RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1842.07.05. Mr. Gough Gravel Hill Believes that bad constitutions & certain bowel complaints are hereditary. CUL-DAR205.6.22. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2021. 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-DAR205.6 contains notes on embryology [pigeons].

The brown crayon number '12' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Embryology.


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Shrewsbury July 5 /42/ Mr. Gough Gravel Hill

Believes that bad constitutions & certain bowel complaints are hereditary. Good qualities are hereditary shown by offspring of prize animals winning prizes. Certainly in many cases good animals will beget bad-ones. Thinks males communicate more of their qualities than females, at least colour. Bull-calf not more like Bull, than cow-calf. Has known a Herefordshire red with white faces - which gave his colour to between 40 & 50 calves born from variously -coloured Shropshire cows. Denies Herefordshire Bulls have short horns - says they are bad milkers & come slower to maturity. Believes a "short-horn" calf in 6 weeks would equal a 16 week herefordshire (So that maturity shows itself early) = A Hereford ox much larger than cow not so with short-horn ox = Believes a Hereford beast would never have forms of Short-Horn though there are slight deviations in form - colour very true also, except white & shades of red (Now this is valuable will do to contrast with species). Characteristics of Hereford breadth of forehead & muzzle & pelvis & colour. Believes Selection has done very much. Thinks calves of different breeds are very different, I could not gather whether so different,

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as full-grown animals could tell Alderney calf from Short-Horn though of same colour very young. Cart-horse & Race foals very different. Can generally judge by appearance of calf very early, whether will be fine beast sometimes alter is bad & the reverse happen as in man at six months could almost always judge

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Thinks has seen that close breeding in & in deteriorates forms & therefore does not [feature] it does not know about its destroying sexual power. Mr Bates great breeder with 60 cows & large farm is strong advocate of breeding in & in.

Has no doubt that a cross between Hereford & Short Horn bred inter &c would require the greatest selection & care to keep true, believes they would become true in time. For very many generations; does not know how many, one of the parent forms would come out as bastard in preponderant force. Has observed this in the families of the same breed, namely the Herefordshire; so that the quality is common to all crossing, though most observed in mongrel where parents diverse.

Always selects best turnips & transplants


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022