My dear Huxley

A naturalist, James Orton of U. States, has found in a thick deposit, at height of 10,000 feet, in Quito, associated with remains of Mastodon, Llama &c the skull of a Horse.—² He has sent me from U. States “the first lower molar”, & asked me to show it to Owen to learn its relations to the fossil Horses of Mexico & La Plata. This I cannot do, for I can hold no communication with Owen.—³ I wish for several reasons to oblige M^r. Orton, who is going to publish an account of his Researches in Nat. Hist in S. America.⁴

Can you aid me & him? Would it give you much trouble to compare the tooth with any American fossil in College of Surgeons or elsewhere?⁵ I know it is an unreasonable request.— I send the specimen by this Post: M^r Orton does not ask for its return, & unless he claims it, I sh^d think it w^d be well worth depositing in your Museum⁶ or British Museum, as an authentic specimen.

M^r Orton ought to have sent the specimen to Leidy.⁷

Forgive me for being so very bothersome & | believe me | Ever yours | Ch. Darwin