My dear Sir

I have now to thank you for no less than 4 letters!² You are so kind that I will not apologize for the trouble I cause you; but it has lately occurred to me that you ought to publish a paper or book on the habits of the birds which you have so carefully observed. But sh^d you do this I do not think that my giving some of the facts for a special object w^d much injure the novelty of your work. There is such a multitude of points in these last letters that I hardly know what to touch upon. Thanks about the instinct of nidification, & for your answers on many points.³ I am glad to hear reports about the ferocious female bullfinch.⁴ I hope you will have another try in colouring males.⁵ I have now finished Lepidoptera & have used your facts about caterpillars, & as a caution the case of the yellow underwings.⁶ I have now begun on fishes, & by comparing different classes of facts, my views are getting a little more decided. In about a fortnight or 3 weeks I shall come to birds & then I dare say that I shall be extra-troublesome.⁷

I will now enclose a few queries for the mere chance of your being able to answer some of them, & I think it will save you trouble if I write them on a separate slip, as then you can sometimes answer by a mere No or yes.

Your last letter on male pigeons & linnets has interested me much, for the precise facts which you have given me on display are of the utmost value for my work.⁸ I have written to Mr Bartlett on gallinacæ but I dare say I shall not get an answer.⁹ I had heard before, but am glad to have confirmation about the ruffs being the most numerous.¹⁰

I am greatly obliged to your brother for sending out circulars. I have not heard from him as yet.¹¹ I want to ask him whether he has ever observed when several male pigeons are courting one female, that the latter decides with which male she will pair.

The story about the black mark on the lambs must be a hoax.¹² The inaccuracy of many persons is wonderful. I sh^d like to tell you a story, but it is too long, about beans growing on the wrong side of the pod during certain years.¹³

What a number of points you have attended to: I did not know that you were a horticulturist. I have often marvelled at the different growth of the flowering & creeping branches of the Ivy; but had no idea that they kept their character when propagated by cuttings. There is a S. american genus (name forgotten just now) which differs in an analogous manner but even greater degree; but it is difficult to cultivate in our Hot-house.— I have tried & failed.—¹⁴ It is very surprising to me that the arrangement or phyllotaxis of the leaves sh^d change. Rev^d G. Henslow has just been writing on this subject & sh^d. hear of your fact.—¹⁵ The variegation of leaves is enough to perplex anyone.—

Your kindness & assistance is beyond thanks, so I will not attempt it.

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin