I bred two here, they were dark blues with black bars and bred from black baldheaded Jacobins of the common english breed—² though rather better than the common run, Red baldheaded Jacobins are by far the commonest colour than black baldheaded—that is those colours with white heads tails and flights—(juniors)

I am breeding mules from the canary and Goldfinch or Linnet etc³ it is nec-essary to have the ⁠⟨⁠hen⁠⟩⁠ ⁠⟨⁠d⁠⟩⁠omesticated or she will rarely breed in a cage consequently it is most usual to put a cock Goldfinch &c with a hen Canary— but mules are some times bred from a cock Canary and a hen of some other kind that has been bred up tame from the nest. a friend of mine at Calais used to breed mules from a cock canary and hen Green linnet so reared—

I have bred mules fr⁠⟨⁠om⁠⟩⁠ Goldfinches, Linnets, Green linnets or Green finches, Siskins or aberdevines and a redpoll with hen canaries—

I have rarely tried, and never succeeded with a cock canary and other hen birds though it is not the cock canaries fault. If you are at any time getting German books again⁴ would it be troubling you to get for me Herr Pistors, work Der Hühnerhof—⁵

⁠⟨⁠I⁠⟩⁠ am ⁠⟨⁠s⁠⟩⁠orry to hear M^rs Darwin is so unwell. hoping for her speedy recovery⁶

I am my dear Sir | Yours much obliged | B P Brent.

To C Darwin Esq^r.

P.S. Is M^r. Tegetmeier ill?⁷ I will forward the Cottage Gardeners for June as soon as my Father returns the last number⁸ BPB—