From Robert Goodwin Mumbray 18 January 1864
R. Goodwin Mumbray’s | Pharmaceutical Laboratory | Richmond Hill S.W.
January 18. 1864
Sir
In common with most readers I feel much interested in your valuable contributions on “The origin of species”—especially as regards Hybrids—1
Bechstein states that the Hybrids of the Finches—(Canary &c) propagate—2
With a view to testing the correctness of this statement I last spring put together in a large Cage a male Chaffinch a male Linnet and two hen Canaries— they paired but unfortunately disagreed—both laying eggs in the same nest— to obviate the difficulty, as there was fierce contention, I took away the weaker hen—when the other refused to sit— the Eggs were beautiful; six partaking of the Linnet character, and four of the Chaffinch— I am now preparing to repeat the experiment more carefully not allowing more than one pair of birds to each cage I hope by crossing to realize the facts of the case I have now—
Males—Females
2 Chaffinches. 2 Linnets
2 Greenfinches 2 Canaries
2 Linnets 1 Siskin
2 Goldfinches 3 Greenfinches—
Besides which I have two very fine (Song) thrushes reared by hand & thought of pairing them with Blackbirds— I should feel much obliged for any hint as to the advisability of the attempt—3 enclosed is an extract from Bewick4 which may be already familiar to you— if so I trust it will be excused—
I am Sir | Your’s Obediently | R G Mumbray
To | Doctor Darwin
[Enclosure]
“There are many varieties of Pheasants—some as white as snow which will intermix with the common ones”
“During the breeding season the cock Pheasant will sometimes mix with our common Hen and produce a Hybrid breed of which we have known several instances” (Bewick’s Brit: Birds V. i p 333.)5
I have often noticed what are called Pheasant Fowls, but understand it was a foreign breed—and not the result of crossing with our (now native) Pheasant6
R. G. M.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Bechstein, Johann Matthäus. 1789–95. Gemeinnützige Naturgeschichte Deutschlands nach allen drey Reichen. Ein Handbuch zur deutlichern und vollständigern Selbstbelehrung besonders für Forstmänner, Jugendlehrer und Oekonomen. 4 vols. Leipzig: Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius.
Bechstein, Johann Matthäus. 1840. Naturgeschichte der Stubenvögel, oder Anleitung zur Kenntniss, Wartung, Zähmung, Fortpflanzung und zum Fang derjenigen in- und ausländischen Vögel, welche man in der Stube halten kann. 4th edition. Halle: E. Heynemann.
Bewick, Thomas. 1804 [c. 1814–16]. History of British birds. 2 vols. Newcastle: T. Bewick. [Vol. 1, though dated 1804, was published c. 1814–16. See Roscoe 1953, pp. 89–95.]
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Descent: The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1871.
Marginalia: Charles Darwin’s marginalia. Edited by Mario A. Di Gregorio with the assistance of Nicholas W. Gill. Vol. 1. New York and London: Garland Publishing. 1990.
Origin: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1859.
Roscoe, Sydney. 1953. Thomas Bewick. A bibliography raisonné of editions of the General history of quadrupeds, the History of British birds, and the Fables of Aesopissued in his lifetime. London: Oxford University Press.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Has verified J. M. Bechstein’s contention that species of finches hybridise.
Quotes Thomas Bewick’s observations on hybrids between pheasants and common fowl. RGM had often noticed so-called "pheasant fowl", but thought it was a foreign bird.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-4392
- From
- Robert Goodwin Mumbray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Richmond Hill
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 318–318/1
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4392,” accessed on 22 September 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-4392.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 12