My dear Fox

I have received safely the young Duckling, & he is now pickled.— How very different from the young Aylesbury! I am rather disgusted for I expected otherwise.—

What trouble you will have to take, & have taken about the young poultry, having to go to so many quarters.

I am going on with my salting experiments. Several seeds have now come up after 65 & 70 days immersion.— What you say about testing for the percentage is very true; I had intended it, but I found it so very troublesome actually to count all the seeds.— But I have sown all kinds without salting so as to test, as far as eyesight serves, how far they were good seeds.—

I have just ordered Almond Tumblers & Runts, so I shall have soon a grand collection of Pigeons.—

Should you ever be able to give me history of any mongrel crosses of any animals whatever, I sh^d. be very glad of them.² I am awfully deficient in exact information on mongrels, though pretty rich in regard to Hybrids. I mean to cross Pigeons systematically, & see how the offspring go, how much they vary & which parent take after &c &c. &c &c

Ever most truly Your’s | C. Darwin