Dear Sclater

M^r Bartlett told me at the Gardens that the Japanned Peacock (I forget at moment your name) appeared amongst M^r Gurney’s birds.¹ As he is an ornithologist perhaps you know him & if so would you have the great kindness to write & ask particulars; or if not can you tell me his address & I would write as a stranger. The chief point would be to know whether his birds appeared pure & whether any Japanned Peacocks lived anywhere near, so that there could have been a recent cross. I sh^d. be very much obliged if you would kindly aid me & the point no doubt will interest you.—

Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin