WCP2260

[1]

Epping

Oct, 10^th 1870

My dear Sir,

I received your letter¹ yesterday morning, respecting the pairing of birds and regret to say that I can give you no information on the subject[.]

The greater part of our land birds assume the adult plumage the first autumn, and in most cases it would be difficult in the following spring to distinguish the birds of the previous year from the older ones.

The young male Blackbirds might be known by the brown colour of the quill feathers but it would be difficult to distinguish the young females from the old ones.

I believe the common and tree sparrows are the only resident birds that change the whole of their feathers the first month —

With best wishes in every way believe me | My dear Sir | yours very sincerely | Henry Doubleday²

Alfred R. Wallace Esq