RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1877.10.15-16. Lupinus luteus / Draft of Descent, vol. 1. CUL-DAR209.4.215. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by John van Wyhe 9.2022. RN2
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-DAR209.4 contains materials for Darwin's book Movement in plants (1880).
Draft of Descent in the hand of Ebenezer Norman with corrections by Darwin.
[215]
Lupinus luteus Cot stem secured Oct 15'
stem secured Oct 15'
7°. 57' first dot
8° 45 to the left
9° to light
9° 8' to left
9° 20 to light
9 37 to left & light
10. 25 to left & light
10 58. do.
11° 33 straight to light & near margin of glass
11° 35 new dot ⨀ put standard on this side & not so near to bristle
12 8 to light & little to right
12 47 to light
1' 33 to light
2° — do
2° 38 to light.
3. 3 to light & to the right.
3. 53 .do. .do.
4. 38 do. do
5 12 to the right horizontal
6° oblique to light or right
7° 30 a little from light
8 35 a very little way in same direction.
10 25 a very little bit.
16' out of glass
6° 45
not copied
(Used)
[215v]
Chap. 8
inevitably leading to its tran [text excised]
the males alone of many [text excised]
or white, the female being [text excised]
With the so-called Cuckoo [text excised]
which the feathers are trans [text excised]
and the chicken are similarly [text excised]
The laced plumage of lieve with the Sebright Br [text excised]
in the chickens the feathers are tipped with black, which mak [text excised]
plumage is laced. Sprangled [text excised]
a practical partial exception, to tho or [text excised]
not quite alike, resemble each [text excised]
than do the sexes of the aborig [text excised]
acquire their their characteristic sprangled [text excised]
chickens are distinctly pencilled. Th [text excised]
[slip of paper pasted on:] colour: the comb is [text excised]
very early age in [text excised]
fowl, & is of most [text excised]
adults of both sexes; so [text excised]
respect offers a striking [text excised]
In the game breeds, the young chickens [illeg] [text excised]
[text excised]
[Descent 1: 294-5: "We have instances of this fact in all black and white breeds, in which the young and old of both sexes are alike; nor can it be maintained that there is something peculiar in a black or white plumage, leading to its transference to both sexes; for the males alone of many natural species are either black or white, the females being very differently coloured. With the so-called Cuckoo sub-breeds of the fowl, in which the feathers are transversely pencilled with dark stripes, both sexes and the chickens are coloured in nearly the same manner. The laced plumage of the Sebright bantam is the same in both sexes, and in the chickens the feathers are tipped with black, which makes a near approach to lacing. Spangled Hamburghs, however, offer a partial exception,
30 'Das Ganze der Taubenzucht,' 1837, s. 21, 24. For the case of the streaked pigeons, see Dr. Chapuis, 'Le Pigeon Voyageur Belge,' 1865, p. 87.
for the two sexes, though not quite alike, resemble each other more closely than do the sexes of the aboriginal parent-species, yet they acquire their characteristic plumage late in life, for the chickens are distinctly pencilled. Turning to other characters besides colour: the males alone of the wild parent-species and of most domestic breeds possess a fairly well developed comb, but in the young of the Spanish fowl it is largely developed at a very early age, and apparently in consequence of this it is of unusual size in the adult females. In the Game breeds pugnacity is developed at a wonderfully early age, of which curious proofs could be given; and this character is transmitted to both sexes, so that the hens, from their extreme pugnacity, are now generally exhibited in separate pens."]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 20 December, 2025