Dear M^r. Darwin,

Your remarks in “Nature” of last week remind me of an incident that occurred to me many years back, very similar to that which occurred to your son, and, strangely enough, on the same coast.¹ I was out fishing for Mackarel in Cardigan bay, and had a wager with my companion as to who would catch the first dozen fish. He had one to win, and getting a bite, as he supposed, began to haul up as fast as he could, calling out in triumph—“I win! Here he is! Such a whopper”! when to his and my astonishment there appeared a big oyster on his hook in place of a fish. He stuck to it, that the hook was inside the shell; but I always have fancied that he was humbugging me, till I read your remarks in Nature; and now find that he may have told the simple truth after all.

Thank you for your kind and eulogistic letter re “the parts of animals”.² It gave me much pleasure. I am glad also to have added a third person to your Gods, and completed the Trinity.³

With kindest remembrances to M^rs. Darwin and your family | Believe me | Yours very sincerely | William Ogle.