RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1844]. Abstract of Colquhoun, The moor and the loch. CUL-DAR71.164-165. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8. 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-DAR71 contains Darwin's abstracts of scientific books.
Darwin recorded reading this work in his 'Books to be read / Books Read' notebook. (1838-1851) Text CUL-DAR119.-
Colquhoun, John. 1840. The moor and the loch: containing practical hints on most of the Highland sports; and notices of the habits of the different creatures of game and prey in the mountainous districts of Scotland. Edinburgh and London. [30 October 1844]
164
(40)
J. Colquhoun The Moor & the Loch
p. 14 "Young Capercailzie thrice better under the foster-care of the grey-hen, than if left to their natural protectress" Hence the Keepers change their eggs (Yet Caper-cailzie are aboriginal.
[in margin:] Hybrids
p. 18 case of Hen grouse yielding 2 cock-hybrids to black cock in confinement.
[in margin:] Instinct
p 45 case of dog, who tryed to bring over two winged wild duck across a stream - failed, & though never known a ruffle a feather, he deliberately killed one & brought over the other winged one & returned for the dead one. (Hence knew well object of retrieving.)
p. 97 Mountain or Hill Fox, any one from a distance will be struck with its difference frm the small cur of the low grounds
p 98 kills many lambs & even full-grown sheep.
[165]
[in margin:] Time of Pairing/ Number of Young
p 98 rears his young not in old badger or other hole in a wood, but these choose a cleft in rocks in some wild craggy ravine
p. 105 He stands high on his legs, which are very muscular; his head is very broad & his nose not nearly so peaked; his coat is more shaggy mixed with white hairs, an invariable mark of a hill-fox. The brush not longer, less white on the tip & is very bushy. (NB He describes well the difference of Alpine & common Hare & appears accurate observer.)
p. 107 The wild-cat has seldom more than 3 or 4 young insert (in Chapt 3), often only 2 at a time
p 196 The Best time for trapping Foxes is from beginning of January - when the males follow the females - till March. (So that they pair in an inclement season, however, perhaps not the worst time for carnivores getting food. (Spring is the usual time for most animals).
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 9 October, 2023