To W. B. Tegetmeier 3 November [1856]
Summary
Has received nine skins from Walter Elliot of Madras; WBT may describe them if he wishes.
Expects some Persian fowls.
Can WBT inquire about the fertility of certain duck hybrids?
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 3 Nov [1856] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1981 |
Matches: 7 hits
- … mentioned, that the two other African cocks, have a treble comb; the two external parallel …
- … I sh d . be very glad to buy an old Malay Cock for skeleton. — Since writing to you I have …
- … Elliot of Madras, skins of following poultry, diag 2. Game Cock & Hen (of great size) 2. …
- … Black-boned, hairy Cock & Hen 2. …
- … Caffir Cock & Hen with curled feathers. …
- … 1 Cock of doubtful origin ticketed …
- … Rangoon 2 Common or Pariah Cock & Hen, such as are commonly kept by the country …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 14 April [1861]
Summary
Inquires about rabbits.
Sends list of queries on poultry.
WBT’s fowls’ skulls have arrived.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 14 Apr [1861] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3118 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … your Hen-tailed Game, as readily as to other cocks. He would be victor, & so have enormous …
- … with his amatory success, supposing any other & gorgeous cock were present . — I formerly …
- … clipping and mutilating the feathers of a cock & observing, but I could not spare time to …
- … has kept many Hen-tailed Games & other Game-cocks, such a man might have observed on this …
- … read) the Field to day & see your curious Cock, which I have quoted in my M.S. I have now …
- … the skull of Poland? (19) Though the cock which conquers, naturally gets first choice of …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 5 August [1859]
Summary
Has an astonishing lot of mongrel poultry and expects next generation to approach Gallus bankiva in red-brown plumage.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 5 Aug [1859] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2479 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … bankiva . The reversion appeared in the cocks, but the hens from the crosses showed ‘ …
- … of Origin . CD had borrowed a young Spanish cock from Tegetmeier for use in his breeding …
- … My dear Sir When shall I return the Spanish Cock for which I am so much indebted to your …
- … but a very few mottled. One of the young cocks, however, has lately acquired a few reddish …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 16 November [1858]
Summary
Wants WBT’s advice on poultry breeding experiments. Are certain birds true to their kind, and what should he pay for them?
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 16 Nov [1858] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2362 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … following little experiment, viz to get a cock & some Hens of several breeds, which never …
- … d keep the succeeding year 2 or 3 or 4 mongrel cocks & mongrels Hens from all, & destroy …
- … all the old pure Birds, Cocks & Hens. — Perhaps …
- … it would be better to keep my Polish Cock & destroy my present Polish Hen & get one …
- … except two hens. — diag One old Spanish Cock Silver Poland Black Rumpless Silver pencilled …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 13 September [1859]
Summary
Reports the results of some poultry crossing experiments; comments on transmission of different features.
"My unlucky Book [Origin] will be published 1st week in November."
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 13 Sept [1859] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2491 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … the experiment of crossing the Spanish cock and Silk hen and produced results similar to …
- … a line this morning to say that the Cock would be at M r Cummins on Thursday morning. I …
- … the most curious fact for me is that a young cock from White Game Hen which was black has …
- … example of this fact, is given by a gray cock from white Silk Hen; which was jet black in …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 27 [December 1862]
Summary
CD interested in hybrid sterility and encloses his preliminary MS. Outlines experiments to test for existence of sterility in breeds of poultry and pigeons.
Experiments on dimorphism have led him to change in part his opinion as given in Origin, and he is now asking pigeon and poultry fanciers for any examples of special selective sterility [i.e., a particular pair are sterile when crossed, but each individual is fertile with others] and hopes to investigate its inheritance.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 27 [Dec 1862] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3877 |
Matches: 6 hits
- … there be any result . I crossed Spanish Cock (your bird) & white Silk hen & got plenty of …
- … Now if you are inclined to get a Spanish Cock & a couple of white Silk hens, I shall be …
- … do try this; how would it be to put a silk cock to your curious silky Cochin Hen; so as to …
- … never give silky feather. A cross from Silk Cock & Cochin Silk Hen ought to give silky …
- … have ever observed in the same breed , a cock A paired to a hen B, which did not produce …
- … young. Then I would get cock A & match it to a hen of its nearest blood; & hen B to its …
To William Bernhard Tegetmeier 20 January [1860]
Summary
Gives the results of crossing experiments; some interesting and curious facts.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 20 Jan [1860] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2656 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … interesting. The chickens from Spanish Cock & White Silk fowl were jet black in the Down & …
- … to my astonishment red feather after red very slowly appeared in the Cocks & now one …
- … of the Cocks is nearly as splendid as the wild Gallus …
- … Bankiva. Another young cock from game Hen was quite white, but now has very much red about …
To W. B. Tegetmeier [19 July 1857]
Summary
Has acquired some runts. Thanks WBT for information. Lists pigeons he is sending.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | [19 July 1857] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2115 |
To William Bernhard Tegetmeier 3 February [1861]
Summary
Is obliged for WBT’s "curious case". Discusses the effects of castration on development.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 3 Feb [1861] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3055 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 2 April [1861]
Summary
Details of peculiarities in poultry.
