To W. C. Tait   24 February 1869

Dear Sir

Your kindness is extraordinarily great about the Drosophyllum.¹ If the Box (which if possible had better be covered only with bars?) must be addressed to some one in London, please address it to my brother’s House

“6 Queen Anne St.,

Cavendish Sq^re”

Otherwise address it as at head of this note “per Rail”.— In either case please mark outside “Living Plants, to be forwarded immediately”.—

You seem to be collecting numerous statements about the Dogs’ tails;² I w^d suggest that you sh^d keep a list of the cases, observing whether the dogs in the several cases are known not to be related; for the number of cases alone w^d be evidence of the intervention of some new cause.—

Did I mention in my former letter that I am very anxious to learn about the rate of development of the Horns in breeds of sheep in which the Rams alone are horned (viz merinos) & in common breeds in which both sexes are horned,—especially if inhabiting same country & fed in nearly the same manner.³ What ought to be observed, is, whether the horns are sensibly larger or smaller, at one or at two or at 3 months age, in the one breed than in the other. I hear from Saxony that in Merinos rams the horns can just be felt at birth.⁴ I shall much like to hear your facts on the elimination under nature of disadvantageous variations.—

Dear Sir | Yours truly obliged | Ch. Darwin

If you find the Dros. I sh^d much wish to know whether it grows in sandy, peaty or clay soil—whether damp or dry—whether sunny or shady.—