Trincomale
27: Novr: 1868.
Dear Sir
Mrs. Glenie and I were much gratified by the receipt of your kind letter of 2: Sept: last, and still more so to learn that you had found our observations worthy of your attention—1 We shall not fail to give you, whenever we feel certain of the facts, any information we may obtain either in direct answer to your question or bearing upon the subjects to which they refer⟨.⟩
Our friend, Mr. Thwaites, tells me that he has sent you my observations, and the result of enquiries in many quarters, upon Elephants and the black-boned variety of fowl.2 I have a hen & cock isolated, and trust ere very long to answer your queries as to the first plumage of the chickens— There is no doubt, for both my wife and I have had them in our poultry yard and on our table, that the adult bird has in many instances the same plumage as the ordinary fowl, though the greatest number when full grown are white.— I shall for the future pay more attention to this curious variety, and let know what I may remark—3 The natives consider the flesh medicinal, and their doctors prescribe its flesh for internal pains & epileptic and hysteric fits, but their practice is founded on no principles being purely empirical.—
On any subject on which I may be of service let me beg of you to command me, and to be assured that I will always do my best to meet your wishes
Believe me | Yours Sincerely | S. O. Glenie
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6482,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on