From Hunter Nicholson 23 February 1877
Knoxville Tenn U.S.A.
Feb’y 23.rd. 1877.
Mr. Charles Darwin
Dear Sir:
I take the liberty of reporting to you what seems to me to be a remarkable case of Atavism.
The common cattle of the United States are, as you know, descended from colonial and subsequent importations from England and Scotland, with a few from the continent. Bred without care they have lost all breed marks. Seven years ago my attention was attracted by a number of white cows with red ears and noses. upon enquiry I learned that some 15 or 20 years ago a White Short-Horn bull ran on the commons hereabout. Since then I have found similarly marked cattle in various parts of this state and learn from correspondents that they occur in New York state, Kentucky and Virginia. In every case where I have been able to get any history of these cattle they are said to be decendants of a cross between short-Horn bulls and native cows. This peculiar marking only occurs after several removes from the Short-horn and when the cattle have been neglected— The point of interest with me is the close resemblance between these cattle and the Chillingham Cattle as described in your Plants & Animals under Domestication.1 It is a notable fact that among the native or scrub cattle solid whites are rarely, or never found where no Short-Horn blood has been introduced.
If these facts are of any interest to you I shall be gratified—
With great respect | Hunter Nicholson | (Prof. Agr. Tenn Agr. College.) | Knoxville Tenn. | U.SA.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Ritvo, Harriet. 1992. Race, breed, and myths of origin: Chillingham cattle as ancient Britons. Representations 39: 1–22.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Gives an example of atavism in American cattle.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10861
- From
- Hunter Nicholson
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Knoxville, Tenn.
- Source of text
- DAR 172: 54
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10861,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10861.xml