To W. B. Tegetmeier   15 July [1870]¹

My dear Sir

It is long since I have heard from you, & I am much obliged for your letter.— It is good news that you are going to bring out a new edit. of your Poultry Book & you are quite at liberty to use all my materials.² Thanks for curious case of the Wild-Duck variation: I have heard of other instances of a tendency to vary in one out of a large litter or family.—³

I have too many things in hand at present to profit by your offer of the loan of the American Poultry Book.—⁴

Pray keep firm to your idea of working out the subject of analogous variation with Pigeons; I really think you might thus make a novel & valuable contribution to science.— I can, however, quite understand how much your time must be occupied with the never ending, always beginning Editorial cares.—⁵

I keep much as usual & crawl on with my work.—

Believe me | my dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin