My dear Sir

I am extremely much obliged for your to me very interesting letter, which I will go through seriatim.²

The Scanderoons shall be sent (I have seen since I wrote some tendency to go to nest) to the address carriage paid on Thursday morning before 12 oclock. The Borneo Fowls shall be sent at same time; for as coming from interior of Borneo (sent by the Rajah Sir J. Brooke) I think they are worth notice, even if not presenting any peculiar character.—

I doubt whether the young Barbs are old enough to travel; but they shall be saved for you.— If Scanderoon dies please remember I sh^d wish carcase sent per coach by enclosed address as soon as possible to arrive fresh.—

M^r Gulliver never sent me the fine Bird to which you formerly alluded, as dying;³ I sh^d be very glad of one: if ever you see him pray remind him.— I have long wished for one of the long-winged & long-tailed Runts for examination & Skeleton; When you have done breeding with it, I wish you would sell it me, & tell me at what you value it: I have received so many favours of you, that you must let me, I beg you, purchase it from you, without indeed it is too valuable for my purpose of seeing it alive for a few weeks & then slaughtering it.

Please sometime inform me; & likewise tell me whether I can purchase the Poultry Book which you edit, & who are publishers:⁴ the deuce is in my Booksellers, why they have not got it me yet: I must give them a rowing: I think I told you that they had sent me an old Edition, not edited, apparently, by you.—⁵ Is your Edition completed yet?⁶

Thanks for information about Turbits & for your kind offer of your Birds, but they w^d. be of no use to me: the Meave is German: M^r Wicking has the Breed.—

Also, thanks for offer of Fowls eggs for me to see the chickens, but the simple truth is that I have so many objects to observe & experimentise on, that I literally have no time to watch anything else, & as it is, I work too hard.—

Your sitting of the Rumpless, Polands which you have so kindly sent me, are put under a Hen today.—

I sh^d be very glad to hear what colour your Pigeons from Magpie & Helmet, with the down turns into.—

Lastly thanks for information about crossed Fowls: I am surprised that red does not appear in some crosses.

With my very sincere thanks. My dear Sir | Your’s very truly | Ch. Darwin