RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [7-10.1838]. Excised pages from Notebook D: [Transmutation of species]. CUL-DAR69.A5. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2023. RN1
NOTE: Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. First transcribed in F1574: de Beer, Gavin ed. 1960. Darwin's notebooks on transmutation of species. Part II. Second notebook [C] (February to July 1838). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Historical Series 2, No. 3 (May): 75-118.
The brown crayon number '17' indicates that this document was filed by Darwin in his portfolio for the subject of Hybridism.
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which is like common pheasant & back like silver.— But the hen hybrid of this bird, has long tail figure, & some e degree of whiteness like a male.— Thus castration, hybridity, & breeding in & in tend to produce same effects.—
(May it be said, that breeding in & in tends to produce unhealthiness,— or to perpetuate some organic difference.— it may be so, but this assumption as long as animals are healthy
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hen freely.— here we have beautiful proof of the breeding in & in (like courage in dogs effeminate men),— if carried much further, if by the process this were possible, the organs doubtless would shrivel up.— Yet odd they should have so much sexual character as they have
This character of not having sexual plumage is very common by hybrids, that are infertile.— thus the common pheasant & fowl when crossed never even lay eggs. & the men cannot hardly tell any sex by appearance.— The silver & common pheasant crossed, has a cock (infertile) with the breast of
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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 14 July, 2023