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From J. J. Weir   [before 30 May 1868]

Summary

Reversion of tamed animals to wild behaviour.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [before 30 May 1868]
Classmark:  DAR 181: 73
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5748

From J. J. Weir   [after 27 February] 1868

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Summary

Trusts his paper ["Apterous Lepidoptera" (1867), printed for the West Kent Natural History, Microscopical, and Photographic Society] showed that he is thoroughly a disciple of CD.

Cites evidence that birds undoubtedly distinguish colours. [see Descent 2: 110.]

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [after 27 Feb] 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 77–80
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5939

To John Jenner Weir   27 February [1868]

Summary

Thanks JJW for his paper on apterous insects [see 5939], which contained much new information.

Asks JJW for any information he may have on sexual selection.

Describes an experiment, still untried, of staining tail-feathers of male pigeons in bright colours to find the effect on courtship.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  John Jenner Weir
Date:  27 Feb [1868]
Classmark:  Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5942

To J. J. Weir   29 February [1868]

Summary

JJW’s note on birds was one of the most interesting CD has ever received. Asks several questions. CD is puzzled by cases of magpies whose mates were killed but who always immediately found others.

Alexander Wallace denies any effect of colour in sexual selection among Lepidoptera.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  John Jenner Weir
Date:  29 Feb [1868]
Classmark:  Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5958

From J. J. Weir   [before 3] March 1868

Summary

Aggressive behaviour of a bullfinch toward new arrival in JJW’s aviary.

Sexual differences in goldfinches: size of beaks.

Sexual selection in Lepidoptera.

Thinks Dr Alex Wallace’s observations on Bombyx not conclusive in proving that no preference is shown by females.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [before 3] Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 51–2 and DAR 82: A107–8
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5964

From J. J. Weir   [before 5] March 1868

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Summary

Does not think females give preference to any males. Coloration, pugnacity; cases of use of colour in struggle for existence. [see Descent 1: 395.]

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [before 5] Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 82: A109–12
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5985

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

From J. J. Weir   7 March 1868

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Summary

Various facts about birds: pairing, finding new mates, protective coloration, polygamy, sexual differences.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  7 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 86: A21–4
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-5995

From J. J. Weir   11 March 1868

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Summary

Courtship of goldfinches. Male display. [See Descent 2: 95.]

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  11 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 53–6
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6005

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

From J. J. Weir   16 March 1868

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Summary

Sexual selection of pigeons, ducks;

polygamous birds.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  16 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 57–60
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6016

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

From J. J. Weir   23 March 1868

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Summary

Relates a variety of facts about sexual selection in birds. [See Descent 2: 104–5.]

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  23 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 61–4
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6041

From J. J. Weir   24 March 1868

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Summary

Experiments to test Wallace’s theory that brightly coloured caterpillars are rejected by birds. [See Descent 1: 417.]

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  24 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 84.1: 65–8
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6046

From J. J. Weir   [26] March 1868

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Summary

Proportions of sexes in birds as reported by bird-catchers.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [26] Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 86: C5–9
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6056

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

From J. J. Weir   31 March 1868

Summary

Sexual behaviour of chaffinches.

Numbers of female linnets in September.

His experiments on brightly coloured larvae [as food], testing A. R. Wallace’s theory.

His observations of a rookery make him wonder whether it may not be more difficult than we think for birds to pair.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  31 Mar 1868
Classmark:  DAR 46.1: 98–101, DAR 84.1: 69–70
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6074

From J. J. Weir   [before 28 April] 1868

Summary

Proportion of sexes in chaffinches.

Pugnacity of blackbirds and robins.

Harrison Weir reports up to nine eggs in starling nests.

Newspaper report of a sheep born with its owner’s brand.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [before 28 Apr] 1868
Classmark:  DAR 86: C1–2, DAR 84.1: 73–4
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6078

To J. J. Weir   4 April [1868]

Summary

CD thanks JJW for the mine of information his last "ten!" letters contain. Comments on sexual display of pheasants and colour preferences of pigeons.

Asks about hens that pair earliest in spring and about possible existence of unpaired birds.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  John Jenner Weir
Date:  4 Apr [1868]
Classmark:  American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6090

From J. J. Weir   5 April 1868

Summary

George Rolleston’s son was born with a scar on his knee exactly where GR cut himself with a knife years before his marriage. Gives several other examples of inherited mutilation.

Author:  John Jenner Weir
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  5 Apr 1868
Classmark:  DAR 181: 74
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-6093
Document type
letter (37)
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02 (3)
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04 (8)
05 (6)
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09 (1)
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