My dear Sir

I am heartily obliged for your kind proffer of assistance about the woodcuts, & for your note (never hurry yourself to answer me) & for your present of the Fields.² And lastly for your article on crossing;³ which seems to me excellent: & if I discuss such subjects will certainly be very useful for me to quote.—

I quite agree with what you say about the woodcuts—that of the Pouter struck me as very poor; I did not so much dislike the Tumbler but my impression seems a poor one & the block apparently injured in the beak— the others are excellent, your Smerle, I think the best,—the Barb rather hard about the beak.—⁴ I will certainly get M^r Wells to do what few drawings I may require.⁵ I was thinking once of having a long folding Plate with cuts of 6 or 7 pigeons in a row; but I must first consult M^r Murray what he thinks.—⁶ If I settle on folding plate; (otherwise they are a little too big) several of the Block would do excellently from the Field; but would the Editor approve?⁷ & can you find out what I sh^d have to pay, as I must consider M^r Murray’s & indeed my own interest?— If some time soonish you could let me hear what cost w^d be, I could decide.

Yours sincerely obliged | Ch. Darwin

Please do not forget to register M.S. of Fowls whenever you have completed the reading.—⁸

P.S. I have been measuring the cuts in the Field & they are too large to be introduced on a folded Plate, & a little too large for my pages. So take no trouble about the Field cuts.— After communicating with M^r Murray, I will write through you to M^r Wells about making fresh drawings.—