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* direct »Letter 457 — Yarrell, William to Darwin, C. R., [c. 17 Dec 1838]
Extract of a letter from Sir Robert Heron to WY, copied for CD, about the crossing of solid- and divided-hoofed pigs, and Angora rabbits of different colours.
* direct »Letter 675 — Sulivan, B. J. to Darwin, C. R., [10 May 1843]
Describes siege [of Montevideo]. Reports on appearance and habits of horses and cattle of Falkland Islands; wild rabbits and pigs. Geology of the Falklands, especially of West Island. Discusses supposed discovery of coal. Has sent fossil specimens to CD.
* direct »Letter 1755 — Blyth, Edward to Darwin, C. R., [22 Sept 1855]
Gives extract from a letter from Capt. R. Tickell: rabbits are not bred by the Burmese; common European and Chinese geese are bred but have probably only recently been introduced. EB gives references to works illustrating the dog-like instinct of N. American wolves. Discusses reason and instinct; ascribes both to man and animals. Comments on various instincts, e. g. homing, migratory, parental, constructive, and defensive. Reasoning in animals; cattle learning to overcome fear of passing trains. Hybrid sterility as an indication of distinct species. Interbreeding as an indication of common parentage. Enlarges upon details given by J. C. Prichard [in The natural history of man (1843)]. Adaptation of the two-humped camel to cold climates. Camel hybrids. Doubts that domestic fowl or fancy pigeons have ever reverted to the wild. Feral horses and cattle of S. America. Believes the "creole pullets" to be a case of inaccurate description. Variations in skulls between species of wild boar. Pigs are so prolific that the species might be expected to cross. Milk production of cows and goats.Sheep and goats of lower Bengal.Indian breeds of horses.Variation in Asiatic elephants. Spread of American tropical and subtropical plants in the East. EB distinguishes between races and artificially-produced breeds. [CD's notes are an abstract of this memorandum.]
* direct »Letter 1769 — Darwin, C. R. to Eyton, T. C., 25 Oct [1855]
Unable to give information on Mrs Shaw of Crayford. Mentions TCE's interest in dog- and pig-skeleton researches. Interested in seeing the Eyton Museum.Reminisces about entomology [at Cambridge].
* direct »Letter 1942 — Darwin, C. R. to Eyton, T. C., 21 Aug [1856]
Asks whether offspring of cross between African pig and common pig are fertile. Are Lord Rowland Hill's African pigs domesticated? Mentions pigeons' skeletons. Is working at a book on variation [Natural selection].
* direct »Letter 1948 — Darwin, C. R. to Eyton, T. C., 31 Aug [1856]
Asks whether number of incisors varies in domestic pigs. Is testing views of J. M. Bechstein. Comments on TCE's book [Herd book of Hereford cattle (1846–59)]. Mentions variations in the breed. Will quote TCE on geese [Mag. Nat. Hist. 4 (1840): 90–2]. Problem of geographical distribution; his seed-salting experiments. Asks about distribution of seeds to islands. Do water-birds ever have dirty feet? Could Eyton's gamekeepers collect owl and hawk pellets? Asks for dace stomachs and contents. Asks for cats' skeletons.
* direct »Letter 1968 — Darwin, C. R. to Eyton, T. C., 5 Oct [1856]
Offers TCE dog's skin and skull received from W. F. Daniell in West Africa. Mentions his experiments involving hawk pellets in seed distribution. Reminds TCE about pig crosses and incisors.
* direct »Letter 2085 — Darwin, C. R. to Fox, W. D., [30 Apr 1857]
His impressions of the hydropathic establishment and E. W. Lane. Is convinced the only thing for "chronic cases" is the water-cure. Asks if WDF knows of any breed of pig that originated or was modified by a cross with a Chinese or Neapolitan pig, and whether the crossbreed bred true.
* direct »Letter 7815 — Fox, W. D. to Darwin, C. R., 11 June [1858]
Discusses instinct in ducks and turkeys. Reports a case of the inheritance of an acquired characteristic in a pig.
* direct »Letter 2296 — Darwin, C. R. to Fox, W. D., 27 [June 1858]
Profoundly sorry for Lane. Thanks WDF for facts about call ducks, pigs, and Leicester sheep. Has been observing and experimenting on the construction of bees' cells. Thinks he has a theory which simplifies the problem. Scarlet fever in family; nurse ill.