From J. J. Weir [before 3] March 1868
Summary
Aggressive behaviour of a bullfinch toward new arrival in JJW’s aviary.
Sexual differences in goldfinches: size of beaks.
Sexual selection in Lepidoptera.
Thinks Dr Alex Wallace’s observations on Bombyx not conclusive in proving that no preference is shown by females.
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [before 3] Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 51–2 and DAR 82: A107–8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5964 |
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 |
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 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 11 March 1868
Summary
Courtship of goldfinches. Male display. [See Descent 2: 95.]
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 53–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6005 |
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 |
From J. J. Weir 16 March 1868
Summary
Sexual selection of pigeons, ducks;
polygamous birds.
| 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 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 23 March 1868
Summary
Relates a variety of facts about sexual selection in birds. [See Descent 2: 104–5.]
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 23 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 61–4 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6041 |
From J. J. Weir 24 March 1868
Summary
Experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars are rejected by birds. [See Descent 1: 417.]
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 24 Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 84.1: 65–8 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6046 |
From J. J. Weir [26] March 1868
Summary
Proportions of sexes in birds as reported by bird-catchers.
| Author: | John Jenner Weir |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [26] Mar 1868 |
| Classmark: | DAR 86: C5–9 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6056 |
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 |
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 |
| Weir, J. J. | (9) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (9) |
| Weir, J. J. | (4) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (13) |
| Weir, J. J. |
