My dear Sir

Very many thanks for the Catalogue just received. If the Black Hen Carrier sh^d. be a good Bird (& if you do not know yourself, perhaps someone there can inform you), & I mean for my purpose with long beak & narrow flat head, I sh^d. be glad of one, for I might pick up a cock afterwards. The Roman Runt is, I presume the same as Runts of Anerly, of which breed I have pair from M^r Baily.² By the way I doubt whether M^r Baker’s³ Scanderoons differ much from Runts, they have rather longer necks, & hardly any other difference. They have not the red seam down the breast.—

The Rabbits being in Hutches will go dear; but if any old one went cheap & appeared good, I sh^d. be very glad of it alive or strangled, as I have become almost more interested in Rabbits than anything else. In poultry I am getting less interested, though I am going on, & this very morning have sent four good Hens to be skeletonised.—⁴

For live Birds, I find the following the quickest address. diag C. Darwin

George Inn

Farnborough

[SYMBOL] Kent ⁵ (To be forwarded)ramme

You know so well what I want & are so very kind that I will leave to your judgment. Carriers are the only distinct Pigeons, which I have not had dead or alive.

Your’s very truly obliged | C. Darwin

What a splendid development of skull your young Polands have.⁶