[111]

[in another hand] F. Watkins

Marston Rectory

York

July 18 [1887]

Dear M^r Darwin

I send you two letters of your Father's, which are all I can lay my hands on at present. With regard to his early life at school & at College it was just what you would expect. He was the same genial yet

[2]

thoughtful fellow full of conversation interspersed with long silences. With his wits not wandering, but always following some bird or insect or reptile.

Many is the walk I have had with him in the meadows between Cambridge & Grantchester & many is the wretched animal that he unearthed

112

from a rotten willow tree or some other obscure hiding place.

I recollect that he introduced me to a beast wh. I have ever since held in holy hatred "Stapholinus olena" wh. was for some time my idea of a scorpion & there was another the remembrance of whose name is "Crux major" or something like it.

[3]

You may guess from this that my memory is very shaky, but I do not forget the long & very interesting conversations that we had about Brazilian scenery & tropical vegetation of all sorts. Nor do I forget the way & the vehemence with wh. he rubbed his chin when he got excited on such subjects & discoursed eloquently

[4]

113

of lianas & orchids & other treasures of the almost impenetrable forest. It was curious to see how completely the child was Father to the man in him. One thing in our Cambridge life you probably never heard of, which is, that your Father was a

[5]

member of the "Gourmet Club" - so called not because its members were gluttons, but because they made a devouring raid on birds & beasts which were before unknown to human palate. Our menu was certainly a choice one but the appetite for

114

strange flesh did not last very long & I think the Club came to an untimely end by endeavouring to eat an old brown owl which was indescribable! We tried hawk & bittern & other delicacies wh. I have forgotten. But this will give you an idea of the Club.

[6]

I wish I could remember more but you must accept this as an instalment. I will write again if I can remember more.

At present Believe me, your Father's old friend & yours if you will allow me to say so, For his I am

Frederick Watkins