RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1867-1871]. Jaguar, leopard, vulpine phalanger & wombat are very much oftener black. CUL-DAR83.66. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2022. 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 volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
[66]
I may quote B. for curious fact that male of Jaguar, leopard, vulpine phalanger & wombat are very much oftener black, when this variation occurs, than female.
Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 294: "Mr. Bartlett has seen many black varieties of the jaguar, leopard, vulpine phalanger and wombat; and he is certain that all, or nearly all, were males. On the other hand, both sexes of wolves, foxes, and apparently of American squirrels, are occasionally born black."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 14 August, 2025