Darwin Correspondence Project

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

Ap 4—

My dear Mr Blyth

Many thanks for your last M.S. I am very glad to hear about the colours of Hylobates. Unfortunately, I cannot find in Isidor Geoffroy Hist. des Anom. any statement in regard to which digits in man are most liable to syndactylism; if I cd ascertain this point your remark wd be most interesting. I knew about the variability of the junction of the digits in some of the species.

I have been reading over the M.S. which you sent me some weeks ago, with much interest.

Do I read correctly that the black colour in certain terns is a seasonal change either in the males or both sexes?

I shd be particularly obliged if you wd tell me whether the Gallicrex cristatus, during the breeding season, becomes ornamented in any way to an unusual degree in comparison with other members of the same family: I want to know because you say that it is probably polygamous.

Forgive me for asking two other questions. Do you know whether the plumes are more developed in the male ostritch than in the female?

2ndly Do you chance to know whether the male woodpecker takes a share in incubation?

With many thanks for yr never failing kindness in assisting me, believe me | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin