Launched 12th February 2009 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth
The dawn of an idea with the
aid of peristeronic steps..........​
Darwin's Pigeons
1859-2009- 150 years of Darwin's Origin of Species
Welcome
I
165 Years After the Publishing of Origin of Species 24th November 2024
It only seems like yesterday we celebrated the150th anniversary of Origin of Species in 2009. There was great interest in Charles Darwin’s work all around the world. It also coincided with the refurbishment of the upstairs rooms at Darwin’s home, Downe House, Kent, England by English Heritage.
On the actual anniversary publication day date 24th November, I was lucky enough to be part of John Murray’s Publication Celebration in Albermarle Street, London, the exact building where the book was published in 1859. [see other pages on the site about that event] click book to right to read more
Randal Keynes
Great, great, grandson of Charles Darwin
Rock Dove
Darwin Specimens
Charles Darwin, as a young man, travelled round the world after his tutor John Henslow recommended him to the Captain of the scientific ship the Beagle during the voyage he became the ship's naturalist, replacing McCormack. Darwin had a thirst for knowledge about the natural world and it was on this voyage he made various studies of volcanic rock formations on the Galapagos islands and his better known study of the Galapagos finches. The finches had been isolated by the distance between the many islands and had developed particular traits, differing head and beak sizes, depending on what the birds main food sources were, this aiding their survival. Darwin recorded thirteen different varieties of finch. Although today we know it was the Mocking Bird which Charles recognised as having 3 different varieties.
After five years away painstakingly recording his findings Charles returned to England and was met with scientific acclaim and recognition for his observations and scientific papers.
Before his journey on the Beagle his family had thought that Charles would settle down to life as a country Parson. Even though the Darwin family were known for their high academic achievements, until this point Darwin had not seemed to follow suit. However, after this epic voyage he was to spend his life devoted to scientific research, agonising on the subject of Man's and the World's evolution rather than accepting the creationist theories of the Bible.
This was made all the more difficult by his frequent bouts of illness and self doubt and his wife Emma's [nee Wedgewood] strong church beliefs.
In early 1855 Charles and his family spent several weeks in London in what was to become one of the coldest winters in living memory, parts of the Thames froze at Richmond at low tide. It was at this time that Charles maybe on one of his regular walks noticed common pigeons foraging for oats from spilt horse feed. Later at home by the fire reading the Illustrated London News, where fancy pigeons featured on the front page, perhaps an idea came to Charles to prove that all fancy pigeons are descended from the common pigeon known as Columba Livia or Rock Dove. This particular research, in turn, would help him with his theories towards the 'Origin of Species'.He finally made up his mind when Yarrell the well known ornithologist persuaded him to try.
So in March 1855 Charles Darwin was to become a pigeon fancier and set up a breeding loft at his home in the village of Downe, Kent.
This site is intended to celebrate the pigeons which played such an important part in Darwin's work. 2009 was the 150th anniversary since the publication of the 'Origin of Species' and also the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth. I hope to give you some insight into the variety of fancy pigeon breeds that Darwin worked with.
More pages will be added during the year particularly the breeds that Darwin studied.
​
John Ross, an enthusiastic pigeon fancier,
breeder and judge.
National Peristeronic Society, 175 Years of Pigeon Excellence
​
2022 is the 175th anniversary of the National Peristeronic Society. In these times it is all change and modern life seems to sweep away the past to be long forgotten but there is one pigeon club keeping the true tradition of pigeon keeping , breeding and showing almost exactly as it was when the club formed and has a direct link to the far off days in 1847 when the club, then known as the Philo Peristeron Society was formed.
August 2018 Unnatural Selection a new book on evolution. by Katrina Van Grouw
Almond Tumbler
John Murray III
Publisher 'Origin' 1859
Victorian Peristeronic Club show pens, salvaged from a warehouse in London and restored by Brian Coulson.
photo courtesy Katrina Van Grouw
​
Tuesday 30th January 2018 was the 150th anniversary of the publication of Variation under Domestication, published by John Murray,50 Albemarle Street, London in 1868.published in 2 volumes
Darwin took the chance to include two chapters on his pigeon breeding studies, reinforcing the importance of pigeons in his work on evolution, as well as chapters on cats, dogs and other domestic livestock.
English Pouter
Charles Darwin Trust video page showing students reaction to meeting Fancy pigeons for the first time at Down house
Loncon 3 August 2014 International author Robin Hobb Author of ''The Wizzard of the pigeons'' talks to John Ross about her long fascination with fancy pigeons
World Science Fiction Convention
Darwin's Pigeons with John Ross Colin Ronald and Charles Darwin descendant Randal Keynes.
Live pigeon exhibits included Almond Tumbler,
Scandaroon,Archangel, Giant Runt,
​
February 2013 The Natural History Museum, Kensington, London featured Darwin's pigeon specimens as a "Treasure of the Month" display, including a talk on February 1st 2013 In the Darwin Centre David Attenborough Studio.
Live fancy pigeons were also present at the talk with host Tom Simpson asking Jo Cooper NHM Tring and John Ross questions on Charles Darwin's pigeon studies.
Saturday 1st September 2012
A selection of fancy pigeon breeds were displayed at the Phoenix Garden and St. Giles Fayre London including the Jacobin, English Pouter,
Scandaroon and the smallest breed in the world the Valencian Figurita.