skip to content
Home

Darwin Correspondence Project

From T. C. Eyton   29 February [1872]1

Eyton on the Wealdmoors, | Wellington, | Salop.

Feb 29th

Dear Darwin

Though I do not agree with the Darwinian theory I shall be convinced of the truth of it when I see evidence enough to sup⁠⟨⁠po⁠⟩⁠rt it. With that view I will send you any notes I can make for or against.

I received the other day from America skeletons of Fuligula valisneria and Querquedula discors which I find although they differ triflingly in their plumage correspond in their skeletons precisly with our Fuligula ferina and Querquedula crecca.2

I remain | yours truly | Tho C Eyton

Footnotes

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to T. C. Eyton, 4 March [1872] and by the date, 29 February, indicating that it was written in a leap year.
2
Fuligula valisneria is now Aythya valisineria, the canvasback duck; Fuligula ferina is now Aythya ferina, the common pochard. Querquedula discors is now Anas discors, the blue-winged teal; Querquedula crecca is now Anas crecca, the Eurasian or common teal.

Summary

Disagrees with the "Darwinian theory"; does not see evidence enough to support it. Will send CD any notes he makes for or against.

Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-8229
From
Thomas Campbell Eyton
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
Eyton, Wellington, Salop
Source of text
DAR 163: 43
Physical description
ALS 3pp

Please cite as

Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8229,” accessed on 5 June 2025, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8229.xml

Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 20

letter

Darwin Correspondence Project
darwin@lib.cam.ac.uk

© University of Cambridge 2022

Copyright declaration

Privacy policy

Website by Surface Impression

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge