Dear Sir

I had not heard before in answer to my letter of Jan. 28^th & now thank you sincerely for taking the trouble to write to me.²

I regret that you have had no opportunity to observe the lice of our various domestic animals from distant lands.— I am much interested by what you tell me about the aperea, for I had come to the conclusion from other reasons that the aperea is not the progenitor of our guinea-pigs.—³

I am not sure what you mean by the “stock-dove”: properly that means the C. œnas; our domestic pigeon being C. livia, which has an enormous range.—⁴ C. œnas has a wide range, but how wide I do not know; but as your specimen had not its habitat marked this is unimportant.—

If you thought it worth while to address a letter to the Council of the Zoolog. Soc. stating in some detail what you required, it is probable that proper orders would be issued; but I fear you w^d. have to pay frequent visits to the Gardens to get the orders attended to, but I daresay you would receive some specimens.— M^r Sclater w^d. feel interest in regard to the Birds—⁵

With my best thanks | I remain Dear Sir | Your’s faithfully | Ch. Darwin