To J. J. Weir [6 March 1868]
Summary
Discusses beaks and relative numbers of the sexes of goldfinches.
Comments on sexual selection among butterflies.
Mentions Kerguelen moth collected by Hooker.
Comments on JJW’s observations on coloured birds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | [6 Mar 1868] |
Classmark: | American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.348) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-5986 |
To J. J. Weir 13 March [1868]
Summary
Thanks for facts about birds displaying plumage during courtship; "for Butterflies I must trust to analogy altogether in regard to sexual selection".
Invites JJW to visit in summer.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 13 Mar [1868] |
Classmark: | The British Library (Egerton MS 2952: 8–10) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6009 |
To J. J. Weir 22 March [1868]
Summary
Glad to hear about pigeons. Did not know some birds could win affections of females more than others, except among peacocks.
Comments on polygamy in birds.
Discusses sex ratios among birds.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 22 Mar [1868] |
Classmark: | Private collection |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6038 |
To J. J. Weir 27 March [1868]
Summary
Thanks for information [about sex ratios] received from bird-catchers.
"Can you form any theory about all the many cases which you have given me and others which have been published, of when one pair is killed, another soon appearing?"
Facts about gay-coloured caterpillars very satisfactory.
Comments on Pangenesis.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Jenner Weir |
Date: | 27 Mar [1868] |
Classmark: | Linnean Society of London (Quentin Keynes Collection) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-6059 |
letter | (4) |
Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
Weir, J. J. | (4) |