The mysterious Mr. Collins: Living for 140 years in Origin of Species

Mariko Ogawa

doi:10.1023/A:1012983831897

The mysterious Mr. Collins: Living for 140 years in Origin of Species

Mariko Ogawa

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In Origin of Species, the object of intense research for nearly a century and a half, Charles Darwin refers to a "Mr. Collins" as if he were a famous cattle breeder. In fact, there is no mention of a famous cattle breeder called Collins anywhere else in the literature, although there is a suitable candidate for this description by the name of "Colling." Darwin's reference to Mr. Collins is probably an error. This paper will attempt to establish the identity of the real Mr. Collins, and also to suggest why the mistake has gone unnoticed for so long.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	461-479
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of the History of Biology
Volume	34
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012983831897
Publication status	Published - 2001
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Artificial selection
Breeder
Colling
Collins
Origin of Species
Shorthorns

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
History and Philosophy of Science

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10.1023/A:1012983831897

Cite this

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AB - In Origin of Species, the object of intense research for nearly a century and a half, Charles Darwin refers to a "Mr. Collins" as if he were a famous cattle breeder. In fact, there is no mention of a famous cattle breeder called Collins anywhere else in the literature, although there is a suitable candidate for this description by the name of "Colling." Darwin's reference to Mr. Collins is probably an error. This paper will attempt to establish the identity of the real Mr. Collins, and also to suggest why the mistake has gone unnoticed for so long.

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KW - Origin of Species

KW - Shorthorns

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The mysterious Mr. Collins: Living for 140 years in Origin of Species

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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