My dear Fox

You have been an acute observer of Birds, & may come across sharp gamekeepers & sportsmen-naturalists in the course of next 2–4 months.— Will you aid me?— I have references, somewhere safe, on one of a pair magpies being repeatedly shot on or near the nest; & each time a new mate was found in course of few days. A gamekeeper this morning told me that he had just trapped one of a pair with young, & in 2 days a pair to his surprise again frequented the nest.—² Can you get me other instances with magpies, carrion-crows, hawks, jays or any other Bird.

When possible to say, which sex was killed? How can you account for this fact: the gamekeeper said he has never noticed single magpies during pairing season. It is incredible that there sh^d be many single birds unpaired, always ready to pair. Or will one of a pair, which have failed in rearing young, always break his or her troth & join a widow or widower with the attraction of a nest. The gamekeeper also said that he had never seen an unpaired partridge; yet surely there must sometimes be an excess of males or females.— Think, enquire & be a good man & try & illuminate me.—

I am working at what I call “sexual selection” & want all facts & cases of polygamy (is any bird in England besides the pheasant polygamous?)—of the females alluring the males—of victorious males getting wives—of attachment between individual birds—anything & everything— I am driven half-mad by the number of collateral points which turn up in my present enquiry.— Did your half-wild male Turkeys fight? & how, I forget whether they have spurs— Do Partridges use their rudimental spurs in fighting; I suppose no man can answer. Do you know anything about fighting of Guinea-fowls, or Peacocks—

Forgive me   Forgive me. Your old friend & tremendous bore. | C. Darwin

P.S. Do not hurry yourself to answer— Tell me nothing except you feel very sure; for remember that there are many too glad to pitch into me.—