From P. M. G. Egerton   17 April 1876

Dear Darwin

I only received your letter of the 18^th of March on Saturday,¹ as my Town residence has been invaded by painters for the last month and every thing in confusion. I do not anticipate much from the examination of the microscopic structure of vertebral centra, but I should be very happy to help Professor Hope with materials if I had them. I could find, I have no doubt, some vertebrae in my drawers but I could not give the generic or specific names to those of the Selachians. Most of our older fishes were notochordal.² If there were any chance of the Professor paying a visit to this country he should have the free run of my collection, but I hardly think I could select any thing that would help him. If this method of investigation is to give good results, the Professor ought to be blindfolded as to the age and genera of the specimens examined in order to preclude foregone conclusions. I was delighted to see your signature once again and hope that your health has not suffered from the late severe weather³

Believe me | Yours very sincerely | P M Grey Egerton