From W. F. Barrett 6 May 1873
Woodlands | Isleworth
May 6. 1873
Dear Sir,
So many letters have lately appeared in “Nature” on Hereditary Instinct that I hardly like to add to their number.1 Perhaps however you will pardon my relating to you the following incident bearing on this subject,—though I fear hardly worth your notice.
Whilst residing ⟨in⟩ Demerara in 1846 my father on returning from an excursion to the interior came across a female alligator guarding her eggs.2 He shot the mother & the eggs he brought home placing them in a box in his study. Opening the box a few days after he found one or two had hatched meanwhile, these snapped & bit his fingers directly they came near. Taking up one of the remaining eggs he cut it round with a penknife & removed part of the leathery shell, instantly the blind young reptile within laid hold of his finger & attempted to bite.3 It was with some difficulty put back in its shell, & preserved in spirits
In this state some neighbouring friends now have it in their possession.
I am | Yours faithfully | W. F. Barrett.
Charles Darwin Esq F.R.S. | &c. &c. &c.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Romanes, George John. 1882a. Animal intelligence. International Scientific Series, vol. 41. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, & Co.
Sibree, James. 1923. London Missionary Society: a register of missionaries and deputations, etc. from 1796 to 1923. London: London Missionary Society.
Summary
Because of current interest in hereditary instinct, relates incident about a baby alligator, just emerged from its shell, attempting to bite a human.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8902
- From
- William Fletcher Barrett
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Isleworth
- Source of text
- DAR 160: 46
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8902,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8902.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21