Is examining wild varieties of rabbit.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 2 Apr [1861] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3108 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … you may be able to prove that your cock is still fertile & the peculiarity hereditary. — …
- … combativeness, & a good suggestion that of this cock beating others & so propagating its …
- … Until you know positively that your game-cock always produces “Hennies”, the cross between …
- … be fair. — I feared that a hen-tailed Hamburgh Cock would not easily be procured: I would …
To W. B. Tegetmeier 14 January [1856]
Summary
Is attempting to get skins of poultry from all quarters of the world. Wants to inspect poultry collections.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 14 Jan [1856] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1820 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 29 November [1856]
Summary
Has received some poultry from various parts of the world.
CD is glad that WBT is describing the birds that he acquires.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 29 Nov [1856] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2004 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 27 [November 1858]
Summary
"I thank you much for your note. The object, of course, is what you say. I did not guess that I shd have to pay so much per hen to Baker & the experiment would not be at all worth such a sum. I have not a single hen worth sending to Steven’s. If it really will not cost you much trouble, & you could get me some Hens & a young Spanish cock of pure breed . . . I will try to experiment and shall be very heartily obliged to you". CD mentions satisfactory local hens of a particular breed and an experiment being conducted on "Silver Barbs [with] black wing bars & white rump or bar at end of tail".
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 27 [Nov 1858] |
| Classmark: | Scriptorium (dealers) (1982) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2375 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 29 September [1857]
Summary
Will collect no more pigeons. Is awaiting Burmese fowls’ skins coming via Berlin.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 29 Sept [1857] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2146 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 27 July [1857]
Summary
Arrangements for delivery of pigeons and poultry to Down.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 27 July [1857] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2128 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 15 October [1856]
Summary
Has received fowls from interior of Sierra Leone.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 15 Oct [1856] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-1975 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 19 February [1863]
Summary
Discusses experiments that WBT will undertake to investigate whether particular pigeon and poultry crosses produce sterile hybrids.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 19 Feb [1863] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3998 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 20 May [1868]
Summary
Inquires about the colour of first plumage of poultry breeds and development of distinguishing features.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 20 May [1868] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6188 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 26 [January 1863]
Summary
Has WBT ever heard of a case of the regeneration of monstrous (extra) toe on fowls?
Inquires about a curious pigeon reported at the Philoperisteron [pigeon fanciers’ club].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 26 [Jan 1863] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3944 |
To W. B. Tegetmeier 12 [May 1857]
Summary
Accepts a dozen eggs of rumpless Polands. Having so many enables him to see whether the breed "comes true".
Asks what colour turbits have dark tails – "it is just the class of facts which interest me".
Do fowls when crossed throw odd and unexpected colours like pigeons?
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Bernhard Tegetmeier |
| Date: | 12 [May 1857] |
| Classmark: | Archives of the New York Botanical Garden (Charles Finney Cox Collection) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2090 |
| letter | (40) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (39) |
| Stretch, Thomas | (1) |
| Tegetmeier, W. B. | (40) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (39) |
| Stretch, Thomas | (1) |
Was Darwin an ecologist?
Summary
One of the most fascinating aspects of Charles Darwin’s correspondence is the extent to which the experiments he performed at his home in Down, in the English county of Kent, seem to prefigure modern scientific work in ecology.
Matches: 1 hits
- … I gave two seeds to a confounded old cock, but his gizzard ground them up; at least I cd. not find …
Sexual selection
Summary
Although natural selection could explain the differences between species, Darwin realised that (other than in the reproductive organs themselves) it could not explain the often marked differences between the males and females of the same species. So what…
Matches: 1 hits
- … such as the horns on a stag or the spurs on a cock. Sexual selection, he wrote, depends 'not on …
Beauty and the seed
Summary
One of the real pleasures afforded in reading Charles Darwin’s correspondence is the discovery of areas of research on which he never published, but which interested him deeply. We can gain many insights about Darwin’s research methods by following these …
Matches: 1 hits
- … & looking gorgeous. I gave two seeds to a confounded old cock, but his gizzard ground them up; …
