Dear Sir,

I write to inform you that I have had an interview with M^r. Murray & he has commissioned me to re-draw two of the birds, as he said—to begin with—viz. the Cock of the rock & the Prairie Grouse.¹ Would you like one of the latter in the background with his plumes down? I hope to give such satisfaction with these two as to be allowed to re-draw all the birds which were from Brehm.²

It would be a great assistance to me if I could have a copy of your book while doing the drawings as I should wish to know what characters were particularly pointed out in the text, & M^r. Bates said, last evening, he had no doubt you would kindly furnish me with a copy.³ In glancing over it I see that D^r. Gunther thinks Chameleons do not fight; in this he is mistaken as I once saw two of C. pumilus fight rather violently when they met on a branch; they flung their heads about & also tried to bite each other, & it was very amusing to see them rest in the middle of their quarrel in fantastic attitudes & then continue it: pumilus is not an armed species.⁴

An early reply will be esteemed a favour by | Dear Sir, | Yours very truly, | T. W. Wood.

P.S. I sent you the “Field” of Saturday fortnight.⁵

C. Darwin Esq. F.R.S.