lad to hear of the
retribution of the wicked old she-bullfinch. You remember telling me how
many Weirs and Jenners have been naturalists; now this morning I have
been putting together all my references about one bird of a pair being
killed, and a new mate being soon found; you, Jenner Weir, have given
me some most striking cases with starlings; Dr. Jenner gives the most
curious case of all in "Philosophical Transactions" (447/1. "Phil.
Trans." 1824.), and a Mr. Weir gives the next most striking in
Macgillivray. (447/2. Macgillivray's "History of British Birds," Volume
I., page 570. See "Descent of Man" (1901), page 621.) Now, is this not
odd? Pray remember how very glad we shall be to see you here whenever
you can come.

Did some ancient progenitor of the Weirs and Jenners puzzle his brains
about the mating of birds, and has the question become indelibly fixed
in all your minds?

LETTER 448. TO A.R. WALLACE. August 19th [1868].

I had become, before my nine weeks' horrid interruption of all work,
extremely interested in sexual selection, and was making fair progress.
In truth it has vexed me much to find that the farther I get on the more
I differ from you about the females being dull-coloured for protection.
I can now hardly express myself as strongly, even, as in the "Origin."
This has much decreased the pleasure of my work. In the course of
September, if I can get at all stronger, I hope to get Mr. J. Jenner
Weir (who has been wonderfully kind in giving me information) to pay
me a visit, and I will then write for the chance of your being able to
come, and I hope bring with you Mrs. Wallace. If I could get several of
you together it would be less dull for you, for of late I have found
it impossible to talk with any human being for more than half an hour,
except on extraordinary good days.

(448/1. On September 16th Darwin wrote to Wallace on the same
subject:--)

You will be pleased to hear that I am undergoing severe distress about
protection and sexual selection; this morning I oscillated with joy
towards you; this evening I have swung back to the old position, out of
which I fear I shall never get.

LETTER 449. TO A.R. WALLACE.

(449/1. From "Life and Letters," Volume III., page 123.)

Down, September 23rd [1868].

I am very much obliged for all your trouble in writing me your long
letter, which I will keep by me and ponder over. To answer it would
require at least 200 folio pages! If you could see