My dear M^r. Darwin

I ran down here yesterday for a little change from too much dissecting work that I have been going through for my course of lectures just begun, and fortunately your kind present of the new edition just came as I was starting so I brought it with me, and have read some of the new parts especially chapter VII with great interest.¹ I have certainly some of my difficulties removed by it. Your comparison of the duck’s bills and the whalebone is very striking.² I must try and get more information about the horny tubercles and on the palate of the Hyperoodon—³ Eschricht has verified the original observation of Baussard on the subject, but a new and detailed description is a desideratum.⁴

This edition of the work is particularly welcome to me, as I do not possess either of the last two. If it is not presumptuous I should like to make a suggestion but perhaps it is one that you have considered and decided against; but it is that foot notes giving the reference to the work of the authors cited would be a great help. When I find a mention of Bronn or of Broca⁵ saying so and so, I want to know where and when they said it, and to know the context and general bearings of their remarks, and so I fancy would many others. If this would be much trouble, perhaps you could get Dallas⁶ or some one to do it for you in another edition—or as I said before, perhaps you have good reasons against it— so please do not trouble to answer this remark—

I return to town this evening

Believe me | yours very truly | W. H. Flower