Charles Darwin Writes Naturalist John Jenner Weir, Thanking Him for Supplying Information on the Nesting Habits of Birds

John Jenner Weir was an English amateur entomologist and ornithologist, as well as being a civil servant. He studied the relation between insects and birds, and is best known today for being one of the naturalists who corresponded with and provided important data to both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

The 13th annual exhibition of canaries and British and foreign cage birds took place at the Crystal Palace from February 18-23, 1876. There were 1500 birds on exhibition there, and it was a major event. Weir intended to attend, and “The Correspondence of Charles Darwin” identifies the recipient and conjectures that he wrote to Darwin offering to accompany him to the exhibition. Weir also included information about nesting birds in his letter.

Darwin responded, expressing gratitude for the nesting information but declining the invitation, saying the trip would be too exhausting for him.

Autograph letter signed, on his letterhead, February 14, 1876, to Weir. “I find by dearly bought experience that such an exertion as going to Crystal Palace knocks me for several days, and therefore I cannot accept your kind offer. 

“What you tell me about the nesting of birds is new to me.” Darwin was interested in nesting habits of birds, starting with his observation of the finches in the Galapagos. Weir had previously previously written Darwin on the nesting habits of starlings, so this was likely a follow up.

Darwin letters are becoming increasingly scarce. This is our first in some time. That it is to one of his regular correspondents makes it all the more interesting.