My dear M^r. Darwin

My father writes to me to say, that there is as much difference between the horns of the castrated sheep, and those of the ewes as between them and the horns of the rams—¹

A good deal depends on the age of castration, but even when castrated “very young” the horns are larger than the ewe’s’.

He writes “very young” but you may think this too indefinite— I presume he means about a month. old— If you would like to have a few lambs castrated younger than that, I will see whether there be any difficulty in the way, and if not—we can easily have a few lambs castrated earlier

It is so much pleasure to have a few questions like these asked me, because it reminds me that I go about with my eyes shut— The Americans have a drink called an “eye-opener”. You have administered one to me— I shall in future pay much more attention to what is to be seen around me. It surprised me much the other day to hear a Welsh sheep whistle, but I found that every sheep on the mountain on being startled, gave this whistle as it bolted off— I presume they lose the whistle as they become domesticated? but I intend to startle! a great number of these fat Cheshire sheep, before I am satisfied, that they can’t whistle

Very truly Yrs | R. Owen Jones