My dear Sir

In accordance with your kind offer, I write to say that what I want far most of all is one or two good Carriers, & secondly a Runt of largest size & thirdly a first-rate Fan-tail. I hope to get latter from M^r H. Weir² or Wicking,³ but when Heaven knows only. I have asked M Corker⁴ for a Carrier & M^r Gulliver for a Runt⁵ but strangers very naturally forget or will not take the trouble to send.—

I am become as much interested in Rabbits as in Pigeons & sh^d be very glad of any assistance in that line. The Angora has made a capital skeleton & is in some small respects rather peculiar. I want much the Great Hare Rabbit. Ducks, also, are very valuable to me & I want a black Buenos Ayrean & Rouen very much. I w^d. buy old Drakes at a moderate rate gladly.—

Would you object at any time to put in Cottage Gardener, a query whether any one in England has Finnikin or Turner Pigeons?⁶

At Leith Hill⁷ I noticed some very fine rather dark-coloured Dorkings with 5 toes, & all the quarter-grown chickens had hardly any tail at all, but which comes subsequently. Did you know that this was characteristic of any breed: I went to a Farm House whence my Brother got this breed & the good woman assured me that this was their general, but not quite invariable characteristic. The old Birds seemed all alike & true, so that I can hardly suppose the tailless condition to be owing to cross with Cochin, but so it may be.

I have only got as yet 1^st no^r of the Poultry Book,⁸ so do not know yet how you are getting on.

My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin