about birds: pairing, finding new mates, protective coloration, polygamy, sexual differences.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Mar 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 86: A21–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5995 |
From J. J. Weir 31 March 1868
Summary
Sexual behaviour of chaffinches.
Numbers of female linnets in September.
His experiments on brightly coloured larvae [as food], testing A. R. Wallace’s theory.
His observations of a rookery make him wonder whether it may not be more difficult than we think for birds to pair.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 31 Mar 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 46.1: 98–101, DAR 84.1: 69–70 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6074 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … March [1868] . See letter to J. J. Weir, 27 …
- … See letter to J. J. Weir, 27 March [1868] and n. 3. See letter from J. J. Weir, [26] …
- … March 1868 and n. 4. See also letter to J. J. Weir, 27 …
- … March [1868] and n. 7. See letter to J. J. Weir, 27 …
- … 1868] and n. 6. Weir later published two papers on insects and insectivorous birds ( Weir 1869 and 1870). Weir refers to Alfred Russel Wallace . See letter to J. J. Weir, …
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 |
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 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … results (see letter to J. J. Weir, 27 March [1868] , and letter from J. J. Weir, 31 …
- … J. Weir, 24 March 1868 ), CD had asked whether he should forward Weir’s letter to …
- … Weir’s description of display in members of the Fringillidae, see the letter from J. J. Weir, 11 March 1868 . …
- … 1868 and 31 March 1868. Alfred Russel Wallace had asked Weir to carry out experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars would be refused by birds (see Correspondence vol. 15, letter from A. R. Wallace, 24 February [1867] and n. 4). After receiving Weir’s preliminary results ( letter from J. …
- … 1868 . Dun Hen Carrier: a female dun-coloured pigeon. The information on the pigeon is cited in Descent 2: 118. Roland Trimen visited CD in London on 25 March 1868 (see letter to Roland Trimen, [21 March 1868] ). See letter from Edward Hewitt, 28 March 1868 . In Descent 2: 117, CD cited Hewitt on the indifference of female birds to the beauty of male plumage. See letters from J. J. Weir, …
From J. J. Weir [before 28 April] 1868
Summary
Proportion of sexes in chaffinches.
Pugnacity of blackbirds and robins.
Harrison Weir reports up to nine eggs in starling nests.
Newspaper report of a sheep born with its owner’s brand.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 28 Apr] 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 86: C1–2, DAR 84.1: 73–4 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6078 |
From J. J. Weir 16 March 1868
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 16 Mar 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 57–60 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6016 |
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 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … before 3] March 1868 and [before 5] March 1868 . See letter from J. J. Weir, [before …
- … 3] March 1868 and n. 5. See letter from J. J. Weir, [before 5] March 1868 and n. 5. …
- … 1868 (CD’s ‘Journal’ ( Correspondence vol. 16, Appendix II)). See letters from J. J. Weir, [ …
- … in Descent 1: 395. See letter from J. J. Weir, [before 5] March 1868 and n. 11. CD had …
From J. J. Weir 20 April 1868
Summary
Instinct in birds; nest-building.
Inheritance of acquired characters.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 20 Apr 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 181: 76 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6130 |
To J. J. Weir 18 June [1868]
Summary
CD thanks JJW for letter about the crimson breast of linnets
and the fate of a pugnacious female bullfinch.
Refers to JJW’s pointing out the number of Jenners and Weirs who have been naturalists, and cites some writings by men of those families about striking cases of birds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 18 June [1868] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6250 |
From J. J. Weir [before 17] October 1868
Summary
Both sexes of Crossoptilon auritum (eared pheasant) obtained the red cheeks the first year.
Coloration of the linnet.
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 17] Oct 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 86: A36, 53; DAR 84.1: 139 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6421 |
From A. R. Wallace [11 September 1868]
Summary
ARW’s wife will accompany him to Down.
Author: | Alfred Russel Wallace |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [11 Sept 1868] |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 426b |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6362 |
To J. J. Weir 29 February [1868]
Summary
JJW’s note on birds was one of the most interesting CD has ever received. Asks several questions. CD is puzzled by cases of magpies whose mates were killed but who always immediately found others.
Alexander Wallace denies any effect of colour in sexual selection among Lepidoptera.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 29 Feb [1868] |
Classmark: | Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5958 |
From J. J. Weir [before 5] March 1868
Summary
Does not think females give preference to any males. Coloration, pugnacity; cases of use of colour in struggle for existence. [see Descent 1: 395.]
Author: | John Jenner Weir |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [before 5] Mar 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 82: A109–12 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5985 |
Matches: 3 hits
- … letter to J. J. Weir, 29 February [1868] and letter from J. J. Weir, [before 3] March …
- … this letter and the letter to J. J. Weir, [6 March 1868] . Weir’s name appears on CD’s …
- … 1868] . Henry Walter Bates and Frederic Moore were both entomologists. CD added the genus name, as Weir had only given the species epithet for Colias edusa (see n. 5, above). See letter to J. J. Weir, [ …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 17 [March 1868]
Summary
For experiment on effect of male beauty, pigeons should be coloured on the breast.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
Date: | 17 [Mar 1868] |
Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6017 |
To J. J. Weir 17 October 1868
Summary
Enjoyed JJW’s visit.
Interested in changes in plumage of pheasants.
Still at work on sexual selection in birds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 17 Oct 1868 |
Classmark: | DAR 148: 320 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6422 |
To J. J. Weir 13 March [1868]
Summary
Thanks for facts about birds displaying plumage during courtship; "for Butterflies I must trust to analogy altogether in regard to sexual selection".
Invites JJW to visit in summer.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 13 Mar [1868] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Egerton MS 2952: 8–10) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6009 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … See letter from J. J. Weir, 11 March 1868 . CD refers to the letters from J. J. …
- … 1868 and 11 March 1868 , and to Weir’s earlier letters of [after 27 February] 1868, [before 3] March 1868, and [before 5] March 1868. John James Audubon discussed the courtship of birds in his Ornithological biography (Audubon 1831–[39]). CD’s annotated copy is in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 21–3). See letter from J. J. …
Darwin, C. R. | (21) |
Weir, J. J. | (20) |
Wallace, A. R. | (4) |
Blyth, Edward | (2) |
Weir, H. W. | (2) |
Darwin, C. R. | (32) |
Weir, J. J. | (14) |
Wallace, A. R. | (2) |
Bartlett, A. D. | (1) |
Hewitt, Edward | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (53) |
Weir, J. J. | (34) |
Wallace, A. R. | (6) |
Blyth, Edward | (2) |
Weir, H. W. | (2) |