My dear Sir

Very many thanks about Owls’ eggs,² for your note, & nice little Treatise.—³ I am sorry to hear that the cylindrical cells are mislaid, for I sh^d. have very much have liked to have examined their bases or point of attachment.—⁴

My object in writing now is to know whether you often examine your Hives & slides.—⁵ If you do, & sh^d. stumble on the very first commencement of the comb, I sh^d. excessively like to see it. Huber says that first, a very thin & very low littleridge is made;⁶ & then one one face⁷ the base of a single cell is hollowed out, &on the opposite face, the bases of two cells. He states that first the outlines ofthese 3 primordial cells are arched, (section ) & then made angular ( ).

Now what I what I want so much to see is this rudiment of the comb in this state. I believe when the arched bases of the cells are made angular, the bases of other adjoining cells have just been commenced.⁸ The hexagonal tube or prism has not been at this period hardly been begun; & all must be very minute. Will you kindly aid me if you can, in this respect; though I can plainly see that it is very improbable that you can, for it w^d require incessant watching or a rare piece of good luck.

I shall not be able to begin on my M.S on Pigeons for a fortnight yet.—⁹ This note requires no answer, & I know how busy you are.

My dear Sir | Yours sincerely | C. Darwin