My dear Fox

Thanks for your letter: I had your name on my list to write to soon to tell you how I got on in the Cock & Hen line of business. I have got nothing but promises as yet, & there are few or none like you, who do what they promise, though I fully believe they intend at the moment to do so.

I sh^d. be very glad of old & good Cochin, Dorking & Malay Call Drake;¹ though I think it possible that I may get Cochin elsewhere; if I succeed I will instantly write to you.— Indeed almost any cock w^d be very valuable to me, if of good breed; but I do not want to be unreasonable, after the immense trouble you took for me in regard to Chickens.² I have as yet not tried energetically for Poultry, but I have for dead Pigeons, & my success has been not great, so that I do not want throw away any chance of good Bird from any quarter.

I offer payment for dead Pigeons, & Ducks & Rabbits to M^r. Baker.—³ Young Baily, from whom I have bought live Pigeons, I found not at all obliging about dead birds.⁴ If I fail by other channels, I will apply to the Father Baily & use Pulleine’s name,⁵ or get him to write a note to him.— I have since I wrote last greatly extended my scheme; & I have now written above 20 letters to every great quarter of the world to professional skinners, & others to get me collection of Poultry & Pigeons skins;⁶ if I succeed I think it will be a very curious collection.—

With respect to the Athenæum I have f^d. it so dull that I have for some time left off taking it in;—I quite forgot to mention this to you.—⁷

With respect to seeds, my few remarks were made, on account of Hookers, extreme obstinacy, (as it appears to me) in not believing that seeds can live even a few years in the ground.⁸ Your Isle of Wight case w^d. have been interesting if written at the time with certainty about the species; but without every particular given Hooker & Bentham, sneer at every account.—⁹

I am particularly obliged by the particulars on the eggs & colour of the Muscovy Ducks & sheep: all such facts are valuable to me.¹⁰ I have heard something analogous about crossing Cochin Chinas.— Did you ever see the Poultry Chronicle; one of the best contributor B. P. Brent, lives not far off, & is very kind in giving me information: unfortunately he has given up keeping many Birds.—¹¹

Farewell, we are not in a very flourishing condition; as many of us are rather poorly, & my wife for a couple of months has been suffering much from headachs.— I congratulate & condole with you on your 12^th child:¹² in my own case, I sh^d. have wished only for condolence.

Yours very affectionately | C. Darwin

P.S. | Would you blow for me an average egg of the White & Slate-coloured or other var. of Musk Duck.— I sh^d. very much like to have these.