To W. B. Tegetmeier   [19 July 1857]¹

My dear Sir

I am very sorry to hear of the anxiety about your child which you have undergone, but now over.—

M^r Gilbert has sent me as a present two young Runts one a fine young Cock of apparently the long-winged kind,² but not so long as some I have seen; so I sh^d not want the one you purchased for me, & which in any case you had a right to keep.— I will not accept your young Runt, for it is a pity to have so fine a Bird to kill: I will this very day write to M^r Gulliver & beg him to keep me in mind. for a dead Bird.³

Thanks for information on Rumpless—but I am sorry to say that the one mottled chicken of the 3 which I hatched has got a very decided tail.⁴

On Thursday morning I will send you the following Birds. 2 young Jacobins bred from (2^d Prize) M^r H. Weirs Birds:⁵ they are yellow, but their parents red: I know not whether they will become dark with age.— 2 young Barbs—one red (I had thought both were black): the parents are black & good Birds. 2 white Turbits;—I know not sexes.—

Whether I can send Trumpeters, I am not sure, on account of their having young. Nuns I find I have none at present, & there is only one young in nest at present, but I will not forget.— I have not begun yet to read Poultry Book,⁶ but I assuredly will some day, but I have my hands very full of work

Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

P.S. | I wish I could get chicken on point of hatching of a Breed of Fowls positively & certainly rumpless.—

If ever you fall across a man who keeps Penguin Ducks, I wish you w^d. remember that I much want to ask some questions about them.

I am sorry to find I have 4 Cock Trumpeters & only 1 Hen! & all are crossed at present, so I cannot send them. I thought I had a white Cock & Hen.—