1829] SHOOTING. 149 



Butler, tell him of my success, and I dare say both of you will 

 easily recognise these insects. I hope his caterpillars go on 

 well. I think many of the Chrysalises are well worth keeping. 

 I really am quite ashamed [of] so long a letter all about my 

 own concerns ; but do return good for evil, and send me a 

 long account of all your proceedings. 



In the first week I killed seventy-five head of game — a 

 very contemptible number — but there are very few birds. I 

 killed, however, a brace of black game. Since then I have 

 been staying at the Fox's, near Derby ; it is a very pleasant 

 house, and the music meeting went off very well. 1 want to 

 hear how Yates likes his gun, and what use he has made of it. 



If the bottle is not large you can buy another for me, 



and when you pass through Shrewsbury you can leave these 



treasures, and I hope, if you possibly can, you will stay a day 



or two with me, as I hope I need not say how glad I shall be 



to see you again. Fox remarked what deuced good-natured 



fellows your friends at Barmouth must be ; and if I did not 



know that you and Butler were so, I would not think of giving 



you so much trouble. 



Believe me, my dear Herbert, 



Yours, most sincerely, 



Charles Darwin. 

 Remember me to all friends. 



[In the following January we find him looking forward 

 with pleasure to the beginning of another year of his Cam- 

 bridge life : he writes to Fox — 



" I waited till to-day for the chance of a letter, but I 

 will wait no longer. I must most sincerely and cordially 

 congratulate you on having finished all your labours. I think 

 your place a very good one considering by how much you 

 have beaten many men who had the start of you in reading. 

 I do so wish I were now in Cambridge (a very selfish wish, 

 however, as I was not with you in all your troubles and 

 misery), to join in all the glory and happiness, which dangers 



