Dear Sir

After much deliberation I have thought it best to send your very interesting paper to the Zoological Soc. in hopes that it will be published in the Journal.—¹ This Journal goes to every scientific institution in the world, & the contents are abstracted in all year-books on zoology.— Therefore I have preferred it to “Nature”, though the latter has a wider circulation, but is ephemeral.— I have prefaced your essay by a few general remarks to which I hope that you will not object.—²

Of course I do not know that the Z. Soc., which is much addicted to more systematic work, will publish your essay. If it does I will send you copies of your essay, but these will not be ready for some months.— If not published by the Soc^y. I will endeavour to get Nature to publish it, I am very anxious that it sh^d be published & preserved.³

Dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin