Letter 2202 — Darwin, C. R. to Fox, W. D., 14 Jan [1858]
Summary
Asks to borrow W. C. Hewitson’s book [British oology, 2 vols. (1831–44)].
CD is searching for reliable information on slight variations in the degree of perfection of nests of the same species of birds.
Transcriptionf1
Down Bromley Kent
Jan. 14th
My dear Fox
Have you Hewitsons work on Eggs, in which you gave some observations on variations of Birds’ nests?f2 If you have could you dare send it per post well done up & allow me to pay postage; for I do not know how else I cd get to see it.—
Have you ever heard that the first year that Birds build, they are not quite so adroit— LeRoy states this to be so, but I can hardly believe him.f3
Can you give me any thoroughily well authenticated facts on ever so little variations in nests; I do not mean such cases as the Water owzel habitually having a doomed or open nest—or difference of Sparrow’s nest in tree & in hole; but rather any slight difference in degree of perfection of nest of same species in different districts or of any individuals of same species.—f4
The smallest charity in this line would be gratefully accepted.—
Ever yours | In Haste | C. Darwin
Footnotes
- f1
- The letter has the year ‘1858’ added to the date, but it is not clear whether this is in CD’s hand. The endorsement by Fox confirms that the letter was written in 1858.
- f2
- Hewitson 1831–44. See letter to W. D. Fox, 31 January [1858].
- f3
- Leroy 1802, pp. 104–5. CD cited this work on several occasions in chapter 10 of his species book, on the ‘Mental powers and instincts of animals’, but did not give this particular example.
- f4
- See letter to W. D. Fox, 31 January [1858]. Fox had long been interested in nidification (see Correspondence vol. 1, letter from W. D. Fox, 30 June 1832).
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