Dear Sir

I wish I could have answered your query as to the relative numbers of males & females born each year more satisfactorily.¹

My own “Sheep Book” fails to supply the information & my Shepherd who endeavours to keep a sort of register, often fails in perfect accuracy, owing to the press of work during most lambing seasons the births often coming with a sort of rush, leaving him little leisure or opportunity for book-work. He however states that for 4 seasons he is quite certain he is correct. & the general result is that the males were in number only 2 below the females.

This register is attempted for the pure bred lambs alone—those which are to form the progenitors for after years.² A considerable number of the inferior ewes are put generally to a Leicester Ram & their produce male & female sold fat to the Butcher, of these no record beyond that of births & sales is kept, but my Bailiff believes the males & females are generally nearly equal in number.

I ought to mention that my flock is but a small one numbering only 200 to 230 lambing Ewes according to circumstances & therefore furnishing but meagre data for any inference.

With kind remembrances to your brother who I am glad to hear has not entirely forgotten me³ believe me | very faithfully yours | Jonⁿ. Peel

Charles Darwin Esq ^re.