Summary

Is glad WBT is investigating "the tail question"; hopes he will work out "down & colour point". Is much interested in runts, which seem to vary more than other breeds.

Summary

CD anxious to examine rumpless chick 24 hours before hatching.

Summary

Needs only one nearly-hatched chick.

Has all published numbers of Poultry book [1856–7].

Summary

Has acquired some runts. Thanks WBT for information. Lists pigeons he is sending.

Summary

Arrangements for delivery of pigeons and poultry to Down.

Summary

Will collect no more pigeons. Is awaiting Burmese fowls’ skins coming via Berlin.

Summary

When he has reviewed his work, he will give up pigeons and will probably give them away next summer. Wants a few Malay eggs in the spring.

Summary

Has received Burmese fowls’ skins from Walter Elliot.

Summary

CD will go over his pigeon MS and then dispose of all his birds. Has Burmese fowls’ skins if WBT is interested.

Summary

"Excessively" interested in theory of bees’ cell formation.

Fears few of his pigeons will be of any use to WBT.

Hopes WBT will describe foreign poultry breeds.

Summary

Inquires about the structure and formation of bees’ comb; is interested in seeing its form at the commencement of building.

Summary

Hopes to begin pigeon MS in a week.

Has lately been working on bees’ cells and wishes very much to examine a cylindrical one.

Summary

Discusses bees’ cells. Wants hive and swarm; would be glad to have WBT’s box with commenced cells. "I am partly a disciple of Waterhouse, but not wholly."

Summary

Thanks for hive.

Has started [writing up] pigeons and hopes to have finished with them in a week or two.

Summary

Death in family [Charles Waring Darwin]. Illness of children forces him to leave home and interrupt work on pigeons.

Summary

Has finished with and is disposing of his pigeons.

Invites WBT to Down; would like to see his bees’ cells.

Summary

Ask some questions on pigeons.

Remarks on the discussion of bees’ cells at the Leeds BAAS meeting. CD fancies he has the true theory with regard to their construction.

Summary

Has read WBT’s interesting communication on bees’ cells [Athenæum 16 Oct 1858]. Would like to see his excavated cells.

Summary

Wants WBT’s advice on poultry breeding experiments. Are certain birds true to their kind, and what should he pay for them?

Summary

"I thank you much for your note. The object, of course, is what you say. I did not guess that I shd have to pay so much per hen to Baker & the experiment would not be at all worth such a sum. I have not a single hen worth sending to Steven’s. If it really will not cost you much trouble, & you could get me some Hens & a young Spanish cock of pure breed . . . I will try to experiment and shall be very heartily obliged to you". CD mentions satisfactory local hens of a particular breed and an experiment being conducted on "Silver Barbs [with] black wing bars & white rump or bar at end of tail".