To T. C. Eyton   9 December [1855]

Dear Eyton

I have been looking everywhere for the Dog’s Head.¹ As a few years ago I made a clearance of specimens, which I sent to the British Museum, I fear the head must have gone. But I cannot remember having sent it, so it may sometime turn up.— I am vexed at this. I know when I got it some 12 years ago, I meant it for you,² but if I sent it off I must have forgotten your pursuit. Indeed till I had the great satisfaction of meeting you at Glasgow I thought you had given up skeletonising.³ I took to the nice work, first owing to my wish to see how much the young of Pigeons & Poultry differed from the old, & I have a collection in Brine of nestling Pigeons & chickens.—

I feel that I am rather poaching on your manor; & I do not suppose I shall go further than just ascertaining & giving very briefly what differences I can see in the skeletons of Pigeons, Poultry, Covey Birds & rabbits. Your very kind offer of lending me skeletons of other species of pigeons (& that of the splendid Almond Tumbler) may be of the greatest possible use to me, but I have not gone far enough yet to profit by them,⁴ & you very likely may publish on the subject before I do,⁵ for I am a very slow worker & certainly shall not publish for some years.—

I see Yarrell has done a good deal in the bone line in British Birds;⁶ he showed me a lot of breast-bones the other day.— The plan I am following for birds, I sh^d. think would be worth your adoption in regard to Dogs, &c viz to offer some sum sufficient to make it worth while to a Dealer to send you any curious Dogs which might die; for I suppose there are dealers in Dogs in London.—

A M^r Tegetmeier is going to publish a paper on the skulls of Fowls⁷ & he showed me a collection the other day, & gave me a small series.—

Your’s most truly | C. Darwin