Asks whether WBT will read over his MS sketch on poultry when done.

Wants rabbit specimens.

Thanks for agreeing to read MS.

Outlines poultry breeding experiment he would like to see tried.

Asks for some unspecified items to be sent to him. The Half-lop [rabbit] should be killed, but without damaging the skull. Has not opened the box with skulls yet.

Details of peculiarities in poultry.

Is examining wild varieties of rabbit.

Inquires about rabbits.

Sends list of queries on poultry.

WBT’s fowls’ skulls have arrived.

Sends some replies to CD’s queries and data on pigeon flights between Bordeaux and Verviers.

Has completed MS on poultry [for Variation].

Thanks for information on their courtship.

[Queries in CD’s hand answered on same pages by WBT.] Sexual selection of fowls; role of beauty in cocks.

Asks for return of his MS [unspecified].

Orchids taking up all his time.

He longs to be at work again on poultry and rabbits.

Testimonial in support of WBT’s application for curatorship of the Hartley Institution.

WBT’s "too kind and flattering" article on Orchids.

Can WBT help get an answer to a query on ducks?

Has heard of a case of special sterility in cattle, in which a particular pair are sterile, but the individuals are both fertile with others.

CD interested in hybrid sterility and encloses his preliminary MS. Outlines experiments to test for existence of sterility in breeds of poultry and pigeons.

Experiments on dimorphism have led him to change in part his opinion as given in Origin, and he is now asking pigeon and poultry fanciers for any examples of special selective sterility [i.e., a particular pair are sterile when crossed, but each individual is fertile with others] and hopes to investigate its inheritance.

Has WBT ever heard of a case of the regeneration of monstrous (extra) toe on fowls?

Inquires about a curious pigeon reported at the Philoperisteron [pigeon fanciers’ club].

Does not believe in regeneration of monstrous toe.

Pigeon and poultry experiments.

Peculiar pigeon at Philoperisteron [pigeon fanciers’ club].

Hoped to meet CD at the Linnean Society to discuss pigeon and poultry breeding experiments.

Discusses experiments that WBT will undertake to investigate whether particular pigeon and poultry crosses produce sterile hybrids.

Progress of pigeon and poultry breeding experiments. No loss of fertility observed yet.

Blue-eyed cats and deafness.

WBT progressing with breeding experiments for CD.

CD making quicker progress with Variation.