To Osbert Salvin   25 October [1871]¹

My dear M^r. Salvin

Very many thanks for your note & the Prion, which I have been very glad to see.² I could see the lamellæ very well without taking more than the head out of the bottle. All the spirits had leaked away, so I added fresh in proportion of $\frac{2}{3}$ alcohol to $\frac{1}{3}$ water, & have put on bladder. I will return the Box, possibly day after tomorrow, whenever I send to Station.—

The lamellæ are so soft in Prion, that I sh^d. think they could be easily cleaned, as you suggest, by the tongue. If I understand your description of Merganetta armata, this species will support view of lower mandibular lamellæ serving to clean the tips of the upper series.—³ In the Shoveller there is an additional short row which may be called “palatal”, perhaps to cleanse the long mandibular lamellæ; but these “palatal” lamellæ can be seen only by widely opening the mouth.⁴ Do you care to have (as I shall otherwise throw them away) upper & lower beaks separate of Shoveller, common Duck, common Goose, Malachorhynchus, Chloephaga Magellanica, & Chenalopex jubatus?⁵ If they are worth having I could return them with your M.S. when my sheets are printed off.—⁶

With cordial thanks | Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin