The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [12.1855]. [Record of bird skin requests]. CUL-DAR206.34-35. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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.

This was published in Correspondence vol. 5. The editors noted: "The first part of this memorandum is a draft of a communication sent over a number of months to the individuals listed subsequently. CD evidently composed it during December 1855 as an aide-mémoire. The earliest known letter to an individual on CD's list is letter to E. L. Layard, 9 December 1855, but see also letters to G. H. K. Thwaites, 10 December 1855, to C. A. Murray, 24 December 1855, and to H. N. Shaw, secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, 25 December [1855]."

See John van Wyhe, Dispelling the darkness, where this note is used to show that Darwin initiated the correspondence with Alfred Russel Wallace and that he first broached the subject of evolution with Wallace. Two important points that have been mis-stated very often and needlessly speculated on in ignorance of this contemporary evidence.

[34]

Skins Any domestic breed or race, of Poultry, Pigeons, Rabbits, Cats, & even dogs, if not too large, which has been bred for many generations in any little visited region, would be of great value, or even if recently imported from any unfrequented region. It wd. be ~~thought~~ necessary to ~~relate~~ notice & select a characteristic specimen of adult animals of any breed.— In Poultry both cock & hen & especially the cock shd. be procured. The whole humerus & femur, & as much as possible of the cranium shd. be left on the skins.— Each specimen of shd be ticketed with native name, habitat & any procurable information. Specimens not bred for many generations in domestication are of no value.—

[35]

I have written to for Pigeon & Poultry Skins

Thwaites & Kellaert Ceylon.

R. Fortune

E. Blyth

W. Vines India

Sir R. Schomburgk

Dr Nicholson, Antigua

Th Bridges Panama

Dr. Sutherland Natal

E. Layard Cape of G. Hope

J. C. Bowring Hong Kong

Rajah Sir J. Brooke

R. Wallace

Dr Daniel Gambia

Rev N. Davis Tunis

Hon. C. Murray Persia

Through Mr. Stephens for S. America

Col. Sykes for E. Africa

Consul Brand Angola, or Mr Gabriel

Mr Parkes— Amoy

R. Hill Spanish Town Jamaica Arabia /? East Africa/

[35v]

Mr J. C. Bowring of Hong Kong has written to Mr Swinhoe of consulate at Amoy to Dr Macgowan at Ningpo & Dr. W. A. Harland at Hong Kong to whom Mr Fortune has written

Mr Fortune has written for me to & I have written to

Dr. Lockhart of Shanghai letters to care of Mss Dent,

& Ed. Webb Esq of do Beal & Co of Hong Kong. returned home

Lieut Ferguson. Bombay.

Mr Peter Wallace. former Superintendant Ascension.

Rob. Swinhoe has promised specs from Amoy.

W. Elliott says pigeons are on Road

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