RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Mr Yarrell that a good male will sing till he drops almost exhausted & even dead. CUL-DAR84.2.180. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. 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 volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 53: "I was told by Mr. Yarrell that a first-rate bird will sometimes sing till he drops down almost dead".
"Yarrell, William, 1784-1856. London stationer and naturalist. 1825 FLS. 1831 CD to Susan Darwin, Y had helped with buying equipment for Beagle voyage. "But one friend is quite invaluable...he goes to the shops with me and bullies about prices". CCD1:147. 1836 History of British fishes, 1843 History of British birds. CD discussed evolution with before Origin. Tegetmeier claimed that Y introduced him to CD." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)
[180]
cocks to see which will sing longest, & I am assured by Mr Yarrell that a good male will sing till he drops almost exhausted & even dead. That male-birds try to attract the females by their beauty, I think will hardly be doubted by anyone who watches a Peacock with expanded tail strutting & shivering before the hen; so in like manner it is said that Birds
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022