From S. A. Merrell   28 October 1870

Dear Sir

Your kind note of reply to the one I sent you regarding the American Cuckoo, came duly to hand—¹ I did not deem it needful to carry the correspondence farther at the time, as I supposed you had no time to spend on irrelavant matters—and have not.

Since that time however I have prepared a short article on the “Unity of Generation” designed to show that the principle is one and the same throughout the entire natural world—also as bearing upon physical progress—²

It is in direct relation and support of the Development Theory which I had in view in preparing the paper—

If it does not seem to be an act of presumption on my part to offer you for your inspection the crude reflections of a homunculus³—one who has devoted his time mainly to other pursuits, I should be happy to send you the article at some future time

In conversing with an old friend not long since, Major Hoffman,⁴ he stated to me he had been observant of the peculiar habits of our cuckoo on two or three distinct occasions

Have not had the pleasure of seeing your new edition of the Origin of Species⁵

With profound respect I remain | Most Truly Yours | S A Merrell MD | Box 325. Council Bluffs | Iowa | US