RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1868.03.24. Proportion of sexes. CUL-DAR86.C18. 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 1: 306, 307.


[C18]

March 24 /68/ Proportion of sexes

Gould believes strongly that males in excess is usual rule with Birds. When the bird-catcher first catch nightingales for first fortnight all are males, so severe contest when ♀ first arrive. Believes the male general with migratory Birds. Has known that with snipes & believes it general - with many birds as tit larks & the well-known case of Chaff finches sexes separate.

(As young ♂ resemble ♀. Error is probably be the other way)


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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 25 September, 2022