Dear Sir

I fear that you will think me very capricious, but ever since writing to you my conscience has been uneasy that I ought not to have refused your generous offer, & thus have lost the chance of perhaps recording the fertility of hybrids raised from two undoubted & very distinct species.—² If, therefore, you have not already disposed of the birds & unless you are willing to try the experiment yourself, I sh^d. be very glad of a male & female brother & sister hybrid;— that is if you can positively state that they are half-bred.³

If you are so kind as to send them, they had better be addressed, simply thus

“Ch. Darwin

Orpington Stⁿ

South E. Raily

Live birds to be forwarded by special messenger—⁴

I suppose that they will travel without suffering with some food.—

Pray forgive me for being so troublesome & believe me | Dear sir, Yours faithfully & obliged | Ch. Darwin