Ɛpsilon

To T. C. Eyton   18 June [1860]1

Down Bromley Kent

June 18th

Dear Eyton

Can you give me any authentic cases of duration of gestation in any breeds of Dogs,—Hounds, Otter-Hounds &c &c. &c.—2 If you can I shd. esteem it a great favour.—   Pray do not trouble yourself to write unless you can & are willing to aid me.—3

Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

1
The stationery is watermarked 1860.
2
CD’s interest in this question had been stimulated by queries raised by Charles Lyell. See preceding letter and letter to Charles Lyell, 1 [June 1860].
3
Eyton’s reply has not been found, but in Variation 1: 30, CD stated: ‘Mr. Eyton of Eyton, who has had much experience with dogs, also informs me that the time is apt to be longer with large than with small dogs.’

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

1.3 Pray] before omitted point

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-2835,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-2835