Gives the results of crossing experiments; some interesting and curious facts.

Discusses poultry crosses, "what a hopelessly difficult subject is that of inheritance!" Gives details of some pigeon crosses he made; cannot positively recall which produced the blue bird.

Sends queries for "Fanciers"

and asks about the mating of the queen bee.

Asks whether crossing breeds of hive-bees is advantageous

and whether different pigeon breeds have different incubation periods.

Explains and apologises for the lack of detailed quotations in Origin.

Thanks for information on pigeon hatching

and on drones.

Believes occasional crosses indispensable.

Regrets he has nothing that he could contribute to the Field and cannot spare the time to work out anything on bees’ cells.

Is obliged for WBT’s "curious case". Discusses the effects of castration on development.

Would like to borrow WBT’s collection of fowls’ skulls.

Asks for WBT’s opinion of G. Ferguson, the author of a poultry book [Ferguson’s illustrated book of domestic poultry].

Thanks for skulls

and information about Ferguson.

Is working on rabbits’ skeletons.

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.

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.

Thanks WBT for information on pigeons and poultry.

Has completed MS on poultry [for Variation].

Thanks for information on their courtship.

Sends MS on fowls for WBT’s inspection.

Orchids taking up all his time.

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

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

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.

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.