From the | Patent Imperishable Ho⟨th⟩ouse Company, Newark-Upon-Trent, Notti⟨n⟩ghamshire. | Wm. P. Ayers, Patentee and Manager.
June 8th. 1873
C. Darwin Esq
Sir
Discussing the subject of spontanious generation when last in London with my friend Mr Robinson of the Garden,1 I related to him a circumstance which occurred here last autumn, and which he requested I would communicate to you. In the north of England, you are no doubt aware, it is a custom, at Eastertide to boil Eggs quite hard colouring the shells in the process, and with these the young folks amuse themselves
Two of these Eggs my daughter who was on a visit to her brother at Kirby-Stephen, brought home for her younger sister2 One of these was eate⟨n⟩ and the other was placed on the ⟨m⟩a⟨r⟩ble shelf as an or⟨nam⟩ent, where it remained until October.
At that time it was broken when to the disgust of the children it was found to be one moving mass of grubs, each the size of a small grain of rice. I regret to say I did not see them myself, but I have reason to believe the shell of the Egg was perfectly sound, and as the contents had been boiled quite hard the question arises how came they there?—3
I have two more of the Eggs by me boiled this Easter, and if you will accept it shall be glad to place one of them at your disposal for investigation.
Craving your indulgence for this trespass upon your valuable time; I beg to remain | Sir | Your very Obt Servant | William P. Ayres.
Please cite as “DCP-LETT-8939,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on