Dear Sir

I have been thinking over your offer of helping me to the dead bodies of some of the good birds of Poultry.—¹ Really considering how complete a stranger I am to you, I think it one of the most goodnatured offers ever made to me.—² I have hardly the means to keep all the kinds of poultry, & to buy first-rate birds, merely to make skeletons of them, I should think too great an outlay. Therefore if you can help me even to a few it would be a very great assistance.

I have thought it would be best to enclose a list, but pray do not for a minute suppose that I am so unreasonable as to imagine that you can take the trouble to supply me with nearly all; but even a few would be of great service to me. Forgive me for adding that I hope that you will be so good as to remember whatever expence you may be put to for carriage, porterage, booking, baskets &c, & allow me to repay you. The trouble is very much more than I could have expected you to put yourself to, & I should be ashamed of myself if in addition, you were put even to a trifling expence. I do not think I shall be in London very soon, but when I am I will propose to call for an hour if you should chance to be disengaged.—

I am sure I have cause to offer many apologies, & beg to remain Dear Sir | Your’s truly obliged | Ch. Darwin

I published some years since a Natural History Journal of my Travels,³ which has been liked by some naturalists: if you should feel the least interest in seeing it, I sh^d. be proud to present you with a copy.—