My dear Sir.

I am sincerely obliged for your kind letter of the 4^th. inst & for the very liberal spirit in which you receive my criticisms¹

It is exceedingly kind of you to think of sending me your new work on orchids²   it reached me safely yesterday but I have not yet had time to do more than just look into it

I was about ordering it of my bookseller—but to receive it as a gift from the author is certainly a much more agreeable way of becoming possessed of it—

An Uncle of mine M^r. Jno Frdk Johnson³ who resides at Araquipa was mentioning to me a few days ago the case of a female mule breeding by a horse.— he has also heard of the male mule gendering, but the case of the female he can vouch for as it came under his own observation— it occurred in the valley of Vitor about 12 leagues from Araquipa. I mention it because I think it is a fact bearing on the subject of hybridism which may interest you

My Uncle who will return to s’ America in a few months has promised to make careful enquiries respecting the alleged cases of the fertile male mules.⁴

Believe me Dear Sir | Sincerely & obliged | George Maw.

Charles Darwin Esqr