To H. Ramu   13 September 1871

Dear Sir

I am much obliged to you for your great kindness in writing to me. I have so many other subjects on hand, that I am not likely again to attend to domesticated animals; nevertheless the appendages on the faces of certain pigs have always appeared to me so inexplicable, that I should certainly much like to hear about the analogous structures in goats.¹ I am not willing that you should take much trouble, but I should be grateful for a sketch with a description, in comparison with the analogous appendages as described by me in the case of pigs.²

With my best thanks and much respect I have the honour to remain dear Sir, | Yours faithfully | Charles Darwin.

It has sometimes occurred to me as an idle speculation whether these appendages could be formed by a reduplication of the external ear, as the reduplication of organs is a common form of monstrosity.