18591863] HUXLEY'S LECTURE 131 



To T. H. Huxley. Letter 85 



Down, Dec. i6th [1859]. 



I thank you for your very pleasant and amusing note 

 and invitation to dinner, which I am sorry to say I cannot 

 accept. I shall come up (stomach willing) on Thursday for 

 Phil. Club dinner, and return on Saturday, and I am engaged 

 to my brother for Friday. But I should very much like to 

 call at the Museum on Friday or Saturday morning and see 

 you. Would you let me have one line either here or at 

 57, Queen Anne Street, to say at what hour you generally 

 come to the Museum, and whether you will be probably there 

 on Friday or Saturday ? Even if you are at the Club, it will 

 be a mere chance if we sit near each other. 



I will bring up the articles on Thursday afternoon, and 

 leave them under charge of the porter at the Museum. 

 They will consist of large drawings of a Pouter, a Carrier, and 

 rather smaller drawings of some sub-varieties (which breed 

 nearly true) of short-faced Tumblers. Also a small drawing 

 of Scanderoon, a kind of Runt, and a very remarkable breed. 

 Also a book with very moderately good drawings of Fantail 

 and Barb, but I very much doubt whether worth the trouble 

 of enlarging. 



Also a box (for Heaven's sake, take care !) with a skull of 

 Carrier and short-faced Tumbler ; also lower jaws (largest 

 size) of Runt, middle size of Rock-pigeon, and the broad 

 one of Barb. The form of ramus of jaw differs curiously 

 in these jaws. 



Also MS. of hybridism and pigeons, which will just 

 weary you to death. I will call myself for or send a servant 

 for the MS. and bones whenever you have done with them ; 

 but do not hurry. 



You have hit on the exact plan, which, on the advice of 

 Lyell, Murray, etc., I mean to follow viz., bring out separate 

 volumes in detail and I shall begin with domestic produc- 

 tions ; but I am determined to try and [work] very slowly, so 

 that, if possible, I may keep in a somewhat better state of 

 health. I had not thought of illustrations ; that is capital 

 advice. Farewell, my good and admirable agent for the 

 promulgation of damnable heresies ! 



