To J. N. Hegt   27 April [1869]1

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

April 27

Dear Sir

I write one line merely to thank you very much for your note & to say that I hope you will accept from me a copy of my Journal of Travels, which as you are so good a scholar might possibly in parts interest you.— I have told my publisher to send you a copy by Post.—2 It does not seem possible that the spurs of the two species of Pavo will ever differ in rate of development.3

With my best thanks | Pray believe me | Dear Sir | Yours truly obliged | Charles Darwin

P.S. | If hereafter you shd perceive any difference in the development of the spurs, perhaps you will have the great kindness to inform me.—4

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from J. N. Hegt, [23 April 1869].
2
CD refers to his Journal of researches, and to his publisher, John Murray.
4
In Descent 1: 290 n. 28, where CD cited Hegt’s information on the peafowl, he added, ‘I presume that I should have been informed if any difference in the rate of development had subsequently been observed.’

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 Beckenham] interl before del ‘Bromley’
1.5 rate of] interl

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-6714F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-6714F