Sir

I received your letter this morning.—¹

About ten years ago there appeared a female of the blackwinged peafowl among the common sort at my home in Ireland;² several years before I had bought a young cock   I turned him out there, but he died before he quite came to his plumage & many years elapsed at least about eight or ten, before this female appeared; she also died leaving a common young one a hen (perhaps slightly lighter in color). this brown hen a few years ago produced a female of the blackwinged kind; but in both these latter instances there were only common cocks from which they proceeded— I took away this peahen & bought another of the same kind, also two blackwinged cocks; I have at present at another place in Ireland; these four old birds & & four young ones three cocks & a hen reared this last Summer— When just hatched they seem quite white, but I could at once tell the difference between them & the common white peafowl by a peculiar pink tinge on the wings, perceptible directly they leave the shell, & which deepens gradually into the lightish brown or hay coloured quill feathers possessed by both male & females & which constitutes I think the only resemblance in color between male & female of this species.³ The plumage of the young male birds gradually losing every speck of white, is very remarkable especially in their second year; when with the exception of neck & crest, they appear to somewhat resemble the female of the Javan kind—⁴

I have observed that in all instance I know they are rather smaller than the common sort, & always beaten & worsted by them.—⁵

I believe M^r P. L. Sclater still thinks they may be found wild in some parts of Asia,⁶ but I know not if this has ever been ascertained.—

If you should be in town & have leisure to see me either in Portman Square or this Club,⁷ I should be very happy to answer any inquiry in my power—

I am, Sir, | yr obed^nt Servant | ASG Canning

C. Darwin Es^q | &c. &c. &c.