My dear Sir

Very many thanks for all your information.² I do not care for any point in a hurry, if not thereby forgotten; for I have finished my M.S. & shall add nothing & correct nothing until you have read my M.S. & until I have scraped more information together.—³

I have two skulls of Sultans. Never mind about Ptarmigans from what you say.— Perhaps I shall get Creve-cœurs & Guelderlands from you or M^r. Baker,⁴ from whom, however, I have had no answer.

I am particularly obliged for information about courtship of Fowls. It is clear that the instinct of our Hens, (from what you say about touching them) is so vitiated that one cannot judge how they would behave in a state of nature.—

I have not read Du Chaillu; you are severe on him; but I fear from all that I hear & read he deserves severity.—⁵

With many thanks | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

We hope to start, on account of my daughter’s health, to Torquay on 10^th. of June to stay 6 or 7 weeks there.⁶ Whether my copyist will have copied my M.S. in time for me to look it over before that time I know not; if not, I must defer sending it till our return.