My dear Sir

I have heard from Mr Murray² & I sh^d be much obliged if you w^d forward this note to Mr Wells.³ I shall be much obliged to him if he will draw & have engraved on wood, with the same care as displayed in your drawing of the Smerle, figures of a Pouter, Carrier, Short-faced Tumber, Barb Fantail, Turbit & Jacobin. ⁴ These are to be first-rate birds, but not exaggerated. The enclosed paper shews the exact size of the type in the page (without the heading) of the book in which they are to appear.⁵

The figures may be upright, which is best, or transversely; but Mr Murray remarks that wood cuts look better with a little margin.⁶ I observe that the figure of the Barb in the Field⁷ is too large for the head reaches beyond the enclosed piece of paper.

The character of the beak ought in all cases to be particularly attended to.

I suppose Mr Wells can get an estimate or contract for the cutting on the wood, for Mr Murray wishes Mr Wells first to send an estimate to him of the whole cost of the 7 figures, & this ought to be the first thing done.

I can settle hereafter about drawings of fowls’ head & some other things.⁸ There is no great hurry, I suppose, (for I do not know how long wood cutters take) but I shall not go to press till August.⁹

My dear Sir | Yours very sincerely | Charles Darwin

P.S. | Please address

M^essrs Murray & Cook¹⁰

50 Albemarle St. | W.