Darwin Correspondence Project

The Field. | 346, Strand, | London, W.C.

March 29 1867

My dear Sir

I delayed day after day replying to yours of the 5th. thinking I might have something special to communicate but now write a general answer— I know nothing about the Case of the Widow bird—

But as far as regards polygamous birds do not think the statement has any foundation whatever—

A Game cock closely trimmed for fighting is as unlike an ordinary male fowl as a bird can well be, yet he is always well received by the hens and as in these birds the male always forces the female if reluctant I do not think it is likely that he would be ill received—

If two or more cocks are turned down the hens will receive anyone willingly but the strongest and most valiant chastises the others if he perceives them pursuing the hens.— certainly I think appearance has but little to do with the reception of the cock in fowls— I have just turned down a polish bird (crested) with some white cochin hens removed the same day from white cochin cocks   the advances of the polish male (though totally different in colour tail crest and general appearance) were received

I cannot personally try the experiment in any of my runs as they only contain a single cock each—but I will do what I can elsewhere—

Have you any objection to my enquiring in my own name in the Field. I might get some useful information—

I send you a few slips of a letter Mr Wallace published last week in the Field thinking, if you wished to circulate the queries they might save writing copies

I shall be happy to make any experiments in my power

do [you] not think dying a white male pigeon magenta colour which is easily done and seeing whether his wife knows him, would be of any bearing on the question

Believe me | Yours truly | W B Tegetmeier