Dear Eyton

I have had sent me by D^r. Daniell,² long resident at Sierra Leone the skin of a Dog, with skull in it & feet. He says “The Dog skin is an excellent specimen of the country Dog & forms the standard type of most here in W. Africa.” Should you not like to have this? If so will you tell me how I shall send it you. Have you any House of Call in London, so far I could send it carriage free. If you like to have it to add to your collection, perhaps you would just tell me whether the skull offers any marked peculiarities,—any further details I could hereafter read in any account which you might hereafter publish on Dogs.—

After writing to you my former long troublesome letter,³ I bethought me that I could experimentise on Hawks in Zoolog. Gardens, how long it is after eating a bird they throw up a pellet; & I will put seeds in crop & try if they are ejected & will grow.—⁴ Some friends in this country are observing the Partridge feet: I found on one the other day 11 grains of dry earth.⁵ Nevertheless if you can help me with any information, I sh^d. be very grateful.—

I hope sometime to hear from you in regard to Bechstein’s statement on the incisors of Pigs, & on Lord Hill’s crossed African Pig, & whence it came.—⁶

I suppose you did not continue the cross of the Geese; I have just been consulting your two Papers.—⁷

I sh^d. be much pleased if the Dog skin & skull sh^d. prove of any interest to you.—

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin