# From George Cupples   [4–10 November 1869]1

Deerhound puppies born Septr. 23/69.

2 bitches drowned as soon as born.

1 Dog died at the same time.

Alive and thriving specially well 4 Dogs 1 Bitch.

First weighed Octr 7h. when 14 days old2

Bitch—— 3 lbs 7 oz

Dog —— 3 – 11 –

Dog —— 3 – 11 –

Dog —— 3 – 5

Dog —— 3 – 3$\frac{3}{4}$

Weighed again Octr 14 when 3 weeks old—

Bitch —– 3 lbs 13 oz

Dog —– 4.–

Dog —– 4.7

Dog —– 4.7

Dog —– 4.–

next weighed Novr. 4 when 6 weeks old3

Bitch —– 8 lbs. 1 oz

Dog —– 9 – 8

Dog —– 9 – 9

Dog —– 8 – 9

Dog —– 8 – 1$\frac{1}{2}$

to be weighed again Novr. 11 when 7 weeks old.

From this note it will be seen that the bitch and dogs are nearer each other than in the former case given—4 There is only one bitch—but she was not selected for extra size, only by chance—and the circumstances are a fairer test, as all were left to the mother, none given out to nurse.

## CD annotations

5.3 3 – 11 … $\frac{3}{4}$ 5.6] scored ink, right margin; ‘3.7.7 [difference] .7 of oz’ left margin ink
6.3 4.– … 4.– 6.6] scored ink, right margin; ‘4.3.5 [Difference] 7.5 oz’ left margin ink
7.3 9 – … 1 $\frac{1}{2}$ 7.6] scored ink, right margin; ‘8.14.9. [Diff] 13.9 oz’ left margin ink

## Footnotes

The date range is established by the date of the last weighing of the deerhound puppies (4 November 1869), and the next projected weighing (11 November).
In his letter of 22 March 1869, Cupples had promised to weigh every litter of puppies he could in the coming season.
In Descent 2: 261, CD reported the weight of the female and the average weight of the males at two, three, and six weeks old.

## Bibliography

Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.

## Summary

Weight statistics on deerhound puppies born 23 Sept 1869.

## Letter details

Letter no.
DCP-LETT-6970
From
George Cupples
To
Charles Robert Darwin
Sent from
unstated
Source of text
DAR 83: 147
Physical description
Amem 1p †