i866— 1872] SEXUAL SELECTION 8 1 



(1) In your letter of April 14th you mention the case of Letter 445 

 about twenty birds which seemed to listen with much interest 



to an excellent piping bullfinch. 1 What kind of birds were 

 these twenty? 



(2) Is it true, as often stated, that a bird reared by foster- 

 parents, and who has never heard the song of its own species, 

 imitates to a certain extent the song of the species which it 

 may be in the habit of hearing ? 



Now for a more troublesome point. I find it very necessary 

 to make out relation of immature plumage to adult plumage, 

 both when the sexes differ and are alike in the adult state. 

 Therefore, I want much to learn about the first plumage 

 (answering, for instance, to the speckled state of the robin 

 before it acquires the red breast) of the several varieties of the 

 canary. Can you help me ? What is the character or colour 

 of the first plumage of bright yellow or mealy canaries which 

 breed true to these tints ? So with the mottled-brown 

 canaries, for I believe that there are breeds which always 

 come brown and mottled. Lastly, in the " prize-canaries," 

 which have black wing- and tail-feathers during their first (?) 

 plumage, what colours are the wings and tails after the 

 first (?) moult or when adult? I should be particularly glad 

 to learn this. Heaven have mercy on you, for it is clear that 

 I have none. I am going to investigate this same point with 

 all the breeds of fowls, as Mr. Tegetmeier will procure for me 

 young birds, about two months old, of all the breeds. 



In the course of this next month I hope you will come 

 down here on the Saturday and stay over the Sunday. Some 

 months ago Mr. Bates said he would pay me a visit during 

 June, and I have thought it would be pleasanter for you to 

 come here when I can get him, so that you would have a 

 companion if I get knocked up, as is sadly too often my 

 bad habit and great misfortune. 



Did you ever hear of the existence of any sub-breed of the 

 canary in which the male differs in plumage from the female? 



1 Quoted in (he Descent of Man ^i9oi\p. 564. "A bullfinch which 

 had been taught to pipe a German waltz . . . when this bird was first 

 introduced into a room where other birds were kept and he began to sing 

 all the others, consisting of about twenty linnets and canaries, ranged 

 themselves on the nearest side of their cages, and listened with the 

 greatest interest to the new performer." 



VOL. II. 6 



