From J. M. Fleming   29 March 1871

Sir,

In a conversation which I had the other day, respecting your theories of natural and sexual selection, with a gentleman of large and acknowledged experience in the breeding of fancy pigeons, he informed me that you had succeeded in breeding b⁠⟨⁠ack⁠⟩⁠ a number of fancy birds to the ordinary blue rock pigeon, but, that in choosing your specimens, you had taken, among others, a “Nun,” and a “Spot”.¹ My friend states that the Nun is not considered a “high-bred bird”, and distinctly asserts the “Spot” to be merely a bird of mark, or colour; and, in proof of the latter statement, informed me, that he had obtained two “Spots” from a Common Antwerp Carrier, and an ordinary dovecot pigeon, ⁠⟨⁠(⁠⟩⁠white), such as you might buy ⁠⟨⁠for⁠⟩⁠ sixpence.

He also stated that ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ having included the “Spot” in your selection ⁠⟨⁠    ⁠⟩⁠ted the experiment referred to.²

Although I do not see how the presence of even one of the original blue rocks would militate against your theory of variation, I have taken the liberty of calling your attention to the question, as it stands at present among parties who seem really deeply learned in the mysteries of breeding pigeons. They assert that so far is breeding from the blue rocks to the fancy classes from being possible, that no one has ever yet succeeded in taming a bird of that class sufficiently for the purpose, although it has been repeatedly tried.

Yours Obediently | James M. Fleming