RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Musari, A Persian Treatise. CUL-DAR205.11.67. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2022. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.11 contains notes on Instinct, change in habit.
Variation 2:141: "Two specimens were sent me by Sir W. Elliot from Madras, one in spirits and the other skinned. The name shows its Persian origin. It is much valued in India, and is considered as a distinct breed from the Bagdad Carrier, which forms my second sub-race. At first I suspected that these two sub-races might have been recently formed by crosses with other breeds, though the estimation in which they are held renders this improbable; but in a Persian treatise,10 believed to have been written about 100 years ago, the Bagdad and Bussorah breeds are described as distinct. The Bussorah Carrier is of about the same size with the wild rock-pigeon.
10 This treatise was written by Sayzid Mohammed Musari, who died in 1770: I owe to the great kindness of Sir W. Elliot a translation of this curious treatise."
[67]
p. 6 Pigeons taught p. 30 do
Instinct.
12 Zahn which respect the name of God
14
15 other flying Pigeons like Belon. do other kind
20 antiquity of Bussorah & Bagdads Carriers 21 description of Baddad
Some of the common Indian Tumblers from Madras were coloured exactly like C. intermedia
[67v]
From particular given in Persian Treatise sent my by W Elliot of Madras & written about 100 year ago it is clear that Pigeons are taught various tricks of flight, but only it seems to Tumble.
Ch X
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 14 March, 2023