Darwin Correspondence Project

British Association | Glasgow

Thursday

My dear Sir

Your most kind note has been forwarded to me here, but not your pamphlet. which no doubt is at my house.— I made my list as short as possible not to be too unreasonable. But assuredly I shd be very glad indeed to have any & all breeds, which you in your experience think distinct. It is a large coloured Dorking which has been promised me, & which I think from the quarter whence it comes may be trusted to be true of its kind; the gentleman (Rev W. Darwin Fox) who has promised it me, told me at the time that the White Dorking was very distinct, but I fancied, no doubt erroneously, that he referred only to colour.— With respect to the Polands & Hamburghs & indeed in the whole subject, I shd be most grateful to trust to your selection.

I did not put down Rouen Ducks, from thinking that they differed only in plumage & from seeing some remark to that effect in Mr E. S. Dixon's Book on Poultry. But if in figure or proportions different, I shd be most glad to have it. So indeed with the other varieties you mention; which I omitted, as I before said, because I thought it would seem so ludicrously presumptuous to ask you or anyone to take so much trouble. I shd be extremely glad to have everything, which seems to you tolerably distinct. Especially glad shd I be for all good Pigeons; I feel the greatest interest about pigeons, since I have kept a few & watched their habits & ways.—

On my return home I shall be very glad to send you my Journal.

Really & truly your kindness, is so much more than I could have expected, that I cannot attempt to thank you, but you will, I hope, believe, that I feel very | sincerely obliged | Charles Darwin