RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1868.01.18. Arch McNeill - Red Deer drop their young in the end of June. CUL-DAR85.B137. 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 3.2022. 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).
Archibald McNeill (1803-1870) of Colonsay was an expert on red deer. He sent a letter answering Darwin's queries to George Cupples. See Cupples to Darwin 15 January 1869, Correspondence vol. 17, p. 17. Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 253, 274-5.
[B137]
Jan 18/68 Arch. McNeill- Red Deer drop their young in the end of June.— The young do not show horns till following Spring, & do not shed them till Spring thereafter. — The dogs are at least 7-8 inches long. — The old deer cast their Horns in Spring & reproduce them in few months & become hard at end of August - Rutting season commences end of Sept.
During Rutting season "their necks swell."
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 17 August, 2025